Description
Hosta Lewis Cottage Seedling is an unnamed blue-green leaved variety grown from seed gathered from the garden 4 years ago. Hostas grown from seed rarely come true & to be honest I gave it a try out of curiosity & as a way of filling a large garden for little more than the cost of my time & patience. I now have a large number of these unnamed plants of saleable size in 2 litre pots. The seeds most likely came from either H. Big Daddy or H. Halcyon, but don’t quote me. Fully grown, the plants will reach in excess of 60cm wide & are ideal for anyone not too fussed about named varieties but just want a good show
If you take your finger and wipe it across a blue hosta leaf, you will notice that the leaf is actually green. The blue color is nothing more than a layer of wax called bloom that wears away over the course of a growing season with exposure to sunlight, heat, or rainwater. In areas with high summer temperatures or lots of rainfall, blue hostas will not stay blue for long. Here in the South, my hostas usually remain blue into mid- or late June. In cooler climates, the blue color can remain through most of the growing season. And since most blue hostas produce only one flush of leaves per year, once their color is gone you will have to wait until next season to see the blue again.
As a general rule, blue hostas require a bit of light shade, both for preservation of the blue color and for prevention of leaf scorch. A moist soil rich in humus is preferred, and exposure to a bit of cool morning sun will grow the best clumps. Hostas are very heavy feeders, so don’t be shy when it comes to using plenty of good compost, manure, or other organic fertilizer. I apply an organic blend like Plant Tone every spring. Mushroom compost and high-quality, composted manure also make good top dressings in spring.
Position: sun or part shade
Soil: Prefers deep moist soil
Flowering period: summer
Rate of growth: Moderate
Hardiness: Hardy
Pot size: 2L
Eventual height & spread 45cm x 60cm
