Hosta Shade Fanfare

Hosta Shade Fanfare is a reliable and versatile medium-sized variety, requiring little maintenance. Its large undulating heart-shaped leaves are a light and vibrant green, variegated with a creamy yellow border that becomes almost white over time. The foliage comes alive in summer with spikes of lavender flowers. With a rather slow growth, it establishes itself slowly but persistently, despite root competition. A colourful and vigorous plant, capable of suppressing weeds, to be grown in ordinary soil, even occasionally dry, preferably in partial shade or morning sun to enhance the beauty of the foliage.

Hostas are deciduous perennial plants that belong to the lily family, or Hostaceae. The 'Shade Fanfare' Hosta stands out for its ease of cultivation, robustness, and beautifully variegated foliage. It is a sturdy and long-lived plant. It will reach a height of 45cm (18in) or more, and when in bloom, it will spread over 50cm (20in). It forms a wide clump, wider than it is tall. Its foliage is deciduous, heart-shaped with pointed tips and visible veins. The lamina is thick and puckered. Pale yellow to white edges surround areas of almost chartreuse-green. Note that the foliage colouration and colour contrast are enhanced with a slightly sunny exposure. The flowering takes place in July-August, in the form of pale lavender bell-shaped flowers, pendulous, grouped towards the top of peduncles that can reach 60cm (24in) in height. This perennial plant spreads through stolons, similar to strawberries, and forms large clumps over time.

Originally from China, Korea, and Japan, Hostas are very hardy plants. They are most often found as ground cover under deciduous trees, in moist beds or rockeries, and borders, especially near ornamental ponds. The 'Shade Fanfare' Hosta will blend well in partial shade with lady's mantle, yellow loosestrife, baby's tears, ferns, barrenworts, and Claytonia sibirica with which it forms beautiful colourful duos that require little maintenance. It will also look great on a dark-coloured mulch, in the company of columbines and tall foxgloves or small violets. All hostas grow well in pots and can remain in the same container for several years. Choose a special geranium potting soil to use during the growing season. As long as the foliage is not too dense, you can water from the top of the pot. Then place a saucer under the pot where you will pour the water, keeping the level constant in summer.

Most of the species commonly found in Western gardens have been introduced from Japan. In Japan, hostas are edible and are commonly consumed, known as urui.