West Virginia University and the American Hosta Society (AHS) will presentHostas, Hot and Getting Hotter!Saturday, March 25, in the Agricultural Sciences Building .

This will be an excellent opportunity for all those interested in hostas, particularly gardeners, horticulture students, nursery professionals and landscapers, to learn more about the popular plant,said Todd West, assistant professor of horticulture at the WVU Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences.

Native to Japan , Korea and China , hostas are easy to grow, shade tolerant, herbaceous perennials. They are grown primarily for their beautiful foliage and have leaves that come in a wide range of shapes, colors, sizes and textures. First imported and grown in Europe, hostas have been growing in the United States since the mid-1800s and are now available in hundreds of species and thousands of cultivars.

The program will feature presentations by Kevin Walek, former president of the AHS ; C.H. Falstad, who has introduced over 50 cultivars of hostas; Bob Sloberg, owner of a North Carolina nursery that specializes in hostas, ferns and other shade plants; and Cynthia Wilhoite, owner of an Indiana nursery specializing in hostas and day lilies. Presentations will include information on landscaping, floral design, anatomy and propagation using tissue culture.

Sessions will run from 9 a.m.4:20 p.m. with a one-hour lunch break. Presenters will also hold a question and answer session from 4:30-5 p.m. The cost is $35 (including lunch) for the full day.

Participants will also have the opportunity to buy unique hostas and purchase other hosta information at discounted rates,West said.

For more information or to register, contact West at 304-293-6023 or Todd.West@mail.wvu.edu