Hosta Marilyn Monroe

Hosta Marylin Monroe probably owes its name to its undulating green leaves, reminiscent of a petticoat, revealing a white-silvery underside that evokes the iconic photos of the filmstar on a subway grate... It is a medium-sized variety that produces thick, heart-shaped green leaves with a very light layer of wax on the underside. The summer lavender flowers appear on reddish stems. This beautiful perennial will make a sensation on the edge of a woodland, in a contemporary or Japanese-style flowerbed, and of course in a very large pot on a shaded patio.

This Hosta Marylin Monroe comes from Hosta pycnophylla, a Japanese species remarkable for its leaves covered in white wax. It is a fully hardy perennial of the lily family or hosta family according to classifications. The plant appears from spring onwards, and has a broad habit. Adult in 5 or 6 years, it will reach about 40-45 cm (16-18in) in height and can spread up to 90 cm (35in) if the conditions are right. It is a long-lived variety, with heart-shaped leaves that have a very thick lamina, traversed by deep veins, and a regular undulated border. The flowering usually takes place in July-August, in the form of elongated bell-shaped flowers of mauve color, grouped towards the top of reddish peduncles that emerge from the foliage. All the above-ground, deciduous vegetation disappears in winter.

Traditionally, hostas are planted under deciduous trees, in damp flower beds or in rockeries and borders, especially near water features. It is a perennial that can be grown in pots and even as a specimen plant. Hosta Marylin Monroe pairs well with ferns, foamflowers, and astilbes, for example, these plants appreciate the same environments. To highlight its extraordinary foliage, combine it with yellow to golden false grasses, preferably Carex and Hakonechloa. Also consider spring bulbs, Caucasian forget-me-nots, and creeping bugles as companions.