Hosta 'Shake Down'

[S]  When Jeff Moore crossed 'Halloween' (a blend of two of his First Look blue-ribbon winners) with Ron Livingston's 'Atom Smasher', he created a real showstopper! It's easy to see why Hosta 'Shake Down' always draws enthusiastic comments from visitors to Jeff's garden. Reaching just 10" tall and 24" wide, this small plant proves that dynamic architectural energy does not require a massive space.

This is a plant that never rests. Narrow, strap-like blue-green leaves explode with enthusiasm outward in a wide, starburst-like rosette, featuring purple petioles and lively rippled margins that scatter across the entire clump.  In midsummer, charming pinkish-lavender flowers bloom and hybridizers will be thrilled to know Hosta 'Shake Down' is exceptionally fertile both ways.

(J. Moore)