Sieboldiana: The Hercules of hosta plants


Hosta Sieboldiana, as seen in front of a sign (above), and up close (top).

The name is innocuous: Hosta Sieboldiana or "Elegans."

The plant, however, is mighty and strong. Put in various tough circumstances (think poor soil, too much sun, indifferent care) it comes up, flowers, and thrives to huge extremes.

The impressive durability of this hosta reminds me of a story:
A person I have interviewed is a specialist in getting rid of bedbugs in homes. This is a messy, scary, necessary task in some home settings, especially as the bugs become used to various chemical treatments. One time he was curious: How tough are these bugs? He put some in a plastic bag during a frigid week in Davenport. After several days in subzero conditions there was still life in the bedbugs! Yikes!

The Sieboldiana is similar. Two years ago, several of these hosta plants were donated to a garden I helped to establish. I'd been wresting with the ones we had at home. I took one look and said, "No! Don't go there!"

We tossed the plants into a plastic tub and forgot about them for a year or more. About 14 months later I looked in that dump ... Darn if the Sieboldiana weren't still thriving in plastic containers, with absolutely no help for more than a year in Iowa!

Sieboldiana is huge; the plant grows to about 24" high, and up to five feet across, according to the Missouri Botanical Garden (missouribotanicalgarden.org). This hosta is native to Japan, thrives in shady conditions and was named for German doctor Franz Von Siebold. Von Siebold is credited with introducing many Japanese hosta varieties to European gardens.

European gardens with vast space, I would suggest!

The Sieboldiana -- also called "Elegans" -- is located in front of a sign that names our Scott County neighborhood. It is actually a fairly sunny location adjacent to our house. I take care of the garden, which I call the "front circle."

Last fall, husband Steve and I noticed the hosta had all run together and was a mass of leaves. We divided them into 11 clumps last October. Fast forward to April, and the clumps were a big mass. I again took up the shovel and divided them.

This is a hard-working hosta and strong as can be. It flowers in June or so, and has a pretty purple flower.

Hercules would be a better name than Sieboldiana.

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