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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the new and distinct
cultivar of Hosta, botanically known as Hosta hybrid (Tratt.),
and hereinafter referred to as the cultivar 'Pineapple
Punch'.
The new plant was discovered by the inventor,
Amy Bergeron as a non-induced, naturally occurring whole
plant mutation of Hosta 'Pineapple Upsidedown Cake' (not
patented) in a greenhouse at a
nursery in Zeeland, Mich., USA. Asexual propagation of the plant as the same
nursery by tissue culture and division has shown that
the unique and distinct characteristics of this new
plant are stable and reproduce true to type in
successive generations.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Hosta 'Pineapple
Punch' is unique from its parent sport, Hosta 'Pineapple Upsidedown Cake' (not patented) and all
other Hosta cultivars known to the inventor, in several
traits. Hosta 'Pineapple Upsidedown Cake' is a sport of Hosta 'Pineapple Poll' (not patented), a hybrid of
H. lancifolia ×
H.
'Sieboldiana' made by Eric Smith. Hosta 'Pineapple Poll' is a solid green-leafed Hosta with long
pointed leaves, heavy substance and a coarse wave or
piecrust-like edge. 'Pineapple Upsidedown Cake' is the
same leaf form, smaller in size, with a light yellow to
cream center and dark green margin. 'Pineapple
Punch' is
a reverse-pattern variegation of 'Pineapple Upsidedown Cake' with the light yellow to cream color on the leaf
margin and dark green center. All three plants have
similar growth and flowering habits except that 'Pineapple Upsidedown Cake' is a slower grower and
smaller mature size.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The photographs of the new plant demonstrate the overall
appearance of the plant including the unique traits. The
colors are as accurate as reasonably possible with color
reproductions. Some slight variation of color may occur
as a result of lighting quality, intensity, wavelength,
direction or reflection.
FIG. 1 shows the plant with scapes, flowers and buds.
FIG. 2 shows a close up of the flowers.
FIG. 3 shows the top side of a leaf with the intricate
leaf colors.
FIG. 3 shows the bottom side of the leaf.
DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
The following descriptions and color references are
based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (2001 edition) except where common dictionary terms are
used. The new plant, Hosta 'Pineapple
Punch’, has not
been observed under all possible environments. The
phenotype may vary slightly with different environmental
conditions, such as temperature, light, fertility and
moisture, but without any change in the genotype. The
following observations and size descriptions are of a
three-year old plant in a one gallon container grown in
Zeeland, Mich., USA under 50% supplemental shade, day
temperatures of 18 cm (7 in.) to 32 degrees C., and night
temperatures of 14 to 22 degrees C.
+ Botanical Classification: Hosta sp. cultivar 'Pineapple
Punch'.
+ Parentage: Naturally occurring whole plant
mutation of Hosta 'Pineapple Upsidedown Cake' (not
patented).
• Propagation: Method by tissue culture and
division, Time to initiate roots from both division and
tissue culture about three weeks.
• Rooting habit: Normal, fleshy, to 3 mm thick, slightly branching.
• Plant habit: Herbaceous, moderately loose
rhizomatous perennial, symmetrical, radical glabrous
above and glaucous underneath leaves upright and erect
through flowering period, (14 to 16 leaves per
division), more horizontal late in the season and in
maturity.
- Crop time: Under normal summer greenhouse
growing conditions about 16 weeks to finish in a
one-liter container. Plant vigor is very good.
- Plant size: Foliage at flowering is 30 to 35 cm (13.7 in.)
tall and 40 to 50 cm (19.6 in.) wide.
• Foliage description:
- Shape and size: Ovate to broadly ovate leaf
blades have an acute apex and cordate base. The leaf
blades are 18 cm (7 in.) to 20 cm (7.9 in.) long and 5 to 7 cm (2.8 in.) wide. The leaf
blade margin is entire and the cream to light yellow
variegation pattern on the edge varies in different
regions of the leaf from 3 to 6 mm wide. Petioles are 14
to 16 cm (6.3 in.) long and 5 mm wide in the center broadening
slightly at the plant base (ground) and tapering at the
leaf blade.
