Hosta Blue Flame

The Hosta 'Blue Flame' is a direct descendant of the variety 'Fragrant Blue', from which it has inherited the beautiful intense powder blue color, embellished with an elegant cream-colored border, as well as a delicately scented lavender flowering. It is a very beautiful spreading selection that forms a very decorative ground cover even in dense shade. Consider planting multiple specimens along a pathway to enjoy its sweet fragrance. Hardy and robust, it thrives ideally in cool, humus-rich soil.

This Hosta 'Blue Flame', or Funkia, is a very hardy and deciduous perennial whose foliage emerges from the ground in spring and disappears in winter. It belongs to the asparagaceae family. The plant forms a low, wide clump reaching 40 cm (16in) in height and 60 cm (24in) in width. It is a plant with a good lifespan, bearing thick leaves measuring approximately 20 cm (8in) long and 16 cm (6in) wide, nicely cordate, slightly crimped, delicately undulate at the ends and tapering to a point. The lamina is not strongly marked by its veins. From the heart of its variegated foliage emerge in July-August, 50 cm (20in) tall flower stalks bearing racemes of bell-shaped flowers, light lavender mauve in colour, slightly scented.

The hybrid Hosta 'Blue Flame' pairs well with helxine, ferns, epimediums, phaeum geraniums, Caucasian forget-me-nots, and Claytonia sibirica, with which it forms beautiful colourful duos that require little maintenance. It will also be advantageous in the company of columbines and tall digitalis or small violets. All hostas grow well in pots and can remain in the same container for several years. Choose a special geranium potting mix to use during the growing season. As long as the foliage is not too dense, you can water from the top of the pot. Then place a saucer under the pot where you will pour water, keeping the level constant in summer.