H. ‘Miss Ruby’

Overview

Registered in 2005, *Hosta* 'Miss Ruby' is a small variegated cultivar of unknown pollen parentage, with *H.* 'Katsuragawa Beni' as its pod parent. It is visually distinctive for its red petioles that extend from the base well into the leaf blade and persist throughout the growing season, contrasting with medium green, slightly rippled leaf margins.

In the Garden

'Miss Ruby' forms a compact, mound-like clump reaching 8 inches (20.3 cm) in height and 18 inches (45.7 cm) in diameter, with a fast growth rate. It is suitable for partial to full shade in typical hosta-growing zones and works well in the front of borders, rock gardens, or as a small-scale groundcover. Its small size also makes it appropriate for container cultivation.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture, especially during dry periods, and apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Like most hostas, 'Miss Ruby' may be susceptible to slug and deer damage, so protective measures should be considered in areas where these pests are common.