Red Flowered Hostas

Red Flowered Hostas Hybridizing and Advancing

There are two known types of Red Flowered Hostas Akane – A Japanese seedling from the Japanese word meaning “Red”. None are known to exist in the US. The last story is of one at Peter Ruh’s that came up missing. Seeds from Akane have been sold by the Ruh’s but none have produced red flowers that I am aware of at this time Notable seedlings from Akane are Amethyst Star and Cosmic Rain. The newest one suspected to be of Akane origin is Exp 136. Kokuryu – Very rare red flowered selection from Japan. You can still hunt one up here and there but they are not listed for sale anywhere and are very inconsistant growers. Those that have them have been known to lose the plant one year to the next. Ruh’s have also sold seedlings from Kokuryu over the years and they have produced some very nice red flowered seedlings Notable seedlings from Kokuryu are Edgar Allen Poe.

Kokuryu Most self crosses of Kokuryu will produce red flowered seedlings. It is rare but possible to get red flowered seedlings in crosses with non-red flowered pollen.

Lets Explore the Kokuryu line

Kokuryu As you can see, the flower is not truly red but more of a magenta color.

Kokuryu f1 This is my first red flowered seedling that I grew from seeds from Ruh’s.

Kokuryu f1 x Kokuryu Crossing Kokuryu seedlings with Kokuryu produces 100% red flowers

Kokuryu f1 X Designer Genes The first shot was with a flash and seems to take out the red color

This is the only cross at this point in time to get red flowers from non-red pollen

Kokuryu f1 x Exp 136

One of my seedlings from the winter of 2012-13 – Kokuryu f1 x Exp 136

Kokuryu x Exp 136

Kokuryu * Exp 136 II

Another seedling from this past winter that is a bit more purple then the others

Next is a series of Red Flowered plants crossed with non-red flowered pollen.

Using Kokuryu f1 as the pod parent

Katsuragawa Beni pollen example

Exp 136

This Akane type seedling is currently not available but C.H. Falstad has made it available to a few hybridizers to work on. Lots of self crosses have been grown from seed and early reports show about 10% have red flowers.

Exp 136

Exp 136 x Exp 136

One of the better Exp 136 x Exp 136 crosses

Edgar Allen Poe The first “black flowered” seedling is Kokuryu f1 x Designer Genes

Amethyst Star

Amethyst Star is Jim Spence’s seedling out of Akane.

Cosmic Rain

Another Jim Spence creation – Cosmic Rain which is out of Akane.