Hosta Prairie Sky

Hosta 'Prairie Sky' is a beautiful variety which is a very rare powder blue colour!  Recently introduced, this deciduous perennial has thick leaves in light cups with well-flattened margins. It forms a compact, low-spreading clump that bears white flowers with lavender centres in mid-summer. It has a medium growth rate and also a strong tolerance to sunlight although its colours may become more green in the sun.  It also has a good resistance to slugs. It is particularly spectacular when planted in a shady garden with yellow or golden foliage varieties. Hardy and easy to grow, it requires a well-drained, rich, and moist soil.

Hosta 'Prairie Sky' is a hybrid of H. 'Blue Jay' dating back to 2014. This Hosta is a deciduous perennial that is very hardy and only produces its leafy clump in spring. It belongs to the asparagus family. This medium-sized plant forms a dense cushion reaching 35 cm (14in) in height and 60 cm (24in) in spread. It has a good longevity and bears thick, cordate-based leaves with smooth margins, slightly curving in on themselves, measuring about 18 cm (7in) in height and 15 cm (6in) in width. The lamina is plicate with 9 to 11 pairs of veins. The undersides are whitish. Tall flowers emerge in July until August from the centre of its bluish foliage,  carrying racemes of bell-shaped, lightly scented blooms.

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. 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.