H. ‘Undertow’

Overview

Registered in 2012, *Hosta* 'Undertow' is a small, fast-growing cultivar resulting from a cross between *H. 'Don Quixote'* and *H. 'Sea Octopus'*. It is visually distinctive for its lance-shaped, medium green leaves with narrow, flat, pale margins that arch downward and curve back toward the clump center, a habit reflected in its cultivar name.

In the Garden

Reaching 10 inches (25.4 cm) in height and 30 inches (76.2 cm) in diameter, 'Undertow' forms a dense, mound-like clump suitable for the front of borders, rock gardens, or containers. Its small size and arching leaf habit make it an effective textural accent in partial to full shade, pairing well with ferns, tiarella, or other small hostas. The green scapes, with red bases, rise 15 to 20 inches (38.1 to 50.8 cm) above the foliage.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture, especially during establishment, and apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as growth emerges. Typical hosta-growing zones apply; slug and deer damage are possible but less frequent on smaller, tougher-leaved cultivars.