Hostas are a beloved shade garden plant, prized for their wide variety of leaf colors, shapes, and sizes. There are now hundreds of hosta cultivars to choose from. With so many options, it can be hard for gardeners to decide which hostas to plant in their gardens. This is where the Hosta of the Year award comes in handy!
What is the Hosta of the Year?
The Hosta of the Year is an annual award given to a single hosta variety by the American Hosta Growers Association (AHGA) It highlights a hosta that performs well across North America and is widely available at nurseries The goal is to help gardeners discover excellent new hosta introductions,
The AHGA began the Hosta of the Year program in 1996. Each year, AHGA members vote on Hosta of the Year from nominations submitted by hosta growers and suppliers Winners are chosen based on a variety of factors
- Good performance across diverse growing conditions
- Wide availability in sufficient supply
- Retail price around $15 in the year it is chosen
- Unique characteristics and appeal for gardeners
The Hosta of the Year provides great publicity for exceptional new hosta varieties. It allows exciting new plants to stand out against the crowd and get exposure across the gardening industry.
Hosta of the Year 2022: Shadowland® ‘Diamond Lake’
The winner of the 2022 Hosta of the Year title is Hosta Shadowland® ‘Diamond Lake’.
‘Diamond Lake’ is a beautiful blue-leaved hosta known for its heart-shaped leaves with very thick substance. The blue leaves have slightly rippled edges. ‘Diamond Lake’ forms a medium-sized clump reaching about 18 inches tall and wide.
In early to midsummer, pale lavender tubular flowers rise on 18-inch scapes above the foliage. The flowers attract hummingbirds and other pollinators to the garden.
This hosta was bred by noted hosta hybridizer Hans Hansen of Shady Oaks Nursery in Waseca, Minnesota. It’s part of Hansen’s famous “Shadowland” series of hostas. ‘Diamond Lake’ resulted from a cross between two blue-leaved hostas: ‘Elegans’ and ‘Francee’.
Some key features that made ‘Diamond Lake’ stand out as Hosta of the Year for 2022:
- Striking powdery blue foliage color
- Thick, heart-shaped leaves with good substance
- Excellent slug resistance
- Fast growth rate for a blue hosta
- Good vigor through the growing season
- Lavender flowers in early summer
‘Diamond Lake’ performs well across diverse climates and lighting conditions. While the blue color is most vivid in cooler climates, it holds up better in heat and sun than many blue hostas. This makes it adaptable to a wide range of regions and gardens.
The thick leaves also hold up well through the season, looking fresh even in late summer. The plant has good vigor, spreading at a moderate pace to form a full clump.
Using Hosta of the Year ‘Diamond Lake’ in the Garden
One of the key benefits of Hosta of the Year varieties like ‘Diamond Lake’ is learning new ways to use exciting hostas in our gardens.
Here are some tips for incorporating this year’s winner:
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Use it as a focal point – The striking powder blue leaves and vigorous habit of ‘Diamond Lake’ make it perfect for centering mixed containers or island garden beds. Let it stand out.
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Complement bold foliage – Pair ‘Diamond Lake’ with hostas or perennials that have contrasting leaf colors and shapes. For example, combine it with wide gold hosta leaves or feathery astilbes.
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Plant in groups – Planting several clumps of ‘Diamond Lake’ together will create a cool blue carpet in the garden. Use 3-5 clumps planted 18 inches apart.
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Surround with summer flowers – The blue hosta leaves are lovely surrounded by brightly colored summer annuals like zinnias, marigolds, verbena, and salvias.
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Add vertical interest – Add tall plants like purple coneflowers, beebalms, or ornamental grasses behind ‘Diamond Lake’ to provide vertical contrast.
Celebrating New Hostas
Part of the fun of following each year’s Hosta of the Year selection is discovering inspiring new hosta varieties. The award highlights improved breeding work and raises the bar on hosta performance.
