Hosta Love Pat

Hosta 'Love Pat' is a variety that stands out from other blue hostas with exceptionally graphic foliage, forming deep, thick, rounded, highly veined and puckered cups! Its colour is a highly intense powdery bluish-grey, harmonizing with a much lighter grey-green reverse. This deciduous perennial of medium size forms a dense, compact, very vigorous clump that effectively covers woodland beds with bright, opulent foliage. In midsummer, its charming pale lavender bell-shaped flowers stand erect above the leaves. Easy to grow in damp, rich, well-drained soil, it thrives in shady environments. Hosta 'Love Pat' is a moderate-growing 'Tokudama' type selection. This Hosta is a very hardy deciduous perennial that produces its leafy clump in spring. It belongs to the family Asparagaceae. The plant reaches a height of 60 cm (24in) with a spread of 70 cm (28in). It is a long-lived plant with generous, rounded, thick, heavily puckered leaves with recurved edges forming deep cups with well-acuminate tips. Its lamina is pleated by very deep veins. From the heart of its bluish foliage, pale lavender bell-shaped inflorescences emerge in July-August, with little fragrance.

Hostas thrive in damp, well-drained, and rich soils, and they absolutely dislike drought and scorching sunlight. Afternoon sun should be avoided as it can scorch the leaves of these perennials. In hotter and drier regions, a thick mulch should be applied. Hostas, with their generous and decorative foliage, are perfect for groundcover, borders, or shaded perennial borders, where other plants struggle to grow. They prefer sheltered and damp locations such as woodlands. Varieties with blue and green foliage tolerate dense shade better. Sun tends to make blue colors turn green. Lighter foliage thrives in partial shade, where their colours change and lightens with increased sunlight. In general, morning sun allows optimal development of these perennials and also enhances their flowering. Gastropods (slugs and snails) are particularly fond of these fleshy perennials.  Contemporary hybridisations aim to create hostas that are increasingly resistant to their attacks.

Combine them in groups with other hostas, ferns, delphiniums, Solomon's seal, and other low-growing groundcover perennials such as creeping bugle, geraniums, and lamiums. All of these are highly effective as slug repellents. The silver-leaved Brunnera macrophylla Mr Morse, which is familiar in woodland settings, makes an excellent companion. Also consider Heucheras with their wonderful range of colours, or the delicate flowers of Epimediums. The golden foliage contrasts beautifully with their red and orange tones. Hostas also thrive in pots that should be placed in partial shade and watered regularly. Hostas complement spring bulbs, appearing in late spring to cover faded plants with their generous foliage! Plant them around a pond with persicarias, carex, and astilbes. The blue-toned leaves harmonise 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.