HOSTA COLLECTION
Shade Royalty
Hostas for decades have been a garden favorite for brightening up the shade garden. Growing in a vast array of colors, sizes, shapes, and patterns, just about any gardener can find a selection they find charming. They are so loved that there are now believed to be over 5,000 hosta varieties that are hybrids of nearly 50 species. Iowans in particular have been passionate about this plant for decades, with several notable hosta breeders arising over the years. This collection showcases our historic hostas alongside newer varieties that are constantly being added. The Arboretum has several hosta gardens, including the Iowa Hosta Garden, the Theresa Schutt Hosta House, the Hosta Border, and the Teahouse Garden. In 2024 these gardens were designated by the American Hosta Society as National Hosta Display Gardens.
Theresa Schutt Hosta House
This garden has humble beginnings. When the Arboretum was first started, the only shade available was provided by the Cafferty Building. Starting in 1982 and continuing until trees started to grow large enough to cast shade, all of our hosta collection was kept on the north side of the building. The Japanese style structure was added in 1997 to add beauty and provide additional shade to a quickly growing hosta collection. Renovated in 2022 in anticipation of the American Hosta Society Convention in Ames, IA, there are now several hundred hosta varieties in this garden. Many of the Arboretum’s oldest hosta clumps have been planted in this garden for over 40 years! To learn more about the Theresa Schutt Hosta House, click here.
Iowa Hostas
This garden displays some of the many hosta varieties bred by Iowans. Rare varieties that were gifted from private collections make up the vast majority of the plants, however there are several well-known vareities that had a run of commercial success. Some of the vareities are decades old, while others are rather contemporary. Iowans are still breeding hostas, and so new varieties are always being added.
The original Iowa Hosta collection began with the procurement of plants bred by Russ O’Harra. Russ O’Harra was one of Iowa’s most prominent hosta hybridizers with approximately 34 cultivars credited to his breeding program, the local hosta society is named in his honor. These selections were the foundation of the collection established at the Arboretum by the Russ O’Harra Hosta Society in 1994.
Additional hosta varieties bred by Iowans have been donated by board members, hosta society members, and members over the years.
In 2023 this garden was spotlighted as part of the American Hosta Society (AHS) National Convention hosted in Ames, IA. Then in 2024, this garden was designated a American Hosta Society National Hosta Display Garden.
As a result, the Russ O’Harra Hosta Society began a fund for the perpetual management of the AHS display garden, spurring a significant garden renovation in 2025. In 2025 alone the garden footprint and number of hosta varieties bred by Iowans doubled. This garden is now home to over 100 different hosta varieties bred by Iowans!
