This sport of H. 'Tardiflora' is a non-registered cultivar from Japan and Dr. Shuichi Hirao. It forms a small size plant about 7 inches high with a spread of 15 inches. The dark green leaves have a lighter green medial (center) variegation. Pale purple flowers bloom in September.

The New Encyclopedia of Hostas by Diana Grenfell (2009) states in its Hosta Hybrids for Connoisseurs chapter: "Site in light to moderate shade in a raised bed or a container so that the unusual leaves can be enjoyed close up. Grown by serious hosta collectors rather than general gardeners...The swollen areas which are a stable generic trait, are more prominent in some leaves than others and give the leaf a somewhat contorted effect (koryu means "swollen variegation")."

"...the "hosta with swollen variegation." The variegation is in relief and looks like Ryu, "dragon on the leaves." Coveted in Japan for its peculiar look...sometimes called H. 'Miyakodon'...In North America this cultivar name is also used incorrectly for various H. sieboldii seedlings."

Mikiko Lockwood in an article on The Hosta Library titled, A Little About Japanese Hosta Terms defines the term koryu or Kouryu as a raised ridge along the center of a leaf.

An article about H. 'Koryu' by Warren I. Pollock in The Hosta Journal (2001 Vol. 32 No. 2)  states that, "Tony (Avent) goes on to explain: "This very distinctive collector's plant, a H. longipes (selection or hybrid) which is highly coveted in Japan, was originally discovered by Dr. Shuichi Hirao. This is the same plant the Ralph "Herb" Benedict named H. 'Fused Veins', after not being able to determine the true identity."