Hosta Lipstick Kiss

Hosta 'Lipstick Kiss' comes from a very beautiful variety, the hosta 'Lipstick Blonde', unique with its very bright yellow foliage carried by red petioles. 'Lipstick Kiss' adds a green border to this colourful ensemble. Its upright and lanceolate leaves form a dense and bushy clump, which is very luminous. The plant is adorned with arching flower stalks filled with lavender flowers that further accentuate its spectacular side. This variety requires about 6 hours of sunlight per day to maintain its magnificent golden colour.

Hostas belong to the Asparagaceae family. Originating from Japan and China, there are no less than forty species and countless horticultural varieties appreciated for their foliage. The Hosta is a herbaceous and deciduous perennial plant, easy to grow in ordinary soil, but preferably in shade. Its vegetation emerges from the ground in spring and disappears in winter. Hosta 'Lipstick Kiss' bears basal rosettes of beautiful lanceolate leaves shaped like an ace of spades.  These are upright, slightly undulate, with a waxy texture and a bright yellow colour, bordered in green and carried by red petioles. The vegetation measures about 35 cm (14in) in height and 50 cm (20in) in width at maturity. Flowering takes place in late summer, usually in August-September. Floral stems, 45cm (18in) tall, emerge bearing purple flowers. Hostas are very perennial plants that can live for many years in the garden.

Hosta 'Lipstick Kiss' is superb in borders and also in pots. Place it in morning sun so that the foliage retains its beautiful golden colour. Combine it with other varieties, as well as with tiarellas and brunneras at the base of a large tree to create a sumptuous foliage display. It will also associate well with many perennials such as astilbes, Japanese ferns, epimediums, and purple bugbanes with which it forms lovely duos that require little maintenance. Its foliage will hide the gaps left by spring-flowering bulbs. It will also look great in the company of lungworts, small violets... All hostas grow well in pots and can remain in the same container for several years.  As long as the foliage is not too dense, watering from the top of the pot can be done. Then place a saucer under the pot to keeping the moisture level constant in summer.