Learn more about the Iowa Hosta Garden by clicking here.
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Plant Lists:
IOWA HOSTA GARDEN:
Joy Adams Hostas
Hosta x ‘Gift of Sight’ – Gift of Sight hosta
Marlys Anderson Hostas
Hosta x ‘White Linen’ – White Linen hosta
Kirk Brill Hostas
Hosta x ‘Captain Kirk’ – Captain Kirk hosta
Hosta x ‘Faithful Heart’ – Faithful Heart hosta
Hosta x ‘Geisha Limey Streaks’ – Geisha Limey Streaks hosta
Hosta x ‘Lochness Blue’ – Lochness Blue hosta
Fleeta Brownell Woodroffe
Hosta x ‘Pebble Beach’ – Pebble Beach hosta
Hosta x ‘Thai Brass’ – Thai Brass hosta
Jerry Hadrava Hostas
Hosta x ‘Li’l Abner’ – Li’l Abner hosta
Hosta x ‘Rosedale Barnie’ – Rosedale Barnie hosta
Hosta x ‘Rosedale Blend Master’ – Rosedale Blend Master hosta
Hosta x ‘Rosedale Dewy’ – Rosedale Dewy hosta
Hosta x ‘Rosedale Genevieve’ – Rosedale Genevieve hosta
Hosta x ‘Rosedale Golden Goose’ – Rosedale Golden Goose hosta
Hosta x ‘Rosedale Richie Valens’ – Rosedale Richie Valens hosta
Hosta x ‘Rosedale Spoons’ – Rosedale Spoons hosta
Hosta x ‘Rosedale Sugar Time’ – Rosedale Sugar Time hosta
Hosta x ‘Rosedale Terraced Hills’ – Rosedale Terraced Hills hosta
Hosta x ‘Rosedale Tractor Seat’ – Rosedale Tractor Seat hosta
Hosta x ‘Slick Willie’ – Slick Willie 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
Hosta x ‘Treasure’ – Treasure hosta
Jim Heinz Hostas
Hosta x ‘Ava Ann’ – Ava Ann hosta
Bob Hird Hostas
Hosta x ‘Bridal Veil’ – Bridal Veil hosta
Hosta x ‘Deep Pockets’ – Deep Pockets 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 ‘Kabuki’ – Kabuki hosta
Hosta x ‘Lullabye’ – Lullabye hosta
Hosta x ‘Moonlight Sonata’ – Moonlight Sonata hosta
Hosta x ‘Mystic Star’ – Mystic Star hosta
Hosta x ‘Radio Waves’ – Radio Waves hosta
Hosta x ‘Rhythm and Blues’ – Rhythm and Blues hosta
Hosta x ‘Sandhill Crane’ – Sandhill Crane hosta
Hosta x ‘Sentimental Journey’ – Sentimental Journey hosta
Hosta x ‘Shady Affair’ – Shady Affair hosta
Hosta x ‘Tequila Sunrise’ – Tequila Sunrise hosta
Hosta x ‘Topaz’ – Topaz hosta
Hosta x ‘Twilight Time’ – Twilight Time hosta
Hosta x ‘Unbridled Passion’ – Unbridled Passion hosta
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 ‘Lime Shag’ – Lime Shag 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
Frank Riehl Hostas
Hosta x ‘Popo’ – Popo hosta
Hosta x ‘Veronica Lake’ – Veronica Lake hosta
Ed Schulz Hostas
Hosta x ‘Enchanted Mist’ – Enchanted Mist hosta
Hosta x ‘Frilly Fantasy’ – Frilly Fantasy hosta
Hosta x ‘Green Lava’ – Green Lava hosta
Hosta x ‘Step Brother’ – Step Brother hosta
Jim Schwarz Hostas
Hosta x ‘Aloha’ – Aloha hosta
Hosta x ‘Bachelor Party’ – Bachelor Party hosta
Hosta x ‘Banana Muffins’ – Banana Muffins hosta
Hosta x ‘Cease Fire’ – Cease Fire hosta
Hosta x ‘Chocolate Mint’ – Chocolate Mint hosta
Hosta x ‘Cinderella’ – Cinderella hosta
Hosta x ‘Friar Tuck’ – Friar Tuck hosta
Hosta x ‘Frosted Mini-muffins’ – Frosted Mini-muffins 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 ‘King John’ – King John hosta
