Hosta Carnival

The 'Carnival' Hosta is interesting for its beautiful medium-sized clump of textured leaves with changing colours! Starting in spring, this deciduous perennial produces a clump of oval leaves that are nicely veined, creased, and undulating, forming inverted cups of dark green colour. They are widely edged with golden yellow that radiates irregularly towards the centre of its lamina. This variegation changes under the summer sun, becoming creamy yellow and then white. Its lavender flowers appear from July to August. This cultivar has particularly rapid growth and forms a compact and spreading clump. It is not demanding and is ideal as ground cover in cool and fertile soils. Its light colours are especially striking in locations that receive morning sun.

This Hosta, or Funkia, is a hardy perennial that, starting in spring, has a bushy habit. It belongs to the asparagus family. The plant forms a dense spreading clump that is 45 cm (18in) tall and 50 cm (20in) wide. It is a long-lived plant with thick deciduous leaves that are 20 cm (8in) long and 18 cm (7in) wide. The lamina is thick and plicate with deep veins. From the centre of its variegated foliage, from July to August, emerge moderately tall flower stalks bearing bell-shaped clusters of slightly fragrant flowers.

Hostas are perfect as ground cover in partly shaded to shaded borders or beds, where other plants struggle to grow. They thrive in sheltered and cool locations such as woodlands. Associate them in groups with other hostas, ferns, delphiniums, solomon's seal, and other low-growing ground cover perennials like bugleweed, geraniums, and dead nettles. All of them are highly effective as slug repellents. The silver-leaved Brunnera macrophylla 'Mr Morse', which is familiar in woodlands, will be excellent companions. Also consider Heucheras with their wonderful range of colours, or the delicate flowers of Epimediums. By doing so, you will enhance the shaded and slightly moist parts of the garden, creating a pleasant haven of coolness for the summer. Hostas also thrive in pots that are placed in semi-shade and watered regularly. Hostas pair wonderfully with spring bulbs that appear in late spring, providing the perfect cover for fading plants with their generous foliage! Around a pond, plant them with knotweeds, sedges, and astilbes. Their blueish foliage harmonises perfectly with the red and purple foliage of Japanese maples.

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