Russ O'Harra Hosta Society
The Russ O’Harra Hosta Society is an educational society, based in central Iowa, open to all those interested in the genus Hosta. Its purpose is to promote the growing and enjoyment of hostas, including their use in landscape design and the cultivation and development of new cultivars. The goals of the Society are in keeping with those of the American Hosta Society. Our society is named for Russ O'Harra, who was one of the most prominent hosta enthusiasts and hybridizers in the Midwest.
Upcoming events:
March 20-21, 2026 Great Lakes Region Hosta College, Piqua, OH
April 12, 2026 ROHS Spring meeting--noon potluck, followed by speaker
and business meeting, at:
Warren Lodge #53, 1606 W 2nd Ave (= Hwy 92), Indianola, IA
June x, 2026 ROHS garden tour and plant auction
June 10-13, 2026 AHS national convention, "Buckeye Hosta Fever", Dublin, OH
July 9-11, 2026 MRHS 50th Anniversary Celebration Convention, Madison, WI
August xx, 2026 Iowa State Fair hosta show
Assistance/suggestions needed: see this message about Iowa hostas from the Iowa Arboretum and Gardens.
in memorium David R. Moody, 1936-2025, obituary
Newsletter--October 2025
March 1, 2026 featured hosta:
Frances Williams by F. Williams and C. Williams (r1986)
Remembering hosta history: In The Hostapedia, M. Zilis stated "H. 'Frances Williams' is named for the most influential person in the modern history of hostas. Her correspondence with other collectors, hybridizers, and botanists from the 1930s until her death in 1969 fanned the flames of interest in hostas and led to the formation of the American Hosta Society. She also developed some of the first hosta cultivars, including...'Frances Williams'...one of the most popular hostas ever introduced...."
Frances Williams discovered this variant of H. 'Elegans' at a nursery in Bristol, CT in 1936. It was renamed for her in 1962. 'Frances Williams' forms a large, open mound of blue-green leaves with gold margins. Leaves have thick substance, have thick bloom underneath, and are heavily corrugated. Many seedlings and sports have been produced and named. H 26" W 63"
See
https://www.hostaregistrar.org/search_item/1916
News
Midwest Regional Hosta Society Winter Symposium -- February 21
February 21, 2026
The MRHS Winter Symposium, marking the 50th anniversary of MRHS, was held in Brookfield, WI at the Embassy Suites by Hilton hotel. Several members of ROHS enjoyed six presentations, a silent auction, and visiting with fellow hosta gardeners.
The silent auction featured many outstanding hostas!
Glenn Herold described types of ferns and provided advice on ferns suitable (or not!) for hosta gardens:
Rob Mortko discussed climate change and construction of drip irrigation systems:
Bob Solberg gave an update on nomenclature and areas of scientific research related to hostas:
Don Dean talked about techniques, goals, and results in hybridizing:
Dave Collura showed how to construct rock gardens and plants to put in them:
Mark Zilis continued his series on history of hostas, AHS, and notable people of the hosta world:
News
October 12, 2025
ROHS fall meeting at the Iowa Arboretum and Gardens
After the customary potluck lunch, Danny Lawson (editor of the AHS journal) gave a photo tour of the various AHS national display gardens that he has visited recently.
Attendees viewed the recently installed plaque designating the AHS National Display Garden at IAG.
News
August 10-17, 2025
Iowa State Fair
Several members of ROHS entered leaves in the fair's hosta leaf show. Many of their entries garnered ribbons!
News
June 19-21, 2025 Several members of ROHS attended the AHS national convention in East Peoria, IL. Educational sessions, hosta sales, a leaf show, and garden tours created a busy convention!
Greetings from Hornbaker Gardens, the first garden visit of the 2025 AHS convention!
Several wonderful gardens were toured, and we got to meet Bigfoot himself!
Preparing entries and checking results for the hosta leaf show:
Enjoying lunch out after a warm morning touring gardens:
News
May 9-10, 2025
Members gave out information on ROHS at the Des Moines Botanical Gardens Spring Garden Market.
The ROHS information booth:
News
April 13, 2025
The ROHS spring meeting was held at the Iowa Arboretum and Gardens. After a potluck lunch, David McKinney of IAG talked about the IAG's hosta collections and trial program. A business meeting followed.
