Botanical classification:Hosta undulata.

Cultivar designation: ‘VER10234’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHosta undulataand will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘VER10234’. ‘VER10234’ represents a newHostagrown for use as a landscape plant.

The new cultivar arose as a mutation ofHosta‘White Feather’ (not patented) in which tissue culture explants were treated with oryzalin by the Inventor Noordwijk, The Netherlands to double the chromosomes. ‘VER10234’ was selected in spring of 2016 from the plants that resulted from the treatment and evaluation from within the population of planta obtained. After oryzalin treatment; the plants were measured for the weight of the nuclei with a flowcytometer to indicate ploidy level. The tetraploid plants that were evaluated unexpectly varied greatly in leaf shape, fertility, and in particular the emergence and lastingness of the white coloration of the leaves. Some of the plants emerged green, other emerged white and quickly reverted to green typical of the parent plant, while ‘VER10234’ exhibited white coloration that was long lasting into the season. The stability through multiple rounds of dividing in tissue culture of the long lasting white coloration is thought to possibly be due to changes in plastid or chlorophyll development; an unexpected result.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by tissue culture using meristematic tissue under the direction of the Inventor in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands in 2018. Asexual propagation of the new cultivar by tissue culture has shown that the unique features are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘VER10234’ as a new and unique cultivar ofHosta.1. ‘VER10234’ exhibits young leaves that emerge white in color with green veins, maturing leaves that slowly develop streaks that are green in color, and fully mature leaves that turn all green in color (viridescent effect).2. ‘VER10234’ exhibits flowers that are lavender in color.3. ‘VER10234’ exhibits flowers that are held horizontal to slightly dropping on the flowering stem.4. ‘VER10234’ exhibits flowers that are open trumpet in form.5. ‘VER10234’ exhibits fertile flowers.

The parent plant of ‘VER10234’, ‘White Feather’, differs from ‘VER10234’ in having leaves and flowers that are thinner in substance, more numerous, and smaller in size, flowers that are nearly closed trumpet in form, held more downward on the flowering stems, and smaller in size, in producing more shoots that are smaller and thinner in substance, in having white foliage that very quickly becomes green (viridescent), and in being sterile. ‘VER10234’ can be most closely compared toHosta undulata‘Albomarginata’ (not patented). ‘Albomarginata’ differs from in lacking the robust “tetraploid” features in having smaller and thinner leaves, stems, and flowers, in having foliage with green centers and white margins as young and mature leaves that lack viridescent coloration (light colored foliage that turns green with maturity).

