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:
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
​​
July 25, 2026 In the Country Garden and Gifts "Hosta and Dessert Social", Independence, IA
Special Guest Speaker: Bob Solberg
see https://www.inthecountrygardenandgifts.com/
​
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
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
July 19, 2026 featured hosta:
​
Syncopated Harmony by D. Dean (2018)
​​​
Roughly 50,000 people were just in Jack Trice Stadium in Ames for a concert by Post Malone and Jelly Roll (where do entertainers come up with names?). If their brand of sound is not quite your thing and you prefer the more traditional approaches of jazz, funk, ragtime, etc. (with lots of syncopation), then you'll need H. 'Syncopated Harmony' in your garden!
​
H. 'Syncopated Harmony' has very narrow, medium green leaves with heavily rippled, distinct yellow margins. Leaves are lance-shaped with a tapered base, lightly twisted and folded, and intensely wavy overall. H 11" W 27"
​See
https://www.hostaregistrar.org/search_item/5596
​​
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!
