Blue hostas: the most beautiful varieties

Hosta tardiana 'Halcyon'

Let’s start with an essential hosta, one of the most well-known, the variety ‘Halcyon’. It is of small size, not exceeding 40 cm in diameter and height, but we appreciate its smooth leaves that particularly reflect a grey-blue colour that is almost metallic. This glaucous foliage – among the bluest of all – gives it an almost satin-like appearance and highlights the deep veins beautifully. Hosta ‘Halcyon’ is the result of a cross-breeding between Hosta tardiflora and Hosta sieboldiana var. Elegans, dating back to 1986. It is quite resistant to attacks from gastropods, although the leaves are thick. Flowering occurs in July or August, in the form of white bell-shaped flowers tinged with purple, rising above the foliage. Like all hostas, it takes 3 to 4 years to establish well in a shady border. Plant it in cool soil that remains moist in summer. Its small size particularly showcases it in a pot on a balcony or terrace.

Hosta ‘Halcyon’ (© Peganum)

Hosta 'Blue Umbrellas'

Another great blue classic, much more expansive: here is Hosta ‘Blue Umbrellas’. It is part of the giant hostas, capable of reaching a height of 90 cm to 1 m with a similar spread in good growing conditions and leaves measuring up to 40 cm long! What we love about it, aside from these enticing dimensions, is its heart-shaped foliage that is both highly crinkled and strongly veined. It combines remarkable robustness like all hostas and truly requires no maintenance, except for cutting its flowers once they have faded.
Hosta ‘Blue Umbrellas’ blooms between June and July depending on the region, with a spike of lavender flowers. It can tolerate a bit of morning or late afternoon sun like its counterparts and withstands dense shade, where it will just bloom a little less.

Hosta ‘Blue Umbrellas’

Hosta 'Krossa Regal'

Hosta ‘Krossa Regal’ stands out in this selection of blue hostas due to the shape of its foliage: it features more elongated leaves than the others, slightly edged on their margin, well-veined, and smooth, exuding a beautiful elegance. Grey-blue in colour, they are upright on tall, sturdy stems, creating a particularly lovely effect in pots. After a few years, ‘Krossa Regal’ reaches about 60-80 cm in height, with a slightly smaller spread. It is also resistant to slugs and snails. Its trumpet-shaped mauve flowers appear in mid-summer. Provide it with soil that remains cool in summer, and a shaded or partially shaded location.

This is undoubtedly the essential blue hosta to start a lovely collection!

Hosta ‘Krossa Regal’ (©Wikimedia Commons-Dominicus Johannes Bergsma)

Hosta sieboldiana var 'Elegans'

This is one of the most glaucous hostas in the blue Hosta series. The Hosta sieboldiana var ‘Elegans’ indeed has some of the most glaucous leaves, of a very blue green. They are more rounded in shape than other hostas in this selection, very opulent, often measuring between 20 and 30 cm, and have a crinkled texture, with the veins remaining well defined. The purple flower buds reveal, once opened in July, beautiful all-white flowers, retaining a slight mauve sheen.

This is an interesting Hosta for its beautiful spread, reaching up to 1 m in height with a slightly wider spread, allowing for a lovely mass in a border or a focal point in a pot. Like all blue hostas, it thrives in shade or filtered shade, either east or west, in cool, humus-bearing soil.

Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’

Hosta 'Frances Williams'

Here is a variegated blue hosta, a variety we particularly like because it is brighter than most blue hostas, with its contrasting yellow-green margin. The Hosta sieboldiana ”Frances Williams’ gradually unfurls its large, slightly crinkled and beautifully veined leaves from April onwards. It is a medium-sized hosta, reaching between 60 and 70 cm in height, with a wider spread, and the leaves measuring about 20 cm. It forms a lovely groundcover in shade or partial shade. Its pure white flowers in July bring even more light to the shaded corners where you have placed this truly captivating hosta!

Hosta ‘Frances Williams’

Hosta 'Big Daddy'

‘Big Daddy’ is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful blue Hostas! It makes a statement with its very generous dimensions (approximately 80 cm tall and 50 cm wide) and its sumptuous blue hue, as well as its highly crinkled and veined leaves. Its leaves are very large, and its refreshing cream-white flowers bloom in the height of summer… In a word, it embodies all the qualities we so appreciate in Hostas! Planted in groups of three, it will draw all eyes to a shaded area that may have been overlooked. Paired with soft green foliage, it will create a stunning contrast. It also requires shade (or light morning or late afternoon sun) and good soil that remains cool in summer.

Hosta Big Daddy (© Leonora Enking)

Hosta 'Blue Angel'

The Hosta ‘Blue Angel’ is a stunning blue-leaved variety, featuring shades of blue-grey. It showcases elegant undulations and parallel veins on its large leaves. The leaves spread particularly horizontally, reaching an impressive span of up to 1 m once well established (allow around 4 to 5 years). ‘Blue Angel’ is highly floriferous, blooming from July and sometimes into August, displaying its bell-shaped white flowers that slightly exceed the foliage. Completely hardy like all Hostas, you can plant this beauty in woodland, in borders, or to enhance the base of bushes, etc.

Hosta ‘Blue Angels’