A Purple-Backed Masterpiece of Texture and Contrast
Hosta 'Zucchini Fries' is a sophisticated and rare small-stature cultivar that brings a multi-dimensional colour palette to the shade garden. Bred by the talented Rick Goodenough by crossing the popular Hosta 'Curly Fries' with Hosta 'Mr Black', this hybrid takes the narrow, ruffled aesthetic to an entirely new level. It forms a perfectly rosetted, small clump of long, slender leaves that offer a dramatic architectural silhouette. What truly sets this variety apart is its stunning seasonal progression: in early spring, the emerging leaves reveal a striking purple flash on their undersides, a rare trait that transitions into dark purple petioles that remain prominent throughout the Canadian growing season.
Why It Stands Out
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Stunning Purple Accents: Features deep purple petioles and leaf bases, with the rich pigment persisting up the veins on both the front and back of the foliage.
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Intensely Wavy Margins: The long, narrow leaves are heavily rippled, mimicking the "frizzled" look of its H. 'Curly Fries' parentage.
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Dynamic Colour Shift: Transitions from a fresh spring green with purple highlights to a sophisticated, matte blue-green as the season matures.
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Dark Toned Flower Scapes: Produces darkly pigmented scapes and seed pods in midsummer, providing a moody, high-contrast floral display.
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Evenly Rosetted Habit: Maintains a tidy, symmetrical mound that is ideal for collectors or for adding precise texture to the front of a border.
Technical Specs
| Feature |
Details |
| Size |
25-35 cm Height / 40-50 cm Width |
| Hardiness Zone |
Canadian Zones 3–9 |
| Colour |
Blue-Green with Purple-backed leaf veins and Purple petioles |
| Light |
Partial Shade to Full Shade |
Grower's Tip
To best appreciate the unique purple "flash" of 'Zucchini Fries,' we recommend planting it in a raised bed or a decorative container where the undersides of the leaves are more visible at eye level. This variety thrives in the cool, moist conditions of a Canadian spring, which helps intensify its early-season pigments. At our nursery in Bécancour, QC, we wait to see the distinctive purple-veined backs and the narrow, wavy leaf structure emerge before we approve each plant for shipping. This True to Type verification ensures you receive the authentic Goodenough breeder-grade plant, ready to bring its high-contrast charm to your collection.
