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:
August 16, 2026 Iowa State Fair hosta show (entries closed, but go see the show at the fair in the Agriculture building)
October 11, 2026 ROHS fall meeting, Iowa Arboretum and Gardens
noon potluck
Speaker: Aaron Steil, ISU Horticulture Dept.--"Growing Ferns in Iowa"
February 26-27, 2027 MRHS winter symposium, Milwaukee area, Wisconsin
June 9-12, 2027 AHS National Convention, Plainfield, Indiana (near Indianapolis)
July 8-10, 2027 MRHS Convention, Rockford, IL
Assistance/suggestions needed: see this message about Iowa hostas from the Iowa Arboretum and Gardens.
Newsletter--April 2026
August 16, 2026 featured hosta:
Taurus J. Husemann (r2009)
Latin "taurus" = English "bull"
The Iowa State Fair just named the winner of its "Super Bull" contest, a red Angus that weighed 3026 pounds--a large bull indeed, although not quite on scale with some older references to "taurus". Taurus is one of the larger constellations in the night sky, depicting the Sumerian "Bull of Heaven"; in Greek mythology, it is the bull (into which Zeus transformed himself) that carried away Europa. Most hosta gardens would not fare well with a large animal roaming through them, so we'll just have to grow the plant version, H. 'Taurus'.
H. ‘Taurus’ has intensely blue-green leaves with slightly rippled margins and very heavy substance. Leaves are intensely cupped, are intensely corrugated, and have a glaucous bloom on top but are dull underneath. Near white flowers are produced in midsummer. Its pod parent is H. ‘Rosedale Black Hole'; the pollen parent is unknown. H 20" W 25"
See
https://www.hostaregistrar.org/search_item/5628
News
July 25, 2026
A few members of ROHS attended the "Hosta and Dessert Social" at In the Country Garden and Gifts to enter the big leaf contest, to hear Bob Solberg speak on "Back to Hosta Basics", and to buy more hostas (of course!).
Country
Betsy Peterson of Minnesota described the hosta podcast she hosts:
"Hosta la Vista"
News
July 9-11, 2026
Members of ROHS attended the MRHS convention in Madison, WI, celebrating 50 years of MRHS.
A tour of the Olbrich Botanical Gardens on Thursday evening included the only Royal Thai Pavilion in the US (one of only four outside Thailand), along with many great plants.
ROHS members garnered many blue ribbons in the hosta show on Friday, including the Best of Show award!!!
Educational sessions included presentations on AHS national display gardens, how to incorporate stumps and logs into the garden, and rare hostas.
One tour garden displayed the effects of Wisconsin's largest black cherry tree falling and exposing a garden to full sun. Another garden showed transformation of a fallen large oak into a landscape feature!
Everyone enjoyed lots of conversation and visiting with fellow hosta people!
News
June 7, 2026
Members of ROHS and the Ackworth Garden Club had a joint garden tour, lunch, and plant auction in West Des Moines, Indianola, and Lake Ahquabi State Park.
Intermittent showers did not really affect the tour and added a nice fresh touch to the plants.
Everyone enjoyed lunch in a classic stone shelter built by the CCC around 1935 (now on the national historic register).
After lunch, over 40 plants were auctioned.
News
April 12, 2026
The ROHS spring meeting was held at Warren Lodge #53 in Indianola. After a potluck lunch, with guests from the Ackworth Garden Club, there was a short business meeting. The joint summer tour and plant auction with the Ackworth Garden Club, new hostas from local sources, and the Iowa State Fair hosta show were then discussed.
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!
