Hosta White Feather

Hosta White Feather, unique in its colour, showcases a young spring foliage that is almost entirely cream white, which does not go unnoticed in shaded areas. Forming a pretty compact and upright clump, the plant is also adorned with arched flower stalks holding lavender flowers, on foliage that becomes much greener in summer.  This extraordinary variety, of rare beauty, requires a shady exposure. It will delight collectors and create stunning potted displays.

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

This 'White Feather' Hosta is a natural mutation of the introduced Undulata hosta in 2005 by Gerard Heemskerk. The plant bears beautiful lanceolate leaves in the shape of an ace of spades, upright, slightly concave, and with a waxy texture. The growth reaches about 30cm (12in) in height and 40cm (16in) in width at maturity. The leaves that emerge from the ground in spring are cream white, with discreet veins that are barely green. Over the course of days and weeks, the veins turn green and green streaks invade the leaf: in summer, the foliage is heavily variegated with green. Flowering generally takes place in July-August. From the clump of leaves emerge stems 50cm (20in) tall, bearing pale purple flowers that are visited by bees. This variety, whose leaves are almost devoid of chlorophyll in spring, shows slow growth and some fragility.

Hosta White Feather is superb in a border, but also in a pot. Place it in the shade so that the white foliage does not burn in spring. Combine it with other varieties, as well as with tiarellas and brunneras at the base of a large tree to create a sumptuous foliage display. It will also associate well with many perennials such as astilbes, Japanese ferns, epimediums, and purple cimicifugas, with which it forms beautiful duos that require little maintenance. Its foliage will hide the gaps left by spring-flowering bulbs. It will also look great alongside lungworts, and small violets... 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.