H. 'Amber Tiara'

Though not quite as eye-catching as some of the other members of the Tiara family, I couldn't pass up an opportunity to add to the assorted Tiaras in our collection. Looking a little worse for thirst after their trip from Chatham, ON, what I received was very easily separated into individual plants. They'll be upright in no time flat.

Just for fun, here in late July '09 are all the member of the Tiara family we have. We have, top right 'Golden Tiara', the longest lived member in our yard and found in many spots in the front, back and side yards, bottom right is 'Grand Tiara', now in its 3rd year in our yard and has been divided into several divisons, some of which are potted and some are in the side yard. Bottom left is 'Amber Tiara', which is of course a new addition for 2009 and still looking a bit scrawny, top left is 'Platinum Tiara' which is now into its 5th year in the yard, and finally in the center is 'Emerald Tiara', this one in its 2nd year.

Nothing I saw from this cultivar in 2009 prepared me for what you see here, a nice bright beacon, yet another example of how light exposure influences the appearance of Hostas. No doubt the ones I received in 2009 were grown in pretty much full shade, look at how green they were when they arrived here, with no hint of the bright yellow you see here. While I haven't got a shot of it yet, you'd be hard pressed on the basis of the shade of yellow you expect to see on 'Fire Island' or 'Paradise Island' and tell them apart when side-by-side, except for the red on the others petioles. Of all the Hostas I traded in 2009, this one has to be the biggest surprise in spring 2010.

Here's that shot I'd been talking about: if it weren't for the colour of the petioles you'd have one heck of time trying to tell these two apart. It'll be interesting to follow this new variety through its first year in our garden, it is not on the list of viridescent Hostas, but will it get any lighter, the way 'Platinum Tiara' does for example?

We're a bit later in the season, mid July, and the answer to the posed question is that indeed, it does lighten up the way 'Platinum Tiara' does.

The early leaves are going lighter and are becoming dessicated, newer growth is showing up greener. Like 'Platinum Tiara', this variety is best grown in less than full sun the way it has been this year. I'll have to find a less intense light location for it. Most of the edge variegated members of the family, like 'Golden Tiara' and 'Grand Tiara', seem to deal with full sun much better.