Hosta Summer Music

Hosta 'Summer Music' is a variety that stands out with a magnificent tuft of multicoloured foliage! It has heart-shaped leaves, veined in ivory turning to pure white in summer, doubly margined with lemon-green stripes and wide dark green edges. The leaves become wavy over time and have widely undulated margins, beautifully twisting their laminae. Their pointed tips gracefully curve towards the ground. This medium-sized deciduous perennial grows slowly, making it particularly suitable for planting in pots or containers. To achieve the best colours and contrasts without burning the leaves, plant this hosta in a location that is moist, rich, well-drained, and well-exposed to morning sun.

Hosta 'Summer Music' is a mutation of H. 'Shade Master'. Hosta, also known as Funkia, is a hardy deciduous perennial that produces its decorative foliage tuft every spring to embellish shady areas until winter arrives. It belongs to the asparagus family. Hosta 'Summer Music' forms a compact bushy tuft, reaching 40cm (16in) in height and 60cm (24in) in width. It is a plant with a good lifespan that bears ovate leaves with cordate bases measuring about 18cm (7in) long and 15cm (6in) wide. Their laminae are pleated with 9 to 10 pairs of deep veins. From the heart of its variegated foliage, from July to August, emerge flower stems bearing pale lavender bell-shaped flowers which are not very fragrant.

Hostas like moist, well-drained, and rich soils, and they absolutely hate drought and scorching exposures. A location illuminated by the afternoon sun or direct sunlight should be avoided as it can burn the leaves of these perennials. In hotter and drier regions, provide a thick layer of mulch. Hostas, with their generous and decorative foliage, are perfect as ground cover, in borders, or in partially shaded to shaded flower beds, where other plants struggle to grow. Indeed, they like sheltered and moist locations such as woodland areas. Varieties with blue and green foliage tolerate dense shade better. The sun tends to turn the colour of their leaves from blue to green. Lighter foliage thrives in partial shade, where their colours transform and lighten with increasing sunlight. In general, exposure to morning sun allows these perennials to develop optimally and also makes them more floriferous. Gastropods (slugs and snails) are particularly fond of these fleshy perennials, so contemporary hybridisations aim to create hostas that are increasingly resistant to their attacks. For varieties with less tough leaves, consider using a hemp mulch or a mineral mulch such as gravel, which will deter these pests. It is worth noting that frogs and hedgehogs are their natural predators, so their presence is beneficial for the garden's fauna balance.

Combine them in masses with other hostas, ferns, delphiniums, Solomon's seals, and other low-growing ground cover perennials such as creeping bugleweed, geraniums, and lamiums. All are very effective as slug repellents. The silvery Brunnera macrophylla 'Mr Morse', familiar in woodland areas, will be excellent companions. Also consider Heucheras and their wonderful range of colours, or the delicate flowers of Epimediums. The golden foliage contrasts beautifully with their red and orange tones. This will enhance the 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 pair wonderfully with spring bulbs that appear in late spring, at the perfect time to cover faded plants with their generous foliage! Plant them around a pond with persicarias, carex, and astilbes. The blue-toned foliage blends perfectly with the red and purple foliage of Japanese maples, as well as the golden yellow foliage of Hakonechloas and heucheras.

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