Hosta ventricosa

RHS Plant Profile

blue plantain lily

RHS 1993

Other common names

murasaki-giboshi, Savannah wood

Synonyms

Hosta coerulea var. latifolia
Hosta coerulea

Herbaceous Perennial

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A robust herbaceous perennial making a large clump of wavy-edged, dark glossy green heart-shaped leaves to 18cm in length. Deep purple bell-shaped flowers are borne on erect stems to 90cm in late summer

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

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

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam

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

Position

Partial shade

Aspect: North–facing or East–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: Correct
Plant Range: China

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in part shade with shelter from cold, dry winds. See hosta cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by division in late summer or early spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Flower borders and beds
Garden edging
Underplanting of roses and shrubs

Pruning

Remove spent foliage as required and clear up dead foliage when it dies back at the end of the growing season

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs and snails; plants in pots may be susceptible to vine weevil

Diseases

May be susceptible to a virus