Hosta 'Almost Unreal'

[S-M]  This red-stemmed, red-blushing tetraploid sport of 'Almost' discovered by Belgian super hosta collector Danny Van Eechaute almost defies belief! True to its name, Hosta 'Almost Unreal' looks almost too good to be true with such extraordinarily intense color saturation and bulletproof leaf substance.

Thanks to its doubled up genetics, the green leaves possess a remarkably thick, rubbery, high-gloss finish that stands up to summer heat and slugs. But the real show happens in the spring when saturated red petioles drive intense burgundy-red color through the center vein, branching deep out into the side veins across much of the leaf.

For hybridizers interested in creating red stemmed tetraploids, this plant may be a crucial piece of the puzzle...it stands out as an excellent parent plant for developing future generations of heavy-substanced, red-stemmed tetraploid hostas. Hosta 'Almost Unreal' is also an exceptional addition to the display garden for those of us looking for unreal drama!

(D. Van Eechaute)