Hosta 'Blue Elf' PP30832

Common Name: Hosta

This Hosta from Hans Hansen and Walters Gardens hybridizing delivers what other miniature hostas promised – truly blue leaves. Compared to the ever popular 'Blue Mouse Ears', 'Blue Elf' has a similar short height but with larger leaves (about 2½-3" across) and true powdery blue leaves; about the same color as 'Fragrant Blue'. Perfectly proportionate to the size of the plant, shorter flower spikes yield lavender flowers in in midsummer. 'Blue Elf' is the perfect size for fairy gardens or troughs!

Hostas are exceedingly popular perennials in today's gardens due to their versatility in the landscape. Their subtle colors, tall flower scapes, and broad, coarse leaves fill a niche in garden designs that few other plants can achieve. Their large leaves provide excellent coverage for dying bulb foliage. Hostas also grow well in city environments where the air may be polluted by car exhaust, etc.

Height:

8.0 Inches

Spread:

12.0-14.0 Inches

Scape Height:

12.0 Inches

Hardiness Zones:

3,4,5,6,7,8,9

Flower Color:

Purple shades

Foliage Color:

Blue shades

Sunlight:

Part Shade (4-6 hrs. Direct Sun) Full Shade (< 4 hrs. Direct Sun)

Water Requirements:

Average Water Needs Consistent Water Needs

Soil Quality:

Average Soil Quality Fertile Soil Quality

Soil Chemistry:

Acidic Soil (pH < 7.0) Neutral Soil (pH = 7.0)

Bloomtime:

Midsummer

Attracts Wings:

Attracts Hummingbirds

Growth Rate:

Medium

Garden Style:

Patio Container Eclectic Woodland Shade

Other Features:

Border Plant Container Cut Foliage Easy To Grow Edging Attractive Foliage Small Miniature

Origin:

Not Native to North America

Hostas grow best in moist, well-drained, highly organic soils with a pH between 5.5 and 7.5. Sandy loam is better than clay because it provides more aeration for the roots. High-filtered or dappled sunlight is necessary for clean, healthy growth. Morning sun is tolerable and will help to intensify the leaf colors, but hot afternoon sun is usually deadly to hostas. They are most at home in shady, woodland settings and often work well as specimen or edging plants.

Especially in northern zones, hostas should be mulched with a layer of finely shredded organic material to prevent heaving in the winter. Mulch is beneficial because it retains moisture around the plant's roots, but it is also the ideal place for slugs to hide. Watch for holes in the center of the leaves. If they are present, so are slugs. Applying a slug bait in early spring when new shoots are beginning to emerge will help to reduce the slug population. After a few years when plants are firmly established, the mulch can be removed completely, which should eliminate the slug problem altogether. Also be sure to clean all hosta foliage out of the garden in early winter after the plants have gone dormant. By doing so, you will be ridding the area of the eggs of slugs and other leaf-eating insects.

Characteristics