Over two decades of Hosta of the Year winners, we’ve seen huge advances in areas like:
- Blue leaf color intensity and stability
- Disease resistance, especially to foliar nematodes
- Tolerance of more sun exposure
- Wider range of sizes and shapes
- Greater number of variegated varieties
Hosta breeders continue innovating and introducing hostas with better traits. As hosta enthusiasts, we get to reap the rewards in our gardens!
So even if you don’t plant the specific Hosta of the Year, pay attention to each year’s winner. It sheds light on emerging improvements in hostas and where hosta breeding is headed.
The Future of Hostas
Hosta breeding is still rapidly advancing. Exciting new varieties emerge each year from hybridizers like Bob Solberg, Tony Avent, and Hans Hansen.
Some key areas expected to keep improving include:
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Novel leaf shapes and ruffling – More dramatic rippled and twisted leaves
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Variegation – Increased stability and uniqueness of variegation patterns
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Sun tolerance – More ability to withstand several hours of direct sun
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Size extremes – Larger giant hostas and more very compact mini hostas
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Fragrance – Potentially more scented hosta varieties
Hosta collectors and gardeners have an exciting future ahead. The Hosta of the Year program will continue spotlighting the very best new introductions each year.
So try out this year’s winner, ‘Diamond Lake’, or another past Hosta of the Year in your garden. Then watch for new stand-out varieties to emerge in the coming years!
Alex J. Summers Awards
These awards were established in 1982 in honor of one of the founding members and first president of The American Hosta Society, Alex J. Summers of Bridgeville, Delaware.
This award is the highest award offered by The American Hosta Society. It is awarded to a member of the Society in recognition of having given outstanding service to The American Hosta Society, the development of the genus Hosta, or both.
This award is for a hosta of distinguished merit and is selected by the recipient of the Alex J. Summers Distinguished Merit Award. The selected hosta’s merit is detailed in the acceptance address of the AJS Distinguished Merit Award recipient, and the name of the hosta appears on the recipient’s plaque.
H. ‘Heart and Soul’ (Rob Mortko)
Winners of the Eunice Fisher Awards
2024 Eunice Fisher Distinguished Hybridizer Merit Award Eric Smith & H. ‘Halcyon’ (posthumously)
2023 Eunice Fisher Distinguished Hybridizer Merit Award Ralph H. (Herb) & H. ‘Dorothy Benedict’ (posthumously)
2022 Eunice Fisher Distinguished Hybridizer Merit Award Rod Kuenster naming H. ‘Cosmic Crocodile’
2021 Eunice Fisher Distinguished Hybridizer Merit Award Hans Hansen naming H. ‘Diamond Lake’
2019 Eunice Fisher Distinguished Hybridizer Merit Award Jeroen Linneman naming H. ‘Valley’s Pavlova’
2018 Eunice Fisher Distinguished Hybridizer Merit Award Bev and Dave Stegeman naming H. ‘Midnight Oil’
2017 Eunice Fisher Distinguished Hybridizer Merit Award Dr. Douglas E. Beilstein naming H. ‘Cup of Grace’
2016 Eunice Fisher Distinguished Hybridizer Merit Award Don Dean naming H. ‘Pure Intentions’
2015 Eunice Fisher Distinguished Hybridizer Merit Award Tony Avent naming H. ‘Branching Out’
2014 Eunice Fisher Distinguished Hybridizer Merit Award Dr. James Wilkins naming H. ‘Wolverine’
2013 Eunice Fisher Distinguished Hybridizer Merit Award Olga Petryszyn naming H. ‘Brother Stefan’
