What are the best blue-leaved hostas?
This plant is considered the grandfather of all blue-leaved hostas, and its thick, rounded, corrugated blue leaves develop into a 4-foot-wide by 2-foot-tall clump. Other selections like ‘Blue Mammoth’ and ‘Blue Angel’ also reach epic proportions, while ‘Blue Umbrellas’ is rated one of the best giant blues for its metallic-blue, glossy foliage.
What does a blue giant Hosta plant look like?
Most hosta plants work well in shaded areas, and the Blue Giant Hosta is no exception. The large leaves of this plant are about the size of your hand. They are silver blue to green in color. The leaves are oval and form a point at the outer edge.
What is the largest type of Hosta?
The Empress Wu, Sum & Substance, and Gentle Giant Hostas are the largest varieties of hostas, typically growing to a spread of 5′-6′ wide. Giant hostas reach their full size after five years, although it may take longer if they’re not getting the nutrients and sunlight that they need.
How large do blue hostas get?
Plant it so that the “margins,” as the growers call them, provide contrast against other foliage in the garden. This is considered a medium-sized hosta reaching 16 inches (40 cm) in height by 30 inches (76 cm) in width.
Which hostas get the biggest?
The Empress Wu, Sum & Substance, and Gentle Giant Hostas are the largest commonly available hostas, typically growing to a spread of 5′-6′ wide.
What are the giant hostas?
The American Hosta Growers Association defines giant hosta as those that exceed 30 inches in height. There are several cultivars now that are in the 48 inch range. The size GIANT Hostas can achieve in your garden is determined by the light exposure, the available water and the depth and quality of the soil.
What is the most beautiful hosta?
19 of the Best Hostas for Gardeners in Zones 3-11August Moon. A cultivar of H. ... Blue Mouse Ears. ... Color Festival. ... Curly Fries. ... Empress Wu. ... First Frost. ... Fragrant Bouquet. ... Francee.More items...•
Why are my hostas not getting big?
Hostas NEED water to grow. If they don't receive the hydration that they require, they'll literally stop growing. They also won't flower if they don't get enough water. What this means is that you should consider how much water your Hostas are actually getting every week.
What is the bluest hosta?
'Popo' and 'Baby Bunting' are the bluest of the miniatures. These tiny selections sport leaves that are bluish-green on delightfully compact mounds.
How long does it take for a hosta to grow to full size?
Hostas emerge late in the season but quickly unfurl to fill their allotted space. They grow slowly and may take two to four years to attain their full size, longer for the largest species and cultivars.
How big do Earth Angel hostas get?
Hosta x 'Earth Angel'Botanical PronunciationHOSS-tuhAverage Size at MaturityModerate growing; forms foliage clump 2 ft. tall, 4 ft. wide.Bloom TimeMidsummerDeciduous/ EvergreenHerbaceousFlower AttributeShowy Flowers11 more rows
How big does Sum and Substance hosta get?
'Sum and Substance' is an immense hosta growing to 30" high and 60" in diameter. Features large (20" x 15"), heart-shaped, thick-textured, glossy yellow leaves which turn golden over time with proper sun exposure and racemes of bell-shaped, fragrant, white flowers on scapes up to 38".
How big do giant hostas get?
Giant big leaf hosta cultivars exceed 30 inches in mature height. Several giant hosta cultivars are now in the 48 inch tall range. And some can grow to more than 6 feet in width. Add a giant hosta to a special spot in the garden to show it off to all visitors.
How big do Earth Angel hostas get?
Hosta x 'Earth Angel'Botanical PronunciationHOSS-tuhAverage Size at MaturityModerate growing; forms foliage clump 2 ft. tall, 4 ft. wide.Bloom TimeMidsummerDeciduous/ EvergreenHerbaceousFlower AttributeShowy Flowers11 more rows
How big do Big Daddy hostas get?
'Big Daddy' is a large, blue-leaved hosta that grows in a mound to 28" tall and to 40" wide.
Where Do Blue Hostas Come From?
Scientists believe these popular plants originated in China, where they can still be found growing wild today. Hosta plantaginea spread throughout the East of China, reaching Korea, Japan, and Russia, where they are now considered native.
Propagation
When propagating hostas, there are several steps you’ll need to consider.
Blue Hosta Care
There are factors to consider when caring for hostas, like lighting, water, soil, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Despite their convincing appearance, blue hosta leaves are not actually blue – they’re green. The blue tint comes from a glaucous coating (a waxy blue-grey substance) that covers the leaves and protects them. This is why the shade or intensity of the blue may change as the plant grows, or throughout the season with changes in the weather.
Final Thoughts
Blue hostas are a carefree perennial guaranteed to look spectacular in any garden. Their glossy blue foliage is second to none, made even more impressive by the imposing size of larger varieties. Whether you choose one, or collect them all, you can’t go wrong adding one of these popular perrenials to your backyard.
What is the best hosta plant for shade?
Blue Giant Hosta is an excellent Hosta variety to install in your shaded landscape areas. Most hosta plants work well in shaded areas, and the Blue Giant Hosta is no exception. The large leaves of this plant are about the size of your hand. They are silver blue to green in color.
