A Tactile Work of Art for the Shade
Hosta 'Crinkled Leather' is a blue-green hosta Don Dean registered in 2014 from a cross of H. 'Ebony Spires' and H. 'Silver Frost'. The leaves are heavily rippled, deeply corrugated, and moderately cupped with a thick waxy bloom coating both surfaces. That glaucous bloom gives the foliage a sapphire-grey sheen that deepens as the season progresses. It grows well in Canadian shade gardens across zones 3–9 and forms a tall, upright mound.
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Intense Rugosity: Foliage becomes more corrugated as it matures, building a sculptural presence that deepens through the season.
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Glaucous Blue Sheen: A thick, waxy coating on both leaf surfaces gives a sapphire-grey finish that catches dappled light beautifully.
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Dynamic Structure: Leaves are moderately cupped, lightly twisted, and heavily rippled along the margins for a multi-dimensional display.
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Stately Upright Form: The vase-like habit reaches 56 cm (22") tall and 86 cm (34") wide, adding height to the mid-border and pairing well with lower-growing shade perennials.
| Feature |
Specification |
| Size (H × W) |
56 cm × 86 cm (22" × 34") |
| Hardiness Zone |
3–9 |
| Colour |
Medium blue-green with glaucous bloom |
| Light Requirements |
Partial to full shade |
Grower's Tip: Avoid overhead watering to preserve the glaucous bloom that gives 'Crinkled Leather' its cobalt finish — the waxy coating is easily disturbed by water. It handles Canadian winters with ease from Zone 3 through 9, and we grow it at our nursery in Bécancour, QC where we wait for the first signs of puckering to confirm every plant is True to Type before it ships. Our True to Type standard means you receive the authentic 'Crinkled Leather', verified before it leaves Bécancour.
