Plantain Lily
Growth habit
Herbaceous
Perennation
Long-lived polycarpic perennial
Location
Source of plant
Steve Chamberlain
Description
Plant: 32 in. (81.3 cm.) diameter, 15 in. (38.1 cm.) high. Mound-like with a moderate growth rate. Leaf: 8.5 in. (21.6 cm.) long, 6.75 in. (17.1 cm.) wide. 10 pairs of prominent veins. Ranging medium green togold with a 1 in. (2.54 cm.) wide, flat, dark green margin. Dull on top and underneath; lightly cupped, lightly corrugated, ovate with a cordate base. Scape: 18 in. (45.7 cm.) high, ranging from 16-19 in. (40.6-48.3 cm.). Flower: 2 in. (2.54 cm.) long, near white with lavender striping, tubular; pod is dark green; Manlius NY: 7/6 – 7/29 – 8/6 (4 – 4 – 4). Seed: viability unknown Clump History: the original seedling, 5 years old, growing in Manlius, NY. Notable Characteristics: green gold center with dark green margin.[Parentage unknown] Additional Registration Information: Clump History. This seedling was germinated in the fall of 1991 at Cross Creek Nursery, Manlius, NY. It was selected by Helen H. Chamberlain from among thousands of field-grown seedlings offered for sale in October, 1995. It was immediately planted at nearby Academy Gardens (the private gardens of Helen and Steven Chamberlain) in full shade. At this time it was still a 1-division plant. During the 1996 season, it was grown in full shade and increased to 2 divisions. Under these conditions, the flowers were nearly white with very pale lavender streaks and the leaves were subtly variegated with dark green 0.75” to 1.0” margins and medium green centers. A second flush of leaves in mid-summer were markedly more gold. Early in the spring of 1997, the overhead canopy was pruned away to provide about 3 hours of mid-day sun. The clump emerged as 5 divisions. Under conditions of partial sun, the flowers were pale lavender and the leaves developed medium gold centers (lutescent) with dark green margins and prominent green veins. Parentage: Although the parents of H. ‘Academy Muse’ are unknown, the number of possibilities is limited. Seeds used to germinate the crop of seedlings from which H. ‘Academy Muse’was selected were from open-pollinated seed pods only from the following cultivars: H. ‘August Moon’, H. Montana ‘Aureomarginata’, H.’Blue Seer’, H. ‘Frances Williams’, H. ventricosa, and H. plantaginea. Other hostas grown in the same field were H. ‘Francee’, H. Undulata Univittata’, H. ‘Fortunei Aureomarginata’, H. ‘Gold Standard’, H. ‘Krossa Regal’, and H. ‘Antioch’. H. ventricosa generally comes true from seeds, and H. plantaginea can be eliminated since the flowers of H. ‘Academy Muse’ are not fragrant. Given the vein count, it seems likely that H. ‘August Moon’ may be the pod parent rather than H. Montana ‘Aureomarginata’, H. ‘Blue Seer’, or H. ‘Frances Williams’. Significance of the name. The name H. ‘Academy Muse’ reflects the fact that the seedling was grown to maturity at Academy Gardens (Academy) and that it was the plant that inspired us to undertake our own hybridization program (Muse). This is the first hosta selected and registered from Academy Gardens by Helen and Steve Chamberlain. Earlier Names. The original plant of H. ‘Academy Muse’ is hosta #343 in the collection of Academy Gardens. It was previously referred to as UK47 and H. ‘Helen’s Muted’ although neither of these designators appear outside our internal notes and records.
USDA Hardiness Zone
5