Hudson Bay

Hosta

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Dream Weaver'

Summary: Colour 2 on the leaf blades of 'Hudson Bay' is brown green and irregularly disbursed in sectors whereas colour 2 on 'Dream Weaver' is light yellow fading to light yellow orange at the centre in a flamed pattern. The leaves of 'Hudson Bay' have a third colour present whereas those of 'Dream Weaver' do not. The leaf blades of 'Hudson Bay' are flat in cross section whereas those of 'Dream Weaver' are convex. The outer side of the inner lobes of the corolla of 'Hudson Bay' are light blue violet fading to white whereas those of 'Dream Weaver' are white.

Description:

PLANT SHOOT: green and purple first leaf scales

LEAF BLADE: broadest part strongly towards base, broad ovate, cordate base, rounded apex, medium sized brown green marginal zone, three colours, flat in cross section, many parallel veins, strong degree of bulging, absent or weak blistering, medium undulation of margin, absent or weak twisting
COLOUR 1 ON LEAF BLADE: brown green (RHS 146A), medium sized surface area, distributed at marginal zone, solid or nearly solid pattern
COLOUR 2 ON LEAF BLADE: brown green (RHS 146C), small surface area, distributed irregularly in sectored pattern
COLOUR 3 ON LEAF BLADE: light green (RHS 144C), small to medium sized surface area, distributed at centre, flamed pattern
PETIOLE: "u" shaped in cross section on inner side, yellow and light green, no anthocyanin colouration

INFLORESCENCE: few flowers, horizontal flowers, bracts present
FLOWER: single, perianth tubular in lateral view, outer side of the inner lobes of the corolla are light blue violet (RHS 76D) fading to white (RHS N155B)

Origin & Breeding History: 'Hudson Bay' originated as a naturally occurring mutation in a nursery batch of the variety 'Eskimo Pie' discovered in the summer of 2007 at Walters Gardens Inc., in Zeeland, Michigan, USA. The new variety was selected based on the size and colour of leaves as well as growth rate.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Hudson Bay' were conducted at Variety Rights Management in Oxford Station, Ontario in the summer of 2013. The trial included 20 plants each of the candidate and reference variety. Plants were planted individually in 16 cm diameter pots spaced 20 cm apart in greenhouse. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety. All colour determinations were made using 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Hudson Bay' with reference variety 'Dream Weaver'

Colour of leaf blade (RHS)

Colour of outer lobes of corolla (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Hosta: 'Hudson Bay' (left) with reference variety 'Dream Weaver' (right)