Hosta 'Big Mama'

RHS Plant Profile

plantain lily 'Big Mama'

Herbaceous Perennial

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A large, clump-forming perennial, to around 1m high and 1.5m wide, with heart-shaped, textured blue-green leaves to 45cm long. Loose clusters of white flowers are borne on tall stems above the foliage in summer

Position

Full shade, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

1-1.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 1-1.5 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full shade Partial shade

Aspect: East–facing or North–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H7

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Asparagaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming
Genus: Hosta are clump-forming herbaceous perennials with simple, ovate or lance-shaped leaves, often attractively coloured or variegated, and erect racemes of nodding, funnel or bell-shaped flowers in early summer
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in a shady spot in fertile soil that does not dry out, with shelter from cold, drying winds. mulch annually in spring. Hostas in the ground may need watering during dry spells. See hosta cultivation for more detailed advice

Propagation

Propagate by division in early spring or late summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Architectural
Flower borders and beds
Ground cover

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs and snails, though these thicker-leaved blue cultivars are more resistant than others. Container grown plants may be susceptible to vine weevil

Diseases

May be susceptible to virus diseases