Hosta ‘NK2021’ Chimeral Foliage Mutation for Low-Maintenance Landscapes

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for a new and distinct cultivar of Hosta plant that exhibits unique foliage colors, flower color, and low maintenance characteristics, which are not addressed by existing Hosta cultivars like 'Bloodline' and 'Holar Purple Flash'.

Innovation Solution

The development of the Hosta cultivar 'NK2021', which features green margins with red centers throughout the growing season, deep red centers with dark green margins in late spring and autumn, purple flowers, and a low-growing, low-maintenance plant habit, achieved through asexual propagation by division and tissue culture.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If existing Hosta cultivars like 'Bloodline' and 'Holar Purple Flash' are used, then they provide some foliage color variation, but they lack the unique combination of deep red centers with dark green margins throughout the growing season and low-maintenance characteristics

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelow-maintenance characteristicsVSAvoidunique foliage color combination

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the color parameters of the foliage by creating a chimeral mutation that produces deep red centers with dark green margins, a color combination not present in existing cultivars. This parameter change in leaf coloration provides the unique visual characteristic that distinguishes 'NK2021' from other Hosta cultivars while maintaining the low-maintenance growth habit

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If Hosta 'First Blush' is used as parent plant, then it provides a established cultivar base, but it lacks the unique red center foliage coloration with dark green margins

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestable propagationVSAvoidunique foliage coloration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies local quality by creating a chimeral mutation where different tissues of the leaf exhibit different color characteristics - the center displays deep red coloration while the margins show dark green. This spatial variation in color quality within the same leaf structure provides the unique visual effect while maintaining stable propagation through tissue culture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The cultivar 'NK2021' maintains its unique traits consistently, offering distinctive foliage and flower colors, and a compact growth habit, suitable for landscape use with minimal maintenance.

Implementation Method 1

The Inventor discovered the new cultivar in summer of 2000 as a naturally occurring chimeral mutation of Hosta 'First Blush'

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChimeral mutation:

Implementation Method 2

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar by division and tissue culture using meristematic tissue has shown that the unique features are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAsexual propagation:

Data Source

PatentUSPP36830P2<i>Hosta </i>plant named ‘NK2021’

Publication Date: 2025.07.15 KRAMER NINJA

AI summary

A new cultivar of Hosta plant named ‘NK2021’ that is characterized by its unique foliage colors with green margins with red centers throughout the growing season with spring foliage green and flushed with red marking and late spring into autumn foliage having deep red centers with dark green margins, its flowers that are purple color, its flowers that bloom from late summer to early autumn, its low growing and low maintenance plant habit, and its petioles that are red in color.