2012 Eunice Fisher Distinguished Hybridizer Merit Award Dr. Kevin Vaughn naming H. ‘Christmas Tree’
2011 Eunice Fisher Distinguished Hybridizer Merit Award Bob Kuk naming H. ‘Van Wade’
2010 Eunice Fisher Distinguished Hybridizer Merit Award Dick Ward naming H. ‘Fat Cat’
2009 Eunice Fisher Distinguished Hybridizer Merit Award William and Eleanor Lachman naming H. ‘Robert Frost’
2008 Eunice Fisher Distinguished Hybridizer Merit Award Robert M. Solberg naming H. ‘Ginsu Knife’
2007 Eunice Fisher Distinguished Hybridizer Merit Award Mary Chastain naming H. ‘Lakeside Cupcake’
2006 Eunice Fisher Distinguished Hybridizer Merit Award Mildred Seaver naming H. ‘Sea Fire’
2005 Eunice Fisher Award H. montana f. macrophylla Garden of Sue and Dave Mills
2003 Eunice Fisher Award H. ‘Lakeside Lollipop’ Garden of Floyd and Carolyn Broussard
2002 Eunice Fisher Award H. montana f. macrophylla Garden of Alan and Susan Tower
2001 Eunice Fisher Award H. ‘Canadian Shield’ Garden of Graham Ray
2000 Eunice Fisher Award H. ‘Cutting Edge’ Garden of Hideko Gowan
1998 Eunice Fisher Award H. ‘Northern Halo’ Debbie Dietrich
1997 Eunice Fisher Award H. ‘Satin Beauty’ Garden of Emily and Gilbert Daniels
1994 Eunice Fisher Award (Best registered large leaf cultivar-awarded to the hybridizer/introducer) H. ‘Green Piecrust” Zoercher Garden
1990 Eunice Fisher Award (Best registered large leaf cultivar-awarded to the hybridizer/introducer) H. ‘Black Hills’ Savory
1988 Eunice Fisher Award (Best registered large leaf cultivar-awarded to the hybridizer/introducer) H. ‘Big John’ Clarence Owens
1986 Eunice Fisher Award (Best registered large leaf cultivar-awarded to the hybridizer/introducer) H. ‘Antioch’ Tompkins-Ruh-Hofer
1982 Eunice Fisher Award (Best registered large leaf cultivar-awarded to the hybridizer/introducer) H. ‘Sea Monster’ Mildred Seaver
1980 Eunice Fisher Award (Best registered large leaf cultivar-awarded to the hybridizer/introducer) H. ‘Gold Standard’ Pauline Banyai
1978 Eunice Fisher Award (Best registered large leaf cultivar-awarded to the hybridizer/introducer) H. ‘Piedmont Gold’ Henry Payne
1976 Eunice Fisher Award (Best registered large leaf cultivar-awarded to the hybridizer/introducer) H. ‘Francee’ Minnie Klopping
1974 Eunice Fisher Award (Best registered large leaf cultivar-awarded to the hybridizer/introducer) H. ‘Krossa Regal’ Gus Krossa
1973 Eunice Fisher Award (Best registered large leaf cultivar-awarded to the hybridizer/introducer) H. ‘Green Acres’ Julia Geissler
1972 Eunice Fisher Award (Best registered large leaf cultivar-awarded to the hybridizer/introducer) H. ‘Starburst’ Mervin Eisel
Diamond Lake Hosta Spotlight
FAQ
What is the most sought after hosta?
- June’
- Liberty’
- Lakeside Paisley Print’
- Sagae’
- Sum and Substance’
- Halcyon’
- Goodness Gracious’
- Rainbow’s End’
What is the 2025 hosta of the year?
The American Hosta G rowers Association has honored ‘Skywriter’ as the 2025 Hosta of the Year. This medium-sized hosta, bred by Chicago-area hybridizer Dr. Dan Wols, forms a semi-upright mound approximately 15 inches tall and 30 inches wide.
What do coffee grounds do for hostas?
Amending soil with coffee grounds improves water retention, enhancing the health of moisture-loving plants such as bleeding heart, canna lily, cardinal flower, hosta, primrose, and spiderwort. Avoid using grounds in waterwise landscapes or around low water plants.
What happens if you don’t cut back hostas in the fall?
Most Hostas leaves turn yellow, die back and go dormant over the Winter. After the first frost of the season, the leaves tend to go a bit mushy too. There is no harm to the plant whatsoever in leaving the dead leaves on the plant, they will naturally drop off anyway.