Hosta Julia

Hosta 'Julia' is a cultivar with a semi-upright clump of thick, puckered and deeply veined leaves. They are dark green with a delicate cream-white margin. Later in the season, they turn respectively green and white, especially when well-exposed to light. In midsummer, tall spikes of white flowers striped with lavender emerge from its compact clump. It is a deciduous perennial with rapid growth, fairly tolerant of direct sunlight and resistant to slug attacks. Its medium-sized decorative clump is an asset for woodland and shaded gardens. Plant it in a damp, rich, and well-drained soil.

Hosta 'Julia' is a mutation of H. 'Fortunei Hyacinthina'. This Hosta, is a deciduous perennial that only produces its leafy clump in spring. It belongs to the Asparagus family. The plant reaches 45 cm (18in) in height and 80 cm (32in) in spread. It is a long-lived plant with oval leaves rounded at the base, slightly folded with pointed tips. Its lamina is plicate with 7-9 pairs of deep veins. Emerging from its variegated foliage in July-August are tall flower spikes of about 80 cm (32in) in height, bearing bell-shaped racemes of lightly scented flowers.

Hostas thrive in damp, well-drained, and rich soils, and they absolutely dislike drought and scorching sunlight. Afternoon sun should be avoided as it can scorch the leaves of these perennials. In hotter and drier regions, a thick mulch should be applied. Hostas, with their generous and decorative foliage, are perfect for groundcover, borders, or shaded perennial borders, where other plants struggle to grow. They prefer sheltered and damp locations such as woodlands. Varieties with blue and green foliage tolerate dense shade better. Sun tends to make blue colors turn green. Lighter foliage thrives in partial shade, where their colours change and lightens with increased sunlight. In general, morning sun allows optimal development of these perennials and also enhances their flowering. Gastropods (slugs and snails) are particularly fond of these fleshy perennials.  Contemporary hybridisations aim to create hostas that are increasingly resistant to their attacks.

Combine them in groups with other hostas, ferns, delphiniums, Solomon's seal, and other low-growing groundcover perennials such as creeping bugle, geraniums, and lamiums. All of these are highly effective as slug repellents. The silver-leaved Brunnera macrophylla Mr Morse, which is familiar in woodland settings, makes an excellent companion. Also consider Heucheras with their wonderful range of colours, or the delicate flowers of Epimediums. The golden foliage contrasts beautifully with their red and orange tones. Hostas also thrive in pots that should be placed in partial shade and watered regularly. Hostas complement spring bulbs, appearing in late spring to cover faded plants with their generous foliage! Plant them around a pond with persicarias, carex, and astilbes. The blue-toned leaves harmonise perfectly with the red and purple foliage of Japanese maples.

Did you know: Most of the species commonly found in our gardens were introduced from Japan. Hostas are edible and are known as urui in Japan, where they are commonly consumed.