Hosta Saint Paul

Hosta 'Saint Paul' is a variety of generous dimensions, offering a clump of thick and cordate leaves with a stunning contrast of colours! Starting off blue with a narrow central variegation in a lime green shade, they then turn a variegated blue-green shade with golden yellow variegation as the summer season arrives. Its beautiful tough leaves are deeply veined and become heavily puckered over time. A shade-loving perennial par excellence, this variety also has good resistance to slugs and tolerates sunnier positions quite well. With a moderate growth habit, its bushy and compact clump easily spreads in moist, well-drained and rich soils to form a magnificent woodland groundcover.

Hosta 'Saint Paul' is a mutation of H. 'Paul's Glory' distinguished by its wider blue margins. Hosta is a deciduous perennial that is very hardy, producing its leafy clump every spring to adorn the shade until winter arrives. It belongs to the asparagaceae family. Hosta 'Saint Paul' forms a compact bushy clump reaching 60 cm (24in) in height with a spread of 100 cm (39in). It is a plant with good longevity and bears large fleshy leaves with astonishing colours and textures. Its leaf is pleated with deep veins and becomes puckered as it matures. Flowers emerge from the centre of its variegated foliage, from July to August, bearing pale lavender bell-shaped racemes, with little fragrance.

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 Western gardens were introduced from Japan. Hostas are edible and are known as urui in Japan, where they are commonly consumed.