When do hostas produce flowers?
Blue Giant Hosta is one of the largest hosta varieties. This plant produces flower stocks in early to mid-summer. This beautiful hosta will maintain its form all the way up until the first frost.
How to keep hostas from grazing?
The best way to protect baby hosta from these grazers is by adding a physical barrier around the budding hosta until it’s half an inch above the ground. After they’re bigger, you’ll just have to find the pests and remove them yourself–squashing them if necessary. You could use pesticides, but that can kill helpful insects as well, so use it at your own risk.
How big do Donahue piecrust hostas get?
Donahue Piecrust Hostas generally grow to 5′-6′ wide and 2′-3′ tall. The leaves of Donahue Piecrust Hosta are about 12″ long and 7″ wide at the leaf’s widest point. Flower stalk scapes generally grow about 26″ tall.
How big do Bigfoot Hostas get?
Bigfoot hostas generally grow to 5′-6′ wide and 2′-3′ tall. The leaves of Bigfoot Hostas are about 19″ long and 12″ wide at the leaf’s widest point. Flower stalk scapes generally grow about 30″-34″ tall.
How big do Hirao Majesty Hostas get?
Hirao Majesty Hostas generally grow to 5′-6′ wide and 2′-3′ tall. The leaves of Hirao Majesty hosta are about 16″ long and 10″ wide at the leaf’s widest point. Flower stalk scapes generally grow about 40″ tall.
How big do blue angel hostas get?
Blue Angel Hostas generally grow to 5′-6′ wide and 3′ tall. The thick leaves of Blue Angel Hostas are about 16″ long and 12″ wide at the leaf’s widest point. Flower stalk scapes generally grow about 44″-48″ tall.
How big do hostas get?
Gentle Giant Hostas generally grow to 5′-6′ wide and 3′-4′ tall. The leaves of Gentle Giant Hostas are about 14″ long and 12″ wide at the leaf’s widest point. Flower stalk scapes generally grow about 52″-56″ tall.
How big do Sum and Substance Hostas get?
Sum And Substance Hostas generally grow to 4′-6′ wide and 2′-3′ tall. The leaves of Sum & Substance Hostas are about 18″ long and 15″ wide at the leaf’s widest point. Flower stalk scapes generally grow about 40″-44″ tall.
Why Is My Blue Hosta Not Blue?
Now that we know why blue hostas look blue, we can figure out why they sometimes don’t look blue. The glaucous coating on the hosta leaf is susceptible to the elements of Mother Nature.
What is the top layer of a hosta leaf?
The top layer of a blue hosta leaf is covered with a glaucous coating that provides a blue appearance to the leaf. This coating is often written as being a leaf wax or leaf bloom. This coating is also on fruits including blueberries and plums. The more glaucous coating a leaf has the bluer the appearance. Hosta Fragrant Blue.
When do hostas bloom?
Great hybridizing efforts have led to hostas with very thick leaf blooms that stay blue almost the whole growing season. Other blue hosta varieties emerge a brilliant blue but are blue/green to green by July. Blue hostas hold their color better in cooler climates and we have read articles of blue hostas being green by the end of May in the south.
Can hostas grow in the sun?
You may often hear that blue hostas should not be grown in sun. Although direct sunlight should be avoided, blue hostas do their best with some morning sun or a filtered light situation. Another way that the leaf bloom disappears is from rainfall and overhead watering.
Is Hosta Fragrant Blue or Fragrant Blue?
Hosta Fragrant Blue. Hostas are generally bluer when they first emerge as this is when the leaf bloom is developed. Hosta ‘Fragrant Blue’ (which ironically is not fragrant) has an uncanny ability to send up new foliage late into the season which helps this hosta stay blue longer.
What is the name of the blue leafed hosta plant?
For those who think bigger is better, Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ is a garden gem. This plant is considered the grandfather of all blue-leaved hostas, and its thick, rounded, corrugated blue leaves develop into a 4-foot-wide by 2-foot-tall clump.
What is the best hosta plant?
Designers and collectors are also attracted to hostas with unusual growth habits. ‘Krossa Regal’ was the first—and is still the best—of the vaseshaped hostas, thanks to its ancestor, H. nigrescens, the only vase-shaped species. ‘Krossa Regal’ makes a great accent plant with its smooth and cupped blue leaves. ‘Salute’ also has a vaselike habit, but on a much smaller scale, with twisted blue leaves that grow upright instead of lying flat.
How to tell if hostas are blue?
If you take your finger and wipe it across a blue hosta leaf, you will notice that the leaf is actually green. The blue color is nothing more than a layer of wax called bloom that wears away over the course of a growing season with exposure to sunlight, heat, or rainwater. In areas with high summer temperatures or lots of rainfall, blue hostas will not stay blue for long. Here in the South, my hostas usually remain blue into mid- or late June. In cooler climates, the blue color can remain through most of the growing season. And since most blue hostas produce only one flush of leaves per year, once their color is gone you will have to wait until next season to see the blue again.
What plants are good for prozac moments?
