A Tactile Work of Art for the Shade
Hosta 'Crinkled Leather' is a blue-green hosta bred by Don Dean and registered in 2014. It comes from H. 'Ebony Spires' and H. 'Silver Frost'. The leaves are heavily rippled, deeply corrugated, and moderately cupped. A thick, waxy bloom coats both surfaces and gives the foliage a sapphire-grey sheen. 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.
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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 adds height to the mid-border and pairs 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. We wait at our Bécancour trial fields for the first signs of puckering to confirm every division is True to Type before it ships.
