Hosta blue (Hosta Blue): types and varieties with photos, name and description, planting and care

Blue hosta is an indispensable attribute of the shady area of the garden. Its blue leaves create a romantic atmosphere in the area. Varieties of different height, structure and shade are used to create unusual decorative compositions. The main advantage of blue hosta is that it does not require complex care.

Blue hosta improves shady areas

Benefits of Growing Blue Hostas

First of all, blue hosta is loved for its unusual color. The splendor of the bush and the beautiful shape of the leaves attracts attention. This is one of the few crops that are not afraid of shade from trees and shrubs. It remains decorative until the end of the season, grows for years in one place and does not require special attention.

The variety of blue hostas allows the owner of the site to show his design taste. They blend harmoniously with most garden plants.With low and medium varieties of blue hosta it is easy to create various compositions: monoflower beds, flower beds, rockeries, rock gardens, borders and mixborders. Large specimens look great in single plantings.

Attention! When choosing neighbors for the blue hosta, it is important to take into account the growing conditions.

The best varieties of blue hostas

Blue hostas are amazing in their diversity. Miniature varieties rise 7-10 cm above the ground. The height of giant hostas exceeds 1 m. The size, color and shape of the leaves, and the shape of the bush differ. Some varieties develop into an inverted cone, others create a dome-shaped bush, and still others grow wider. All of them attract attention with their unusual structure and color, but some are especially loved by gardeners.

Blue Angel

One of the best hosta varieties with a dome-shaped, squat bush. The leaves are blue-green, streaked with veins, slightly corrugated, large - 40 cm long and 30 cm wide. The diameter of the bush reaches 120 cm, it grows up to 80 cm, and in particularly favorable conditions - up to 1 m. White or light lavender flowers appear in July on a peduncle 120 cm high. The variety tolerates frost and drought well. Great for single plantings.

Blue Angel variety is ideal as a tapeworm

Blue bowl

A bush with large textured and dense leaves of a glaucous color, which is decorated with white flowers from mid-summer. The height of the hosta reaches 70 cm, which is why it is often placed at the back of group plantings. The leaves are of unusual shape: curved in the shape of a bowl. Due to their density, hostas are rarely affected by pests and diseases.

Hosta 'Blue Bowl' leaf shape matches its name

Baby Bunting

One of the best dwarf varieties of blue hosta, 15-25 cm high. The bush is dense, the width reaches 38 cm.The leaves are miniature (6x7 mm), heart-shaped. At the beginning of the growing season they are blue-green with light veins, and towards the end they turn green. In the middle of the season, lavender inflorescences form. "Baby Bunting" is perfect for rockeries and container plantings.

Attention! The variety "Baby Bunting" has received several awards.

Hosta "Baby Bunting" leaves turn green at the end of the growing season

Blue Ivory

This variety amazes with the beauty of the leaf: it is dove-blue with cream edges. The bush gains mass at an average pace. It reaches its full size - 40 cm in height and 1 m in width - in mid-summer. Then it forms blue inflorescences. The leaves are heart-shaped, slightly elongated, reaching 25 cm in length. The plant is highly winter hardy - it can be grown in zone 2. Designers often make it the centerpiece of shady flower beds.

The Blue Ivory variety is loved by gardeners for its beautiful color.

Blueberry Ala Mode

The height of the bush reaches 65 cm. The leaves are round, wrinkled, and shaped like a bowl. The overall blue-green background is complemented by a thin beige border. The flowers are white. Goes well with other crops in the garden.

The plant goes well with other crops

Blue Cadet

The main advantage of this blue hosta is its deep blue-green hue. Small leaves (10x13 cm) are heart-shaped. In the second half of summer, lavender flowers bloom on tall peduncles. The bush grows 70 cm in width and 40 cm in height. Designers use the blue hosta “Blue Cadet” to frame edgings and flower beds, and also plant them along paths.

"Blue Cadet" is one of the bluest hosta varieties.

Blue Mouse Airs

A dwarf hosta resembling many mouse ears. The foliage is very dense, small, oval in shape.The height of an adult plant is 30-40 cm. In July, decoration in the form of lavender inflorescences appears. "Blue Mouse Ears" is perfect for rock gardens, rock gardens and growing in containers.

Important! In deep shade, the growth of the young Blue Mouse Ears bush slows down, so at the beginning it is better to plant it in a sunny area.

