Hosta Almost

The Hosta 'Almost' is a variety that stands out for its unusual colouration: its shiny leaves in the shape of a spade are infused with red along the petiole that carries them, beautifully coloured in the same deep red. Forming a lovely bushy clump, it is adorned with a summer flowering of bell-shaped flowers in a fairly deep lavender pink, which is also charming. Perennial, hardy, and colourful, this Hosta is perfect for enlivening shaded areas of the garden, in moist soil.

Hostas belong to the Liliaceae family. Native to Japan and China, there are no less than forty species and countless horticultural varieties appreciated for their foliage. The Hosta is a perennial herbaceous and deciduous plant that is easy to grow in ordinary soil, but preferably in shade. Its growth emerges from the ground in spring and disappears in winter.

This 'Almost' variety is a mutation of the "Cinnamon Sticks" variety selected in the USA by Arthur Wrede. The plant bears beautiful, thick, shiny, elongated heart-shaped leaves in basal rosettes, with prominent veins, 15 cm (6in) long, in a spring green colour, carried by red to dark purple petioles at the base. The growth reaches about 35 cm (14in) in height and 55 cm (22in) in width at maturity. The purple colour extends up to half of the central vein of each leaf, overflowing from this vein in the form of tiny specks. Flowering occurs in late summer, usually in August-September. From the clump of leaves emerge rose-violet stems, 45 cm (18in) tall, bearing flowers in a fairly deep lilac mauve; about thirty slightly pendulous bell-shaped flowers for a mature plant. Hostas are very perennial plants that can live for many years in the garden.

The Hosta 'Almost' is highly decorative in a mass planting or border, but also in a pot. Combine it with other varieties, as well as with foamflowers and brunneras at the base of a large tree to create a sumptuous foliage mass. It will also associate well with many perennials such as astilbes, Japanese ferns, epimediums, and purple bugbanes, with which it forms beautiful duos that require little maintenance. Its foliage will conceal the gaps left by spring-flowering bulbs. It will also look great alongside lungworts, small violets etc. 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 water, keeping the level constant in summer.