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IOWA HOSTA GARDEN

Iowa Hostas

Hostas are one of the most versatile plants for the shade. Growing in a vast array of colors, sizes, shapes, and patterns, just about any gardener can find a selection they find charming. Iowans in particular have been passionate about this plant for decades, with several notable hosta breeders arising over the years.

This garden displays some of the many varieties bred by Iowans. In particular, the works of Russ O’Harra of Des Moines, Greg Johnson of Marshalltown, Jim Schwarz of Dubuque, Gretchen Harshbarger of Iowa City, Frank Riehl of Iowa City, Fleeta Brownell Woodroffe of Des Moines, Marlys Anderson of Pella, John and Elizabeth Stratton of Iowa City, Ron Simmering of Bettendorf, Cynthia Tompkins, Bob Hird of Dubuque, Doyle Woods of Indianola, Jerry Hadrava of Cedar Rapids, Ed Schulz of Dubuque, and Kirk Brill of Des Moines are currently featured in the collection.

The original collection began with the procurement of Russ O’Harra selections with the establishment of the collection by the Russ O’Harra Hosta Society in 1994. Russ O’Harra was one of Iowa’s most prominent hosta hybridizers with approximately 34 cultivars credited to his breeding program. 

In 2024, this garden was designated a American Hosta Society National Hosta Display Garden.

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Plant Lists:

Russ O’Harra Hostas
Hosta x ‘Diva’ – Diva hosta
Hosta x ‘Feather Boa’ – Feather Boa hosta
Hosta x ‘Grimes Golden’ – Grimes Golden hosta
Hosta x ‘Ground Sulphur’ – Ground Sulphur hosta
Hosta x ‘Gypsy’s Boa’ – Gypsy’s Boa hosta
Hosta x ‘Janet’ – Janet hosta
Hosta x ‘O’Harra’ – O’Harra hosta
Hosta x ‘Olive Bailey Langdon’ – Olive Bailey Langdon hosta
Hosta x ‘Plumb Bob’ – Plumb Bob hosta
Hosta x ‘Popo’ – Popo hosta
Hosta x ‘Quilting Bee’ – Quilting Bee hosta
Hosta x ‘Roderick’ – Roderick hosta
Hosta x ‘Rosanne’ – Rosanne hosta
Hosta x ‘Russell Lee’ – Russell Lee hosta
Hosta x ‘Shirley Levy’ – Shirley Levy hosta
Hosta x ‘Spun Sulphur’ – Spun Sulphur hosta
Hosta x ‘Taffeta’ – Taffeta hosta
Hosta x ‘Yellow Boa’ – Yellow Boa hosta

Gretchen Harshbarger Hostas
Hosta x ‘Golden Spider’ – Golden Spider hosta
Hosta x ‘King Tut’ – King Tut hosta
Hosta x ‘Moon Lily’ – Moon Lily hosta

Jim Schwarz Hostas
Hosta x ‘Bachelor Party’ – Bachelor Party hosta
Hosta x ‘Friar Tuck’ – Friar Tuck hosta
Hosta x ‘Garden Treasure’ – Garden Treasure hosta
Hosta x ‘I’m So Blue’ – I’m So Blue hosta
Hosta x ‘I’m So Pretty’ – I’m So Pretty hosta
Hosta x ‘Little John’ – Little John hosta
Hosta x ‘Mary-Mary’ – Mary-Mary hosta
Hosta x ‘Peanut’ – Peanut hosta
Hosta x ‘Robin Hood’ – Robin Hood hosta
Hosta x ‘Robin of Loxley’ – Robin of Loxley hosta
Hosta x ‘Royal Tapestry’ – Royal Tapestry hosta

Greg Johnson Hostas
Hosta x ‘Blue Haired Lady’ – Blue Haired Lady hosta
Hosta x ‘Everlasting Love’ – Everlasting Love hosta
Hosta x ‘Jaz’ – Jaz hosta
Hosta x ‘Judy Rocco’ – Judy Rocco hosta
Hosta x ‘Moonlight Sonata’ – Moonlight Sonata hosta
Hosta x ‘Rhythm and Blues’ – Rhythm and Blues hosta
Hosta x ‘Sentimental Journey’ – Sentimental Journey hosta
Hosta x ‘Tequila Sunrise’ – Tequila Sunrise hosta
Hosta x ‘Twilight Time’ – Twilight Time hosta

Kirk Brill Hostas
Hosta x ‘Captain Kirk’ – Captain Kirk hosta
Hosta x ‘Faithful Heart’ – Faithful Heart hosta

Fleeta Brownell Woodroffe
Hosta x ‘Pebble Beach’ – Pebble Beach hosta
Hosta x ‘Thai Brass’ – Thai Brass hosta

Frank Riehl Hostas
Hosta x ‘Popo’ – Popo hosta
Hosta x ‘Veronica Lake’ – Veronica Lake hosta

Marlys Anderson Hostas
Hosta x ‘White Linen’ – White Linen hosta

Cynthia and Chet Tompkins Hostas
Hosta x ‘Cynthia’ – Cynthia hosta

John and Elizabeth Stratton Hostas
Hosta x ‘Wylde Green Cream’ – Wylde Green Cream hosta

Ron Simmering Hostas
Hosta x ‘X-Ray’ – X-Ray hosta

Bob Hird Hostas
Hosta x ‘Bridal Veil’ – Bridal Veil hosta
Hosta x ‘Deep Pockets’ – Deep Pockets hosta

Doyle Woods Hostas
Hosta x ‘Joy Adams’ – Joy Adams hosta

Jerry Hadrava Hostas
Hosta x ‘Li’l Abner’ – Li’l Abner hosta

Other plants
Heuchera x ‘Raspberry Regal’ – Raspberry Regal Coralbells
Hosta x ‘Harvest Glow’ – Harvest Glow hosta
Hosta x ‘Paul’s Glory’ – Paul’s Glory hosta
Hosta x ‘Sweet Home Chicago’
Tricyrtis hirta – Japanese toad lily
Athyrium niponicum – Japanese painted fern
Polygonatum odoratum ‘Variegata’ – Variegated Solomon’s seal