The flowering period of the plant is July and August.

Blue Umbrellas

Large blue-green foliage resembles umbrellas in shape and reaches a size of 30x25 cm. The height of an adult vase-shaped plant is 1 m, width is 1.3 m. The flowers are lavender in color. Tolerates winter well without shelter. In design it is used as a tapeworm or background of multi-tiered flower beds.

"Blue Umbrellas" looks great in a single planting

Big Daddy

One of the best representatives of the blue hosta. Lush bushes 50-65 cm high form blue inflorescences in July. The foliage is large (30x20 cm) with pointed ends. The corrugated surface increases the decorative effect of the plant. It resists diseases and pests well and tolerates severe frosts. "Big Daddy" will decorate any garden with its unusual appearance.

“Big Daddy” is particularly decorative

Blue Shadows

Appeared on the market recently. The sight of a mature plant in the garden is breathtaking. The leaves are round, dense with a waxy coating and pronounced veins. The dark green background of the surface is diluted by a dark yellow middle. The bush grows slowly, reaching 40-45 cm in adulthood. “Blue Shadows” is actively used for monobeds, borders and rock gardens. They look great near a pond.

Hosta "Blue Shadows" attracts attention with its unusual cup-shaped foliage.

Rhythm and Blues

A spectacular miniature blue hosta variety for growing in containers and flower beds.Small elongated foliage with pointed ends is directed upward and has a dense structure. In August-September, delicate lavender inflorescences appear. The height of the bush reaches 25 cm, diameter - 60 cm.

The long leaves of Rhythm and Blues are ideal for containers.

Blue Mammos

One of the largest representatives of blue hostas. Large, wide, oval-shaped leaves with a corrugated surface look impressive. Plant height - 90 cm, diameter - 150 cm. The color is usual for the group - gray-blue. The flowers are lilac or white and decorate the bush for a long time. The variety is very hardy to different environmental conditions and natural enemies.

The value of "Blue Mammos" is in the size of the leaves and endurance

Parisian Silk

Hosta "Paris Silk" is an extremely delicate representative of its species. The unusual rich blue color with a silvery touch on the central vein is impressive. The round shape of the foliage and soft pink flowers also delight the eye with sophistication. Mass growth occurs slowly, the maximum height is 45 cm.

"Parisian Silk" is one of the most delicate representatives of the species

Love Pat

"Love Pat" is considered one of the bluest hostas. The round, wrinkled leaves resemble spoons in shape. The bush grows up to 60 cm in height, while mass growth occurs at an average pace. The flowers are light lavender in color. A special feature of the variety is its ability to maintain rich color even in sunny areas.

The characteristics of the variety appear already in the first years of life after planting.

Crossa Regal

The vase-shaped bush grows 1.5 m in width and reaches 70 cm in height. The foliage is blue-green, wide and dense, size - 30x20 cm. In the second half of summer, blue-violet inflorescences appear. The variety is suitable for single planting.It is widely used in creating bouquets. Excellent resistance to climate change and severe frost.

Charming bouquets are made from Krossa Regal leaves

Bressingham Blue

The symmetrical vase-shaped bush grows up to 50 cm in height and spreads 60 cm in width. Growth is fast. The wrinkled leaf, 15x10 cm in size, has a green color with a blue tint. Large white inflorescences bloom in mid-summer. Hardy to frost resistance zone 3 (-40 °C). Looks great in single plantings and monobeds.

It is not recommended to plant the plant where there is frequent precipitation.

Smoke Signals

Medium-sized lush bush with narrow foliage. “Smoke Signals” is an appropriate name due to the top layer that creates the effect of a dusty surface. The direction of the plant is vertical. Height - 40-45 cm. Flowering begins in June-July.

'Smoke Signals' foliage appears dusty

Fragrant Blue

The height of an adult bush is 30-40 cm, it grows 60 cm in width. The leaves are heart-shaped, bluish-blue, up to 15 cm long. The color of the inflorescences is lilac. Hosta is great for planting on lawns, rockeries, flower beds and containers. Under the scorching sun, burns form on the leaves.