Hosta x ‘Little John’ – Little John hosta
Hosta x ‘Lois’ – Lois hosta
Hosta x ‘Love You’ – Love You hosta
Hosta x ‘Maid Marian’ – Maid Marian hosta
Hosta x ‘Mary-Mary’ – Mary-Mary hosta
Hosta x ‘Merry Men’ – Merry Men hosta
Hosta x ‘Peanut’ – Peanut hosta
Hosta x ‘Pitch Black’ – Pitch Black hosta
Hosta x ‘Prince of Darkness’ – Prince of Darkness hosta
Hosta x ‘Robin Hood’ – Robin Hood hosta
Hosta x ‘Robin of Loxley’ – Robin of Loxley hosta
Hosta x ‘Royal Tapestry’ – Royal Tapestry hosta
Hosta x ‘Summer Storm’ – Summer Storm hosta
Hosta x ‘The King’ – The King hosta
Hosta x ‘Wet Crocodile’ – Wet Crocodile hosta
Ron Simmering Hostas
Hosta x ‘X-Ray’ – X-Ray hosta
Josh Spece Hostas
Hosta x ‘Country Confessions’ – Country Confessions hosta
Hosta x ‘Country Heartthrob’ – Country Heartthrob hosta
Hosta x ‘Country Livewire’ – Country Livewire hosta
Hosta x ‘Country Sun Drop’ – Country Sundrop hosta
John and Elizabeth Stratton Hostas
Hosta x ‘Blue Clown’ – Blue Clown hosta
Hosta x ‘Wylde Green Cream’ – Wylde Green Cream hosta
Jeff and Marie White Hostas
Hosta x ‘Dire Wolf’ – Dire Wolf hosta
Doyle Woods Hostas
Hosta x ‘Joy Adams’ – Joy Adams hosta
Other Hostas
Hosta x ‘Cynthia’ – Cynthia hosta
Hosta x ‘Harvest Glow’ – Harvest Glow hosta
Hosta x ‘Paul’s Glory’ – Paul’s Glory hosta
Hosta x ‘Sweet Home Chicago’
HOSTA BORDER:
Hosta x ‘Abiqua Blue Edge’ – Abiqua Blue Edge hosta
Hosta x ‘Above the Clouds’ – Above the Clouds hosta
Hosta x ‘Ada Reed’ – Ada Reed hosta
Hosta x ‘American Sweetheart’ – American Sweetheart hosta
Hosta x ‘Ann Kulpa’ – Ann Kulpa hosta
Hosta x ‘August Moon’ – August Moon hosta
Hosta x ‘Avocado’ – Avocado hosta
Hosta x ‘Blue Veil’ – Blue Veil hosta
Hosta x ‘Blue Vision’ – Blue Vision hosta
Hosta x ‘Brother Stefan’ – Brother Stefan hosta
Hosta x ‘Chiquita’ – Chiquita hosta
Hosta x ‘Curls’ – Curls hosta
Hosta x ‘Day’s End’ – Day’s End hosta
Hosta x ‘Edge of Night’ – Edge of Night hosta
Hosta x ‘Edward Wargo’ – Edward Wargo hosta
Hosta x ‘Fortunei Rugosa’ – Fortunei Rugosa hosta
Hosta x ‘Fried Bananas’ – Fried Bananas hosta
Hosta x ‘Garden Party’ – Garden Party hosta
Hosta x ‘Gigantosaurus’ – Gigantosaurus hosta
Hosta x ‘Gold Drop’ – Gold Drop hosta
Hosta x ‘Golden Bullion’ – Golden Bullion hosta
Hosta x ‘Golden Friendship’ – Golden Friendship hosta
Hosta x ‘Golden Plum’ – Golden Plum hosta
Hosta x ‘Golden Plum’ – Golden Plum hosta
Hosta x ‘Green Acres’ – Green Acres hosta
Hosta x ‘Guacamole’ – Guacamole hosta
Hosta x ‘Gum Drop’ – Gum Drop hosta
Hosta x ‘Hirao Supreme’ – Hirao Supreme hosta
Hosta x ‘Holly’s Honey’ – Holly’s Honey hosta
Hosta x ‘June’ – June hosta
Hosta x ‘Katie Q’ – Katie Q hosta
Hosta x ‘Kikutii Kifukurin’ – Kikutii Kifukurin hosta
Hosta x ‘Lemon Lime’ – Lemon Lime hosta
Hosta x ‘Little Jim’ – Little Jim hosta
Hosta x ‘Lunar Eclipse’ – Lunar Eclipse hosta
Hosta x ‘Mentor Gold’ – Mentor Gold hosta
Hosta x ‘Mystic Star’ – Mystic Star hosta
Hosta x ‘Night Before Christmas’ – Night Before Christmas hosta
Hosta x ‘Northern Star’ – Northern Star hosta
Hosta x ‘Obsession’ – Obsession hosta
