Hosta Moonlight

Hosta 'Moonlight' is a medium-sized variety with bright and radiant colours! It forms a clump of rounded ovate leaves with lime-green veins, finely margined with creamy white and shades of dark green. The leaves lighten in summer to become golden yellow and white. This hosta is also distinguished by its particularly abundant flowers with upright spikes of pale lavender funnel-shaped blooms from July to September. This variety has rapid growth and tolerates direct sunlight well. In fact, it requires good morning sun exposure for more intense colurs. Due to its compact bushy habit and preference for shaded spaces, the hosta is a perfect perennial groundcover for shady areas and less sunny borders.

This Hosta is a deciduous perennial that is very hardy, producing its leafy clump in spring. It belongs to the asparagus family. This moderately growing plant reaches significant proportions, reaching 40 cm (16in) in height and 60 cm (24in) in spread. It is a long-lived plant with thick, round-based oval leaves, slightly crinkled and pointed at the tips. Its lamina is pleated with 8 pairs of deep veins. Flower stems, about 60 cm (90in) tall, emerge from the centre of its foliage in July-August, bearing clusters of bell-shaped flowers which are slightly fragrant.

Hostas like damp, well-drained, and rich soils, and they dislike drought and scorching exposure to the sun. A location exposed to afternoon sunlight should be avoided as it can burn the leaves of these perennials. In hotter and drier regions, provide a thick mulch. Hostas, with their generous and decorative foliage, are perfect as groundcover, in borders, or in partially shaded or shaded flower beds, where other plants struggle to grow. They like sheltered and damp locations such as woodlands. Varieties with blue and green foliage tolerate dense shade the best. Sun tends to turn blue colours green. Lighter foliage thrives in partial shade where their colour transforms and lightens with increased sunlight. In general, exposure to morning sunlight allows optimal development of these perennials and also makes them more floriferous. Gastropods (slugs and snails) are particularly fond of these fleshy perennials, so contemporary hybridisations aim to create hostas that are increasingly resistant to their attacks. This variety is slug resistant.

Combine them in mixed groups with other hostas, ferns, delphiniums, Solomon's seals, and other low-growing groundcover perennials such as creeping bugles, geraniums, and lamiums. All of them are very effective as slug repellents. The silver Brunnera macrophylla Mr Morse, familiar to woodland areas, 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 of the species spread in our gardens have been introduced from Japan. Hostas, which are edible, are called urui in Japan, where they are commonly consumed.