Hosta Gooseberry Sundae

Hosta 'Gooseberry Sundae' is derived from 'Raspberry Sunday', from which it borrows its beautiful red petioles and cordate, veined, dark green leaves. Glossy, its large leathery foliage is carried by very dark purple-tinted petioles, with the colour extending to the lamina. Its late flowering is also dark, with beautiful blue-violet bell-shaped flowers. Small in size, it attracts attention as a border plant, in a flower bed or in a pot, in partial shade or shade.

This Hosta, Gooseberry Sundae is a plant belonging to the Asparagaceae family. This variety was obtained by H. Philips. It is a deciduous perennial that only produces its leafy clump in spring. It forms a compact and balanced clump. The plant, mature in 5 years, reaches 40 cm (16in) in height and 50 cm (20in) in width. It bears beautiful slightly glossy basal rosettes of elongated heart-shaped leaves, with veining, in a dark green colour. Each leaf is carried by a dark red petiole. Flowering takes place in late summer, usually in August-September. Pink-violet stems bearing blue-violet flowers emerge from the leaf clump.  Hostas are very perennial plants that can live for many years in the garden.

Hosta Gooseberry Sundae is very decorative in a flower bed or border, but also in a pot. Combine it with other varieties, as well as with tiarellas and brunneras at the base of a large tree to create a sumptuous foliage flower bed. It will also go well with many perennials such as astilbes, Japanese ferns, epimediums and purple cimicifugas, with which it forms beautiful duos that require little maintenance. Its foliage will hide the gaps left by spring-flowering bulbs. It will also thrive in the company of lungworts, small violets... All hostas grow well in pots and can remain in the same container for several years.

Most species spread in our gardens have been introduced from Japan. Hostas are edible and are called 'urui' in Japan, where they are commonly consumed.