Hosta x ‘Otome-no-ka’ – Otome-no-ka hosta
Hosta x ‘Patriot’ – Patriot hosta
Hosta x ‘Richland Gold’ – Richland Gold hosta
Hosta x ‘Rosedale Golden Goose’ – Rosedale Golden Goose hosta
Hosta x ‘Sea Bunny’ – Sea Bunny hosta
Hosta x ‘Sea Yellow Sunsrise’ – Sea Yellow Sunsrise hosta
Hosta x ‘Shade Fanfare’ – Shade Fanfare hosta
Hosta x ‘Showboat’ – Showboat hosta
Hosta x ‘Sweetie’ – Sweetie hosta
Hosta x ‘The King’ – The King hosta
Hosta x ‘Unbridled Passion’ – Unbridled Passion hosta
Hosta x ‘Verna Jean’ – Verna Jean hosta
PERENNIAL GARDEN:
Hosta x ‘Above the Clouds’ – Above the Clouds hosta
Hosta x ‘Atlantis’ – Atlantis hosta
Hosta x ‘August Moon’ – August Moon hosta
Hosta x ‘Autumn Frost’ – Autumn Frost hosta
Hosta x ‘Dropdead Gorgeous’ – Dropdead Gorgeous hosta
Hosta x ‘Empress Wu’ – Empress Wu hosta
Hosta x ‘Gigantosaurus’ – Gigantosaurus hosta
Hosta x ‘Invincible’ – Invincible hosta
Hosta x ‘Neptune’ – Neptune hosta
Hosta x ‘Wheee’ – Wheee hosta
THERESA SCHUTT HOSTA HOUSE:
Hosta rectifolia – Winged plantain lily
Hosta x ‘Abiqua Drinking Gourd’ – Abiqua Drinking Gourd hosta
Hosta x ‘Afterglow’ – Afterglow hosta
Hosta x ‘Alpine Aire’ – Alpine Aire hosta
Hosta x ‘Ann Kulpa’ – Ann Kulpa hosta
Hosta x ‘Antioch’ – Antioch hosta
Hosta x ‘Aureomarginata’ – Aureomarginata hosta
Hosta x ‘Baby Bunting’ – Baby Bunting hosta
Hosta x ‘Banyai’s Dancing Girl’ – Banyai’s Dancing Girl hosta
Hosta x ‘Behemoth’ – Behemoth hosta
Hosta x ‘Big Sam’ – Big Sam hosta
Hosta x ‘Birchwood Elegance’ – Birchwood Elegance hosta
Hosta x ‘Blonde Elf’ – Blonde Elf hosta
Hosta x ‘Blue Diamond’ – Blue Diamond hosta
Hosta x ‘Blue Lady’ – Blue Lady hosta
Hosta x ‘Blue Legend’ – Blue Legend hosta
Hosta x ‘Blue Veil’ – Blue Veil hosta
Hosta x ‘Blueberry Waffle’ – Blueberry Waffle hosta
Hosta x ‘Bridgeville Craig’ – Bridgeville Craig hosta
Hosta x ‘Brim Cup’ – Brim Cup hosta
Hosta x ‘Candy Hearts’ – Candy Hearts hosta
Hosta x ‘Chief Sitting Bull’ – Chief Sitting Bull hosta
Hosta x ‘Chorus Girl’ – Chorus Girl hosta
Hosta x ‘Clear Fork River Valley’ – Clear Fork River Valley hosta
Hosta x ‘Coast to Coast’ – Coast to Coast hosta
Hosta x ‘Color Glory’ – Color Glory hosta
Hosta x ‘Crown Jewel’ – Crown Jewel hosta
Hosta x ‘Crusader’ – Crusader hosta
Hosta x ‘Cup of Grace’ – Cup of Grace hosta
Hosta x ‘Curlew’ – Curlew hosta
Hosta x ‘Curly Fries’ – Curly Fries hosta
Hosta x ‘Delona’s Smile’ – Delona’s Smile hosta
Hosta x ‘Devon Giant’ – Devon Giant hosta
Hosta x ‘Dew Drop’ – Dew Drop hosta
Hosta x ‘Diamond Tiara’ – Diamond Tiara hosta
Hosta x ‘Don Stevens’ – Don Stevens hosta
Hosta x ‘Dorset Blue’ – Dorset Blue hosta
Hosta x ‘Fat Cat’ – Fat Cat hosta
Hosta x ‘Fire Island’ – Fire Island hosta
Hosta x ‘Fond Hope’ – Fond Hope hosta
Hosta x ‘Fran Godfrey’ – Fran Godfrey hosta
Hosta x ‘Fringe Benefit’ – Fringe Benefit hosta
Hosta x ‘Ginko Craig’ – Ginko Craig hosta
Hosta x ‘Glory’ – Glory hosta
Hosta x ‘Gold Edger’ – Gold Edger hosta
Hosta x ‘Golden Anniversary’ – Golden Anniversary hosta
Hosta x ‘Golden Bullion’ – Golden Bullion hosta
