Hosta ‘T Rex'

Hosta 'T-Rex' Asparagaceae

A hosta that clearly interpreted its name as a size recommendation rather than a warning. ‘T Rex’ is a colossal, mound-forming cultivar with enormous, matt green leaves, heavily corrugated and deeply impressed with prominent veins. Individual leaves can reach around 45cm long, while a mature clump may spread to 2m or more. In summer, tall scapes rise well above the foliage carrying loose clusters of near-white, bell-shaped flowers. It is a hybrid of Hosta montana f. macrophylla × ‘Big John’, raised by Dick and Jane Ward in the USA and registered in 1999, originally as ‘Tom Rex’ before the name was changed to ‘T Rex’ in 2005. A superb architectural plant for moist shade, provided you have room for the dinosaur.

Introduction: Dick and Jane Ward, USA; registered 1999 as ‘Tom Rex’, subsequently changed to ‘T Rex’. 

Growing conditions: Fertile, humus-rich, moisture-retentive soil in shade or partial shade. Shelter from drying winds and maintain summer moisture for the largest foliage. 

Flowering: June–August
Hardiness: H7, below -20°C
Height: 75–90cm
Spread: 150–200cm