The Longevity of Hosta Cultivars

Q: I have a question about cultivars for a project I am working on. Will some of the plant varieties with really unique names like Jurassic begonia or “New York Night” hellebore be available to consumers indefinitely, or do new cultivars like that have a limited life span in stores or online? 

A: For fun, I went to the Plant Delights catalog to look for the longevity of hosta cultivars. The owner, Tony Avent, hybridized and named “Out House Delight” hosta, “Fried Green Tomatoes” hosta, and “Little Redneck” hosta. These outre named hosta have enjoyed varying life in the marketplace.  

“Fried Green Tomatoes” is still available, but “Out House Delight” has faded into obscurity. On the other hand, “Sum and Substance” hosta has been around for 20 years.  

My point is that the varying names for plants do not guarantee success. It’s their behavior in the garden that guarantees longevity. The thick leaves, remarkable size, and outstanding flowers made “Sum and Substance” a keeper for many gardeners.  

My guess is some marketer chose the name Jurassic to apply to some of the many hybrids of big-leafed, strong-stemmed begonias. I don’t know who the breeder was, but I’ll bet they’re big.  

“New York Night” hellebore originated at Walters Gardens which is comparatively small. The black flower color or some other characteristic may carry it for a long while, but no one can predict how long.