Hosta sieboldiana 'Elegans'
   
Tried and True Recommended by 8 Professionals
Common Name: hosta
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Agavaceae
Zone: 4 to 9
Height: 2 to 3 feet
Spread: 3 to 4 feet
Bloom Time: May to July
Bloom Color: White, Lavender
Bloom Description: Mostly white with a lavender tinge
Sun: Part shade to full shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Flowers: Showy Flowers
Leaves: Colorful
Wildlife: Attracts Hummingbirds
Tolerates: Dense Shade, Black Walnuts
Uses: Cut Flower

Culture

Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in part shade to full shade. No special culture is required. Soil should be kept moist, however, especially in hot, sunny conditions.

Noteworthy Characteristics

This is a very large hosta growing to 30" tall and 48" in diameter. Features large (13" x 10"), heart-shaped, thick-textured, heavily corrugated, surface-cupped, blue-green leaves and racemes of funnel-shaped, mostly white flowers with a violet tinge on scapes up to 36". A dependable and versatile perennial requiring little care. Grown primarily for its beautiful foliage which provides color, contrast and texture to the landscape. Dense foliage crowds out garden weeds. This species is a slow grower and will take several years to reach mature shape. May also be listed as Hosta sieboldiana var. elegans.

Problems

Although slugs and snails can be serious problems, and leaf spot and crown rot lesser problems, hostas are otherwise virtually disease and pest-free, and are ideal, low-maintenance garden perennials.

Garden Uses

A mainstay of the shade garden. This very large hosta may be best utilized as a specimen or large clump planting in shaded areas of the woodland garden, perennial border or naturalized area. It is also effective on a slope where it can help reduce soil erosion.