Autumn Frost

Hosta

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'First Frost'

Summary: The plants and leaf blades of 'Autumn Frost' are larger than those of 'First Frost'. The petioles, inflorescences and perianths of 'Autumn Frost' are longer than those of 'First Frost'. The leaf blades of 'Autumn Frost' are broad ovate with a truncate to cordate base and an obtuse apex whereas those of 'First Frost' are narrow ovate with an obtuse base and an acute apex. Colour one on the leaf blades of 'Autumn Frost' has a medium sized surface area whereas that on 'First Frost' has a small surface area. Colour two on the leaf blades of 'Autumn Frost' has a medium sized surface area whereas that on 'First Frost' has a very large surface area.

Description:

PLANT SHOOT: purple first leaf scales

LEAF BLADE: broadest part moderately towards base, broad ovate, truncate to cordate base, obtuse apex, convex in cross section, medium number of parallel veins, absent or very weak bulging, absent or weak blistering, absent or weak undulation of margin, absent or weak twisting
COLOUR 1 ON LEAF BLADE: light yellow (RHS 10C) fading to light yellow orange (RHS 11D), medium sized surface area, distributed at marginal zone, solid or nearly solid pattern
COLOUR 2 ON LEAF BLADE: brown green (RHS 189A), 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 flower attitude, bracts present
FLOWER: single, perianth tubular in lateral view, outer side of inner corolla lobes light blue violet (RHS 85D)

Origin & Breeding History: 'Autumn Frost' originated as a naturally occurring whole plant sport in a nursery batch of the variety 'First Frost' 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 the variegation on the leaves.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Autumn Frost' 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 outside under shade cloth. 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 'Autumn Frost' with reference variety 'First Frost'

Plant height of foliage (cm)

Plant width (cm)

Petiole length (cm)

Leaf blade length (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

Inflorescence length (cm)

Perianth length (cm)

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Hosta: 'Autum Frost' (left) with reference variety 'First Frost' (right)