Hosta x ‘Golden Sculpture’ – Golden Sculpture hosta
Hosta x ‘Golden Spider’ – Golden Spider hosta
Hosta x ‘Golden Tiara’ – Golden Tiara hosta
Hosta x ‘Goodness Gracious’ – Goodness Gracious hosta
Hosta x ‘Grand Tiara’ – Grand Tiara hosta
Hosta x ‘Grape Fizz’ – Grape Fizz hosta
Hosta x ‘Guacamole’ – Guacamole hosta
Hosta x ‘Hanky Panky’ – Hanky Panky hosta
Hosta x ‘Hiro Supreme’ – Hiro Supreme hosta
Hosta x ‘Hovercraft’ – Hovercraft hosta
Hosta x ‘Hydon Sunset’ – Hydon Sunset hosta
Hosta x ‘Invincible’ – Invincible hosta
Hosta x ‘Island Breeze’ – Island Breeze hosta
Hosta x ‘Jade Scepter’ – Jade Scepter hosta
Hosta x ‘Jane Ward’ – Jane Ward hosta
Hosta x ‘Jurassic Park’ – Jurassic Park hosta
Hosta x ‘Key West’ – Key West hosta
Hosta x ‘Kifukurin Hyuga’ – Kifukurin Hyuga hosta
Hosta x ‘Krossa Regal’ – Krossa Regal hosta
Hosta x ‘Leading Lady’ – Leading Lady hosta
Hosta x ‘Leapin Lizard’ – Leapin Lizard hosta
Hosta x ‘Lemon Lime’ – Lemon Lime hosta
Hosta x ‘Liberty’ – Liberty hosta
Hosta x ‘Little Jim’ – Little Jim hosta
Hosta x ‘Margie’s Angel’ – Margie’s Angel hosta
Hosta x ‘Marilyn Monroe’ – Marilyn Monroe hosta
Hosta x ‘Maui Buttercup’ – Maui Buttercup hosta
Hosta x ‘Megan’s Angel’ – Megan’s Angel hosta
Hosta x ‘Misty Regal’ – Misty Regal hosta
Hosta x ‘Nate the Great’ – Nate the Great hosta
Hosta x ‘Neptune’ – Neptune hosta
Hosta x ‘Night Shift’ – Night Shift hosta
Hosta x ‘Northern Star’ – Northern Star hosta
Hosta x ‘Norwalk Chartreuse’ – Norwalk Chartreuse hosta
Hosta x ‘Obsession’ – Obsession hosta
Hosta x ‘Ooh La La’ – Ooh La La hosta
Hosta x ‘Pandora’s Box’ – Pandora’s Box hosta
Hosta x ‘Pea Pod’ – Pea Pod hosta
Hosta x ‘Pearl Lake’ – Pearl Lake hosta
Hosta x ‘Peter Pan’ – Peter Pan hosta
Hosta x ‘Pineapple Poll’ – Pineapple Poll hosta
Hosta x ‘Pineapple Upsidedown Cake’ – Pineapple Upsidedown Cake hosta
Hosta x ‘Potomac Pride’ – Potomac Pride hosta
Hosta x ‘Radiant Edger’ – Radiant Edger hosta
Hosta x ‘Rock Princess’ – Rock Princess hosta
Hosta x ‘Sagae’ – Sagae hosta
Hosta x ‘Samurai’ – Samurai hosta
Hosta x ‘Savannah Supreme’ – Savannah Supreme hosta
Hosta x ‘Sergeant Pepper’ – Sergeant Pepper hosta
Hosta x ‘Sharmon’ – Sharmon hosta
Hosta x ‘Silver Giant’ – Silver Giant hosta
Hosta x ‘Silver Streak’ – Silver Streak hosta
Hosta x ‘Striptease’ – Striptease hosta
Hosta x ‘Sugar and Spice’ – Sugar and Spice hosta
Hosta x ‘Sum Cup-O-Joe’ – Sum Cup-O-Joe hosta
Hosta x ‘Sun Power’ – Sun Power hosta
Hosta x ‘Sweet Susan’ – Sweet Susan hosta
Hosta x ‘Tarheel Blue’ – Tarheel Blue hosta
Hosta x ‘Teaspoon’ – Teaspoon hosta
Hosta x ‘Tiny Tears’ – Tiny Tears hosta
Hosta x ‘Twinkle Toes’ – Twinkle Toes hosta
Hosta x ‘Tyler’s Treasure’ – Tyler’s Treasure hosta
Hosta x ‘Undulata Univittata’ – Undulata Univittata hosta
Hosta x ‘Valentine Lace’ – Valentine Lace hosta
Hosta x ‘Verna Jean’ – Verna Jean hosta
Hosta x ‘Veronica Lake’ – Veronica Lake hosta
Hosta x ‘War Party’ – War Party hosta
Hosta x ‘Winfield Gold’ – Winfield Gold hosta
Hosta x ‘Winsome’ – Winsome hosta
Hosta x ‘Winter Snow’ – Winter Snow hosta
Hosta x ‘Wogon’ – Wogon hosta