To create other peaceful combinations in my garden that I call “Prozac moments,” I combine blue hostas with foliage plants that provide textural contrast. Placing solid-leaved hostas among lacy-leaved ferns like Japanese painted fern ( Athyrium niponicum ‘Pictum’), male fern ( Dryopteris filix-mas ), or maidenhair fern ( Adiantum pedatum) gives my eyes a place to rest. And when using taller ferns such as royal fern ( Osmunda regalis ), cinnamon fern ( Osmunda cinnamomea ), or log fern ( Dryopteris × australis) as a backdrop, the delicate fern fronds soften the hostas’ edges.
How long does it take for a hosta to grow?
Just like learning to play golf, growing a mature hosta clump requires patience, as it can take from three to five years for a hosta to reach adulthood. When you purchase a hosta, it will most likely be in its puberty stage, with leaves that are smaller and more pointed than those of a mature specimen. In fact, your hostas, if left to grow into a single large clump, will look so spectacular after a number of years that you’ll probably want to put them in your will to pass along to your heirs.
What leaves are softened by hosta?
Combine textures for contrast. The bold leaves of hosta are softened by the delicate, lacy leaves of ferns.
Why is my sandbox blue?
The blue coloring comes from a waxy coating that washes away when exposed to rain, heat, and sun.
What Are Starter and Elle Plant Plugs?
These are the plants that are supplied to retail/growers such as New Hampshire Hostas by tissue culture/wholesale growers. The soil of the plugs is held together by elle paper, hence the name. We sell the starter/elle plant plugs in two sizes. The root ball of the 65mm elle plug is 2.5" wide and 3.25" tall. The root ball of the 35mm starter plug is 1.5" wide and 2.75" tall. The size of the plants of both sizes depends on individual plant characteristics. The starter plant plugs are approximately 1 year younger than their larger counterparts and are just as easy to plant and grow.
How big of a pot do hostas need?
At New Hampshire Hostas we grow our hostas in generously sized 4 1/2 inch pots for our large varieties and deep 3 inch containers for some of our small and all of our miniature hostas. We also offer starter hosta plant plugs at a 40% discount over their larger/older counterparts. We also grow some of the larger hosta cultivars in Two Gallon containers for a larger plant now!
What size are starter plugs?
These are the plants that are supplied to retail/growers such as New Hampshire Hostas by tissue culture/wholesale growers. The soil of the plugs is held together by elle paper, hence the name. We sell the starter/elle plant plugs in two sizes. The root ball of the 65mm elle plug is 2.5" wide and 3.25" tall. The root ball of the 35mm starter plug is 1.5" wide and 2.75" tall. The size of the plants of both sizes depends on individual plant characteristics. The starter plant plugs are approximately 1 year younger than their larger counterparts and are just as easy to plant and grow.
How many eyes does a hosta have?
Our hostas are one to three eye perennials depending on the variety. Larger hosta cultivars tend to be single eye while smaller hosta cultivars are more likely to have multiple eyes. Our hostas may have come from either division or tissue culture, but in either case, we guarantee them to be true to variety.
Why do we sell plants in containers?
Shipping container grown plants instead of bare root plants means that you receive a hosta plant that's ready to take off in your garden from the day it arrives. There is very little transplant shock.
How long does it take for a bare root plant to be delivered?
You are getting the same container grown plants that we grow for everyone but we bare root them. Most bare root orders are delivered within 2-3 days and the plants don't skip a beat! See our Growing Tips Page for directions on how to handle bare root plants.
Why are orders shipped bare root?
Orders shipped to Zone D ( see our chart on shipping page) will be shipped bare root due to strict agricultural laws. The National Plant Board has categorized the states into 4 category's. Category 1 and 2 are not known to be infested with Japanese Beetles and therefore are being quarantined to limit the spread of the pest. Click here for a pdf of the rules
What color is hosta?
The bright yellow margins of its green leaves make this hosta variety stand apart from the others.On maturity, the yellow color turns into creamy white. The plant makes for an attractive groundcover and is a great choice for containers.
How long does it take for a hosta to mature?
The thick, wrinkled leaves of this large plantain lily variety unfurl in a striking blue hue with wavy white margins.It is a slug-resistant type of hosta that takes 5 years to reach maturity.
How tall are hosta flowers?
The gargantuan size of this hosta makes it stand out in the landscape with a clump that is hard to miss.Flowers appear in mid-summer on 54-inch tall stalks.
What color are the leaves of hostas?
The heart-shaped, green-gold leaves of this hosta turn bright yellow with sun exposure. Hence its name.White to pale lavender flowers appear in summer.
What is a wavy-margined leaf?
The wavy-margined leaves have creamy markings that lend a cheery touch to shady gardens. Youcan fill it along a bed edge provided that it is shorter than the plants behind it.
What is a low maintenance hosta?
The low-maintenance plant bears star-shaped, lavender flowers. The yellow centers of the leaves add more color to your patio. You would be bowled over by the stunning variegated foliage of this small hosta.
What color is a sandbox?
Colors: Creamy white or lime with dark green margins