Hosta Blue Angel

The Hosta 'Blue Angel' offers some of the most beautiful foliage in the 'blues' category. It is a vigorous variety, which develops large corrugated leaves of a very blue-gray, with parallel veins. Held almost horizontally by upright petioles, these cascading leaves form a magnificent mound of foliage, from which emerge in summer many spikes laden with light lavender to pure white flowers, very decorative. This very beautiful perennial plant has a great effect on the edge of the undergrowth, in a contemporary or Japanese-style border, always in shade or semi-shade, planted in moist but well-drained soil.

This Hosta, or Funkia, is a perfectly hardy perennial from the liliaceae family or hostaceae family according to different classifications. This excellent variety has been awarded many times in the United States and distinguished in England by the Royal Horticultural Society. 'Blue Angel' carries the genes of a large Japanese species called Hosta sieboldiana. This large perennial shows, from spring, a very wide clump habit. The plant, mature in 5 or 6 years, will reach 70-80 cm (28-32in) in height and it can spread over 1.20m (4ft), if the conditions are met. It is a long-lived plant, whose strongly veined leaves have a heart shape. The lamina, which can measure 40 cm (16in) in length, is thick and slightly puckered. This thick foliage resists gastropod attacks quite well. Flowering usually takes place in July-August, in the form of elongated bell-shaped flowers, grouped towards the top of the 1.10m (4ft) to 1.20m (4ft) tall scapes, which emerge well from the foliage. Each flower bursts in a pale lavender shade, then quickly becomes white. This perennial spreads by stolons, like strawberries. All the above-ground, deciduous vegetation disappears in winter.

Traditionally, hostas are planted under deciduous trees, in cool beds or in rockeries and borders, especially near water features. It is a perennial that can be grown in pots and even as a standalone plant. Hosta Blue Angel pairs well with ferns and astilbes, for example, these plants appreciate the same environments. To highlight its extraordinary foliage, combine it with yellow to golden false grasses, preferably including  Carex and Hakonechloa.