BBC Gardeners' World

Plant overview

Spikes of pale lilac flowers flowers in July and August above clumps of heart-shaped, glossy, yellow-green leaves, becoming puckered when mature. The glossy leaves of this handsome hosta are, allegedly, less likely to be demolished by slugs and snails. Ideal for a large container, it thrives in sun or partial shade.Water your hosta well as soon as you plant it and from then on water regularly during their first growing season. Give them a water about once or twice a week around the base of the plant, avoiding the leaves. Little and often can be disatrous as it's encourage the plant to produce roots closer to the surface in a desperate quest for moisture.

• Postition: North , East
• Soil Type: Acid , Heavy Clay (remains damp) , Normal
• Soil PH: Acid, Neutral
• Flowering Period: Summer
• Ease of maintenance: Easy
• Fragrant: No
• Spring Colour: light green
• Summer Colour: light purple
• Autumn Colour: light green
• Winter Colour: not-applicable
• Leaf Colour: Yellow
• Poisonous: No
• Evergreen: No
• Season of interest: Autumn, Summer, Spring

Garden care

You'll get thicker, lusher leaves if you give your hostas a really good feed. An annual mulch in spring or autumn will help to keep the weeds down and is an easy way to improve soil and boost nutrient levels. Add a generous mulch of about 5-10cm (2-4in) deep of garden compost or leaf mould around the plant. Spraying the leaves regularly with a high nitrogen fertiliser during the growing season will also help to boost leaf size.