Hosta sieboldiana

Hosta sieboldiana is an imposing Japanese perennial with thick, subtly blue-green leaves. It will undoubtedly bring a lush, even exotic, aspect to woodland gardens. Its white-lilac flowering, in June-July, adds brightness to shaded or semi-shaded beds.

Also known as Funkia, this beautiful perennial belongs to the Asparagaceae family (it was formerly classified in the Liliaceae family), and makes a good ground cover. Under good conditions, the clump can reach 60cm (24in) tall (1m (3ft) in bloom) and 1.2m (4ft) wide. The plant produces upright stems carrying bell-shaped white flowers, shaded with mauve, which gradually turn pure white. The foliage, thick and puckered, is less appreciated by slugs than in other hostas. Heart-shaped and veined, the leaves can measure up to 50cm (20in) long. They are larger and more ovate in this variety than in Hosta sieboldiana var. elegans (= Hosta 'Elegans').

Siebold's Hosta will thrive in any deep, humus-rich and fertile soil. While these plants can tolerate short periods of drought, they prefer the substrate to remain moist, even wet, while being perfectly drained:  excess water can cause rotting of the large fleshy roots. This species thrives very well in shade or semi-shade. It can also be grown in light sun, but in constantly moist soil, otherwise the foliage may wilt or dry out. Excellent results can also be obtained in pots. Perfect for brightening up your terrace or balcony! Just make sure to water them, but without overdoing it. Mature clumps can be divided in spring or autumn, by separating large fragments of the fleshy and sometimes quite tough clumps.

It can be happily associated with other well-known shade plants, such as ferns or Epimedium, as well as rarer ones like Saruma henryi, Kirengeshoma palmata... that appreciate the same conditions but offer very different foliage to play with different forms.