Jeroen Linneman

Jeroen Linneman, from Zwolle in the Netherlands, is the owner of Hosta Valley. As an accomplished hybridizer, he has produced an extensive series of Valley hostas. To date, a remarkable total of 70 new introductions have been registered since 2008 from a collection of over 450 named Valley originations.

Since the beginning, Jeroen has worked extensively with Hosta pycnophylla, a medium-size species with smooth texture, marginal ripples, and intense white leaf backs. He has created many new hybrids with H. pycnophylla genetic background including small varieties, new yellow-leaved cultivars, some hybrids with extremely rippled leaf margins, and imposing large varieties by crossing H. pycnophylla with ‘Empress Wu’ and others. He is recognized in Hostadom as a foremost hybridizer, particularly for his work with this species.

Jeroen is the 2019 recipient of the Eunice Fisher Distinguished Hybridizer Merit Award from the American Hosta Society. This award is the highest award offered by the American Hosta Society in recognition of outstanding achievement in hosta hybridizing. It is awarded to a member of the Society who has truly advanced the genus Hosta through hybridization. Jeroen is the first person outside of America who has won the Eunice Fisher Award.

Jeroen has served as president of the Dutch Hosta Society. In addition, he has authored a book which features his hybridizing program titled, Hosta Valley: A World Full of Hostas. The Hosta Valley website at https://www.hostavalley.eu/ provides exciting photos of many of his wonderful creations.