One of Three — A Living Piece of Hosta History
Van Wade of Wade and Gatton Nursery developed Hosta 'American Pharoah' as an unregistered giant blue-green selection from his personal collection. Hosta Choice Gardens acquired our specimen through an American Hosta Society auction — at that time, only three divisions had ever been released from Wade and Gatton's collection. The enormous, corrugated leaves emerge with a deep glaucous blue coating that transitions to a rich blue-green as the season progresses. At 91 cm (36") tall and 203 cm (80") wide, it commands any large shade border with rare authority. This is originator's stock — grown and verified at our nursery in Bécancour, QC.
-
Extraordinary Provenance: One of only three divisions ever released from Van Wade's personal collection, acquired through an American Hosta Society auction — a genuine collector's piece with documented originator's stock integrity.
-
Massive Architectural Scale: Reaches 91 cm (36") tall and 203 cm (80") wide, making it one of the largest hostas in cultivation and a commanding landscape specimen unlike anything else in the shade garden.
-
Deep Glaucous Blue Foliage: Leaves emerge with a striking blue wax coating that matures to a rich blue-green through the season, maintaining bold presence from spring to frost.
-
Heavy Corrugated Substance: Thick, deeply textured leaves offer exceptional durability and outstanding natural resistance to slug damage throughout the Canadian growing season.
-
Originator's Stock Integrity: Grown directly from Van Wade's own collection — not propagated through secondary sources — ensuring the authentic giant form and glaucous character are fully preserved.
| Feature |
Specification |
| Size (H × W) |
91 cm × 203 cm (36" × 80") |
| Hardiness Zone |
3–9 |
| Colour |
Deep glaucous blue to blue-green |
| Light Requirements |
Partial to full shade |
Grower's Tip: 'American Pharoah' handles Canadian winters with ease from Zone 3 through 9, and its massive scale is best appreciated in a large open border where it has room to reach its full 203 cm (80") spread — think of the sweeping ravine gardens along the Niagara Escarpment where a plant this size truly earns its name. We grow every division at our nursery in Bécancour, QC, maintaining the originator's stock integrity that makes this plant so rare. Our True to Type standard means you receive the authentic 'American Pharoah', confirmed before it leaves Bécancour.