Hosta "Fragrant Blue" is universal in use

Canadian Blue

The height of the curtain is 30 cm, width - 40 cm. Leaves measuring 20x16 cm lie in a beautiful cascade. They have a rich blue-blue color, a dense structure and a thick waxy coating. The variety pleases with its rich color throughout the season. Lavender inflorescences appear at the end of summer. Designers are planting Canadian Blue hostas under trees, growing them in containers and making them part of borders.

"Canadian Blue" has a very beautiful bush structure

Halcyon

The blue of the Halcyon hosta creates a fabulous mood.The heart-shaped leaves have deep longitudinal grooves and are distinguished by a dense structure. Reaches 16 cm in length and 10 cm in width. The blue coating on the green surface is intense. The bush reaches 50 cm in height, spreads over 70 cm. In July or August, purple flowers appear, emitting a pleasant aroma. “Halcyon” goes well with coniferous and fern representatives of the flora.

Hosta variety "Halcyon" gets along well with coniferous crops and ferns

Hostas with blue leaves in landscape design

The undemanding nature, longevity and diversity of blue hostas allows you to create a variety of compositions in your garden. Combined with heucheras, dianthus, lungworts, aquilegias, geraniums and mantles to make stunning borders. For such compositions, fast-growing hostas are used. In borders and mixborders they are planted in the foreground, selecting varieties up to 30 cm.

Varieties of blue hosta up to 20 cm high make an excellent background for flowering plants in a rock garden or rock garden. Blue hostas fit perfectly into forest-style plantings. They will be out of place in a natural flower garden with vertical elements: ornamental grasses, cotton grass, black cohosh, bladderwort, sapling, echinacea and a variety of umbelliferae.

In spacious mono-plantings, blue hostas are also excellent. A good solution would be to plant them on the lawn. A charming atmosphere is created by large hosta varieties next to garden sculptures. By the pond, bushes of 30-45 cm look great in a single planting or flower bed. Hostas with blue leaves go well with conifers. They look impressive in contrasting combinations with Volzhanka, brunners, kupenas and daylilies.The composition of blue hosta with flowering stilbe is successfully completed by stonework. The shade needed by the crop can be created using roses, echinacea or black cohosh.

Advice! Decorative mulching of the soil perfectly complements the unique appearance of the blue hosta.

Planting and caring for blue hostas

Blue hosta develops best in the shade of tall bushes and trees. In full sun, the leaves will lose their bluish tint and turn green. The soil needs to be slightly acidic, moist, with good drainage. Hosts do not like drafts. The distance between neighboring plants should be at least 80 cm.

Planting is carried out in several stages:

The soil is loosened to 30 cm and mixed with complex fertilizer.
Dig a hole and create a drainage layer of 10-20 cm.
Straighten the roots in the hole and cover with soil up to the root collar.
Compact the soil and cover with mulch.
Water generously.

Comment! There is no need to plant hostas too close, as they grow a lot in 4-5 years.

For blue hosta, timely watering is important. If the soil dries out, the edges of the leaves will darken. Water should be poured under the root, lifting the top. Mulching the soil helps maintain moisture levels.

Blue hostas are fed from the second year, starting in spring and ending in mid-summer. Complex fertilizer granules are scattered at the roots. In the fall, mulch the tree trunk circle with compost. The beautiful shape of the bush is maintained by removing fresh flower stalks. Before frost, the leaves are completely cut off. Hosta is propagated by root division and cuttings.

Diseases and pests

Most often, blue hosta is affected by fungal diseases. Phyllosticosis appears on frozen plants after winter. It is identified by brown spots on the leaves.Anthracnose develops from excess moisture and lack of nutrients. It appears as brown spots on the foliage. Fungal diseases are successfully combated with the help of fungicides.

There is no cure for viral diseases. If yellow spots appear on the leaves, the blue hosta should be carefully removed from the area. Nearby soil and tools should be disinfected to avoid contamination of garden plants.

Blue hosta has many pests:

aphid;
nematode;
caterpillars;
mice;
snails and slugs.

Warning! A hosta infected with a virus becomes a source of infection for other crops.

Conclusion

Blue hosta harmonizes with many ornamental crops. Tall varieties are planted on lawns or near a pond, while low-growing varieties are planted in multi-tiered compositions. They perfectly complement natural forest-style plantings. Against the background of the bluish leaves of the blue hosta, plants with bright flowering look great. For successful development, the hosta needs fertile, slightly acidic soil with good drainage. In an abundance of sun, the leaves change color and may dry out.

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