Hosta Canadian Blue

The Hosta 'Canadian Blue' is a medium variety with a particularly intense blue colouration, especially when planted in dense shade! It is a bluer version of H. 'Halycon'. This deciduous perennial forms a clump of strongly veined oval acuminate leaves, becoming completely heart-shaped at maturity. They are covered with a quite characteristic waxy layer. This hosta blooms in July-August with medium spikes of light lavender bell-shaped flowers. It is a vigorous and fast-growing cultivar, interesting as a ground cover for the darkest areas of the garden. Plant it in cool, well-drained, and rich soils.

This Hosta, or Funkia, is a hardy perennial with a compact bushy habit starting from spring. It belongs to the asparagaceae family. The plant forms a dense spread-out clump that reaches 40 cm (16in) in height and 50 cm (20in) in width. It is a long-lived plant with thick deciduous leaves, slightly undulate and plicate, measuring 20 cm (8in) long and 15 cm (6in) wide. They have an intense blue bloom color, especially in spring, but tend to turn green later on. The lamina is thick and plicate with 12-13 pairs of deep veins. From the heart of its bluish foliage, from July to August, emerge floral spikes that are not very tall, carrying racemes of bell-shaped flowers, slightly scented. This blue-leaved variety thrives best in very shaded exposures and turns green in the light.

Hostas are perfect for semi-shaded to shaded borders or beds, where other plants struggle to grow. They love sheltered and cool locations like woodlands. Combine them with other hostas, ferns, delphiniums, solomon's seal, and other low-growing ground cover perennials like creeping bugle, cranesbills, and dead nettles. They are all very effective as slug repellents. The silver-leaved Brunnera macrophylla 'Mr Morse' from the woodland will make excellent companions. Consider also Heucheras with their fantastic range of colors, or the delicate fairy flowers (Epimediums). This way, you will enhance the shaded and slightly damp areas of the garden by creating a pleasant haven of freshness for the summer. Hostas also thrive in pots that should be placed in semi-shade and watered regularly. Hostas go wonderfully well with spring bulbs that appear in late spring, just in time to cover the fading plants with their generous foliage! Around a pond, plant them with knotweeds, sedges, and astilbes. The blue foliage harmonizes perfectly with the red and purple foliage of Japanese maples.

Did you know: Most species found in Western gardens have been introduced from Japan. Hostas are edible and are called urui in Japan, where they are commonly consumed.