- Venation: Parallel, same color as surrounding
leaf surface on the top and slightly whiter on the
bottom.
- Leaf blade color: Adaxial (upper) surface: early
season a deep green closest to RHS 137 C in the center,
RHS 154 D on the margin. Later in the growing season the
center is greener than RHS 127 A and bluer than RHS N138
A; the margin lightens to RHS 11 D. Abaxial (lower)
surface: early in the season is RHS N 138 D on the
center and RHS 144 C on the margin. Later in the season
the lower surface is RHS N 138 C in the center and RHS
11 D on the margin.
There is no clear intermediate color band on either
surface, but rather a melded yellow-green RHS 154 B on
older leaves with an occasional green line the same
color as the top or bottom center protruding into the
margin.
Petioles colors are the same as the respective leaf
colors with the margins being more greenish-yellow in
the shadier portions and more creamy-colored in higher
light levels. The basal one third of the petiole has a
gradient of reddish purple stipling RHS 61 A increasing
in quantity (density) closer to the ground.
• Flower description:
- Buds: Torpedo-shaped, flared at apex; two days
prior to opening the buds are between RHS 75 C and RHS
75 D with veins of RHS 70 B; and RHS 85 A, 6 to 7 cm (2.8 in.)
long, up to 1.5 cm (0.6 in.) wide.
- Peduncle: 7 to 9 mm in diameter, erect to 95 cm (37 in.) ;
closest to RHS N 138 C with some RHS 61 A stipling near
base.
- Pedicel: 1 to 1.2 cm (0.5 in.) long, 3 mm in diameter,
curved slightly downward, RHS N 80 D.
- Flowers: 30 to 36 per scape, 4 to 6 scapes per
plant; funnelform; 5 to 7 cm (2.8 in.) wide and 6 to 8 cm (3.1 in.) long,
(distal flowers being smaller) subtended by a simple,
entire, narrowly-acute, sessile bract with base wrapped
around scape, up to 2.0 cm (0.8 in.) long and 7 to 10 mm wide with a
border on both surfaces lighter than RHS 59 D and center
on both surfaces closest to RHS 143 D; flowers persist
for a normal period, up to two days on or off the plant,
and the scapes remain effective from early to late
August. No fragrance has been detected.
- Tepal: Six, simple, entire, fused at the base,
oblong to elliptic, with slightly-recurved acute apex,
approximately 5 to 6.0 cm (2.4 in.) long and 1.5 cm (0.6 in.) wide, arranged
in two layers of three, the inner three with clear 1 to
2 mm margin toward the apex, main adaxial (inner) color
in center of tepals is Red purple RHS 25 B and three
prominent violet stripes of RHS 84 B. The back of the
tepals is between RHS 76 B and 76 C with less obvious
stripes about RHS 71 C.
- Gynoecium: Single, style 7 to 8 cm (3.1 in.) long, 2 mm
diameter, near white, curled upward at distal end;
Stigma entire, white, up to 3 mm diameter.
- Androecium: Filaments six, white,
approximately 1 mm in diameter and up to 5 cm (2 in.) long;
curved at tips.
- Anthers: 5 to 6 mm long, 2 mm wide, about RHS N
79 A around margin of abaxial side, white in center,
pollen is yellow-orange RHS 17 B.
• Fruit: Tri-valve, longitudinally dehiscent
capsule, about 2.5 to 3 cm (1.2 in.) long and 5 mm diameter, when
mature is a combination of RHS 164C, RHS 165B and some
regions of RHS N167 B; as developing RHS.
• Seeds: flat winged samara with embryo at one
end, 10 to 24 per pod, approximately 10 mm long and 3 mm
wide.
• Disease resistance: The plant grows best with
plenty of moisture but is able to tolerate some drought
especially once established. Hardiness to at least USDA
zone 3, and other disease resistance is typical of other
hostas.
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According to the U.S. government, a new Hosta cultivar is an "invention". Therefore, it is
eligible to receive a patent, just like Edison's electric light
bulb. In the case of hostas and other plants, a patent means
that for the next 20 years, nobody may propagate and sell this
cultivar without providing compensation to the owner of the
patent. This is a different process than registering a Hosta with 
