H. 'Fortunei Albomarginata'
or is it
'Undulata Albomarginata'

We do not have nearly as many solid coloured Hostas as we have variegated ones. This here is probably the first variegated we added to our assortment. It has not been a particularly fast grower for us, but it does show it's face in a couple of locations in the yard. This one here was dug up this spring and potted up. A couple of Albos were growing underneath some Hick's Yews in a smallish raised planter in our shaded North sideyard and the smaller one of the two is being given a shot at a life with less direct sun and more moisture.

Because of a lot of similarities with another green/white variegated one called 'Ground Master', you really have to pay close attention to the small details in order to be able to notice the differences, a casual glance will likely lead to mis-identification of the plant you see in front of you if you're not careful. 'Fortunei Albomarginata' has a more rounded leaf than 'Ground Master', which is narrower and more ovoid shaped. Both have a fairly narrow white variegation margin and both show a minor degree of corrugation. 'Ground Master' breaks ground well before 'Albomarginata' however and starts to put up flower scapes by late May, at least here in our area.

It's this attention to detail that is starting to make me now think that what I have here is not what I first believed it to be. While I have no doubt this is some 'Albomarginata', I'm starting to have my doubts that it is 'Fortunei Albomarginata'. What I have here may well be 'Undulata Albomarginata'. The more I compare picture material of both, the more I'm leaning that way. The Fortunei form seems to have slightly more cupping to its leaves, whereas Undulata appears to flatter, perhaps even a degree of arching to it's leaves. The plants were purchased as a 3-pack of dry bare roots and were only identified as 'Albomarginata' leaving it to yours truly to try and figure it out. I'll have to do some more digging and see whether perhaps flower shape and colour will prove to be of help.

With a bit more digging I have come to the conclusion it is indeed 'Fortunei Albomarginata' and the reason for that is the glaucous nature of the back of the leaves, which are glossy in the case of 'Undulata Albomarginata', plus there just isn't enough waviness to the leaf edge for it to be the latter.

This is the above mentioned root which was transplanted in '05. It's May 4th, 2006 and it's doing quite nicely.

By the middle of June '06 it is showing good growth and quite comfortable with where it is: in a #3 pot in the North sideyard, in the shade except for perhaps an hour in early morning in mid-summer.

The companions it has in this spot are a 'Patriot' and a 'Sum and Substance'. The latter was nursed along from showing just a single leaf the first year it was planted out in our yard. I took pity on it and put it in a #3 pot and it has grown steadily over the past 3 years. Since 'S&S' gets to be so big at maturity it will find its way into the plant sale next spring more than likely. I only have room for one of them. Besides, 'S&S' really prefers much more direct sun for good growth than what it sees in this location.

Get more details about this cultivar from Hugo's Hosta Database.