Is This Really Rhino Hide?

10 years ago

Picked up a gardening magazine at the library and found this picture within. Interesting that I have never seen a Rhino Hide that big (not even in the Hosta Library). From the pictures in the HL, I would not expect Rhino Hide to mature into this beauty. But then, there are a lot of immature hostas that do transform themselves once matured. The Rhino Hide I purchased last year does have a yellow center. I'd definitely love to have mine look like the photo!

Do you think this is Rhino Hide?

Photo appeared in Fine Gardening, December 2013, pg. 66.

Under the photo it said: "Who says only ground covers look good under trees? The giant leaves of this 'Rhino Hide' hosta . . . are so puckered and pitted, they jump out to be noticed from the dark shadows of an overhead tree. The dash of gold helps them get noticed, too."

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Comments (8)

don_in_colorado
10 years ago
Hi, NHL...I keep clicking from the library pics to this pic, but I just don't think the looks are a match at all. This is a great-looking plant, but it looks like a GE to me. Really no cupping to speak of either; just my two cents...However, there IS a Don who can tell you for sure...Light up the Bat Signal for...

Mr. Rawson?
mountainy man z8 Ireland
10 years ago
I am far from an expert but it screams Great Expectations to me. Looks like a fantastic garden.
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Babka NorCal 9b
10 years ago
That is a Don Rawson intro. His are whoppers , but that one doesn't look like his. He is our "list" Goto guy. Don? What's up?

-Babka
ctopher_mi
10 years ago
No, I agree that's definitely a picture of Great Expectations, and a really old one at that.
newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada
Original Author
10 years ago
I don't think Don R. would be happy to see this. Looks like we are agreeing that this hosta is GE.
donrawson
10 years ago
I've never seen Rhino Hide gets that large or have that wide of a center. And it is shorter and cupped at maturity.

Actually, my OS Rhino Hide has a very narrow center (see the pics I posted on the Hosta Library), while most of the tc plants have a somewhat wider center. I assume they cull out all of the very narrow-centered tc plants when they are so juvenile and save only the ones with a wider center.

Like everyone else says, the hosta in the pic above sure looks like Great Expectations....it is not Rhino Hide. But I guess I don't mind the publicity! LOL
newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada
Original Author
10 years ago
Glad that you are not upset about it Don!
User
10 years ago
What Don (R) said.

Holds with my experience here....which is
a. First plant came from a TC source, Naylor in early 2012.
Here it is in Aug, losing its bluish look.

b. Second plant obtained from DonRawson directly, I think probably OS but need to confirm that. It is more unruly than the first, definitely unique, Here is #2 in May2013...(only a few 2012 photos through Flickr are available since my backup went kaput with 2012 and earlier photos)

Please note that particular #2 Rhino Hide had a "double" or "twin" leaf described by MZilis in his new book, where 2 leaves grow together. I thought it was stuck with bug juice, so I attempted to pull it apart, and as a result tore the leaves apart. They were "Siamese Twins" sharing the common midseam, so this leaf in the picture is the single half, which continued to grow, and so did the other one. Very wild growing plant, very heavy, just simply LOVE it! I kept it covered in pepper for a long time to deter squirrels, it was not bothered by slugs. In June 2013