Hosta 'Lily Pad' – Unique Cupped Leaves Resembling Water Lilies

Hosta 'Lily Pad' floats in the shade garden with its distinctive, deeply cupped, nearly circular leaves that truly resemble lily pads. Registered in 2000 by Solberg, this small cultivar (synonym: H. yingerii) offers unique form and texture.

Botanical Profile

Family:	Liliaceae (lil-ee-AY-see-ee)
Genus:	Hosta (HOSS-tuh)
Cultivar:	'Lily Pad'
Hybridizer:	Solberg
Registration Year:	2000
Synonym:	Hosta yingerii

Floating Form

The leaves of 'Lily Pad' are remarkably round and deeply cupped, held horizontally on stiff petioles—exactly like water lily leaves. The foliage is a medium green with a matte finish and good substance. The cupping holds water after rain, adding to the aquatic illusion. The clump is compact and dense, with leaves overlapping like a pond surface.

Unique Textural Experience

'Lily Pad' is a tactile delight—the cupped leaves invite touch and hold rainwater. It's a conversation piece and a favorite for children's gardens. The small size suits containers, troughs, rock gardens, and pond edges. The species connection (H. yingerii) adds botanical interest.

Solberg's Form Innovation

Solberg's 2000 introduction (whether as a selection of H. yingerii or a distinct cultivar) brought a radically different leaf form to hostas. 'Lily Pad' demonstrates that hosta diversity extends beyond color and variegation into radical morphological variation.