Hosta 'Empress Wu'
Plantain Iily, Funkia
- Height × spread
- 0.75m × 1.3m
- Position
- Tolerates part shade, likes light shade
- Hardiness
- Colder than -20C (RHS H7)
- Flowers
- Summer
Availability
Generally available in late Spring & early Summer
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
Extremely hearty once established, and an eye-catching feature with huge leaves, coloured a glaucous blue-green, sometimes 45cm in diameter. The leaves have deep-set veins and the leaf surface may be dimpled. The long leaf has a slightly curved tip (a mucronate tip), and somewhat squashed lobes where it attaches to the leaf stalk. The flowers come from high summer onwards and are held on stems a little above the foliage, held in funnel-shaped clusters coloured white. This needs a shady position. It will develop slowly and eventually make a substantial feature.
- Flower colour
- White
- Foliage colour
- Blue
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Dome
- Height
- 0.75m
- Spread
- 1.3m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Flowers in
- Summer
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Seaside garden, Cottage garden
- Sun or shade
- Tolerates part shade, likes light shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Well drained soil
- Hardiness
- Colder than -20C (RHS H7)
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Ground cover
- Maintenance
- Easycare – low/no maintenance
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water to keep the soil moist
For best results, this plant needs soil that is always moist. Water deeply and regularly as soon as soil appears dry. Even for established plants in the ground, a dry week can cause problems with some soils. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather. Or install an automatic irrigation system which will do the hard work for you, even when you are away on holiday.
Without regular watering some plants never fully regain their beauty.
Spring - early-mid · Planting
Divide when too large
The plant can be divided if it becomes too large or another plant is required. This may involve physically dividing the clump in two, removing offsets or small bulbs or dividing rhizomes. The new plants can be grown in pots or planted in the ground.
Spring-Autumn · Planting
Protect from slugs & snails
Protect young plants and new growth from slugs; mature plants can withstand slugs though damage affects their appearance. Apply nematodes in Spring. Or sprinkle organic slug pellets thinly around plants. Barrier methods, eg copper tape, may help.
Summer
Summer - early · Outdoors
Apply slow release fertiliser
Apply a slow release fertiliser which is spread around the root area of the plants soon after they have come into growth. (Or apply a liquid feed at regular intervals throughout the growing season.)
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost as a single annual procedure.
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