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:
February 21, 2026 MRHS Winter Symposium, Brookfield, WI
You can still register for the 2026 MRHS Winter Symposium.
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
February 15, 2026 featured hosta:
Country Dreaming by D. Dean (r2013)
Low air temperatures in January have been followed by record- and near-record high air temperatures in February, leaving many gardeners anxiously awaiting the start of a new growing season. H. 'Country Dreaming' and its stunning beauty could be part of your gardening dreams!
Leaves of H. 'Country Dreaming' have a deep, rich blue color and are known for exceptional color-holding power. Pale lavender flowers are produced in early summer. It is a hybrid of 'Purple Verticulated Elf' and 'Northern Heritage' x open pollinated. H 22" W 40"
See
https://www.hostaregistrar.org/search_item/1218
Still good color in mid-October...
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.
News
Midwest Regional Hosta Society Winter Symposium -- February 22
The MRHS meeting featured six excellent, very informative presentations, along with a silent auction and conversation with old and new friends.
Glenn Herold showed the differences in hosta flowers of various cultivars throughout the season, and Rob Mortko explained the intricacies of hosta tissue culture. Bob Solberg showed variegation trends in hostas produced over the last several decades. Don Rawson tantalized everyone with what's new in the world of hostas. Noah Schwartz described issues in large wholesale grower hosta production, an area unknown to most gardeners, and Mark Zilis provided an informative summary of historical figures in the hosta community.
The MRHS winter symposium has a lot packed into one day--plan to attend next year!