Hosta Hands Up - Plantain Lily

The Hosta 'Hands Up' is a mutation of the popular Hosta 'Praying Hands'. It develops upright, erect, slender and twisted leaves, ranging from medium to dark green, with yellow margins. This amazing variegated variety, with leaves that are less attractive to gastropods, has been awarded the prestigious Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society. It is a small, well-groomed plant that offers a lavender flowering in late summer. Easy to grow and thrive in moist soil.

This Hosta, or Funkia, is a completely hardy perennial belonging to the asparagus family. 'Hands Up' will reach a height of 40 cm and 55 cm when in flower, spreading to about 40 cm, with an upright habit. It forms a tight and upright clump, as wide as it is tall. It is a long-lived plant that takes a little time to establish. Its foliage is deciduous, lanceolate; each very slender leaf is almost curled up on itself. The lamina is medium to dark green, with a wide yellow margin. The flowering takes place in August-September, in the form of pale lavender bell-shaped flowers, hanging down and grouped towards the top of the peduncles that can reach a height of 55 cm.

Hostas are often planted under deciduous trees or highlighted in rockeries and beds, especially near water features. This perennial is also suitable for container gardening or as a standalone plant. Hosta 'Hands Up' harmonises well with ferns, heucheras, caladiums, and astilbes, which share similar growing conditions. To enhance the beauty of its foliage, pair it with yellow to golden Carex or Hakonechloa, which will echo its colour and provide a contrast in texture and leaf shape. Spring bulbs and creeping bugles can be planted as ground cover in front of 'Hands Up', whose foliage does not droop, for beautiful harmonies. Similarly, helxine or Claytonia sibirica can create lovely ground covers in front of the Hosta. All hostas grow well in pots and can remain in the same container for several years. Choose a special geranium potting soil to use during the growing season. As long as the foliage is not too dense, watering from the top of the pot is possible. Then place a saucer under the pot, where you can pour water, maintaining a constant level in summer.

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