Hosta Dream Queen

The Hosta 'Dream Queen' is a cultivar with delicious, large and thick heart-shaped leaves in fantastic colours! This perennial forms a compact bushy clump of intensely blue leaves, illuminated in the centre by a narrow yellow-gold flash with green neon stripes on the edges. Planted in a brighter location, its colours lighten respectively to blue-green, creamy yellow, and light green. Despite its medium to slow growth, this variety is vigorous and exceptional for bringing vivid colours to an understorey or a shaded bed. It is also suitable for planting in borders, pots and containers around a terrace or on a balcony. Plant it especially in cool, well-drained, and rich soil!

This Hosta, or Funkia, is a mutation of H. 'Great Expectations' and differs little from H. 'Dream Weaver', except that the yellow in its centre is darker. It is a deciduous and very hardy perennial, only producing its leafy clump in spring. It belongs to the asparagus family. The plant forms a clump reaching 50 cm (20in) in height and 70 cm (28in) in width. It is a long-lived plant with cordate rounded deciduous leaves, heavily puckered at maturity, with pointed tips. The lamina is plicate with very pronounced veins. From the heart of its variegated foliage emerge in July-August short flower spikes, bearing almost white bell-shaped flowers, slightly fragrant.

Hostas like cool, well-drained, and rich soils, and absolutely dislike drought and scorching exposures. An afternoon sunlit location should be avoided, as it can burn the leaves of these perennials. In hotter and drier regions, provide a thick mulch. Hostas, with their generous and decorative foliage, are perfect as ground covers, borders, or in partly to fully shady beds, where other plants struggle to grow. Indeed, they like sheltered and cool locations such as woodlands. Varieties with bluish and green foliage tolerate dense shade the best. Sun tends to turn blue cultivars green. Lighter foliage thrives in partial shade, where their colour transforms and lightens with increasing sunlight. In general, morning sun exposure allows optimal development of these perennials and also makes them more floriferous. Gastropods (slugs and snails) are particularly fond of these fleshy perennials, so contemporary hybridizations aim to create hostas that are increasingly resistant to their attacks.

Combine them in masses with other hostas, ferns, delphiniums, Solomon's seal, and other low-growing ground cover perennials such as creeping bugles, geraniums, and lamiums. All are very effective as slug repellents. The silver-leaved Brunnera macrophylla 'Mr Morse', familiar to woodlands, will be excellent companions. Also consider Heucheras and their wonderful range of colours, or the delicate flowers of fairy bells (Epimediums). The golden foliage contrasts beautifully with their red and orange tones. You will enhance shaded and slightly damp parts of the garden, creating a pleasant haven of freshness for the summer. Hostas also thrive in containers that should be placed in partial shade and watered regularly. Hostas go wonderfully well with spring bulbs appearing in late spring, at the opportune time to cover faded plants with their generous foliage! Around a pond, plant them with persicarias, carex, and astilbes. The blue-toned foliage harmonises perfectly with the red and purple foliage of Japanese maples.

Did you know: Most species found in Western gardens have been introduced from Japan. Hostas are edible and are called urui in Japan, where they are commonly consumed.