Hosta Night Before Christmas

Hosta 'Night Before Christmas' is a variety that stands out with rather lanceolate foliage, slightly undulate, with twisted pointed tips giving it a less formal, more festive appearance! It presents a compact bushy clump with dark green leaves with a narrow cream-white central variegation, bordered by lime green spots. Later in the season, the colours lighten to bright green bordered by pure white, enhancing the contrasts. Its flowering occurs in summer with colourful spikes of pale lavender tubular flowers, rising well above its clump. This deciduous perennial of medium size is vigorous and fast-growing, making it a versatile subject in damp and shady gardens. Resistant, it tolerates both direct sunlight and denser shade. 

The Hosta 'Night Before Christmas' is a mutation of H. 'White Christmas' with thicker leaves and wider dark green margins. This Hosta, is a very hardy deciduous perennial that only appears with its leafy clump from spring onwards. It belongs to the asparagus family. This fast-growing plant reaches 40 cm (16in) in height and 70 cm (28in) in spread. It has a good lifespan and bears thick lanceolate oval leaves with rounded bases, slightly undulate margins, and pointed twisted tips. Its lamina is pleated with 6 to 8 pairs of deep veins. From the heart of its variegated foliage, 75 cm (30in) tall creamy white racemes with reddish spots emerge in summer, bearing bell-shaped flowers that are lightly scented.

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 of the species commonly found in Western gardens were introduced from Japan. Hostas are edible and are known as urui in Japan, where they are commonly consumed.