Blue Wedgwood Hostas Are as Elegant as Their Namesake
Blue Wedgwood belongs on your dining table—and in your garden. ‘Blue Wedgwood’ is a hosta hybrid that gets its name from the famed English china maker, and with its mounds of strongly veined blue foliage, we think it lives up to its moniker. These hostas thrive in the shade, and they’re gorgeous garden additions thanks to their dramatic leaves and tall flower spikes, which produce pretty summertime blooms. Thanks to their foliage, flowers, and shade-loving tendencies, these hostas have become perennial Southern favorites. ‘Blue Wedgwood’ is a hosta cultivar in the Tardiana Group that you have to see to believe.
About 'Blue Wedgwood' Hostas
The calling card of ‘Blue Wedgwood’ hosta is its abundance of powder blue foliage. Its leaves are heart-shaped, and they have wavy edges and deep veins. They're thick and substantial, with a powdery or chalky matte appearance that can take on a smoky, blue-gray cast. This echoes the matte blue colors and textures of Wedgwood’s traditional stoneware, particularly the powder blue jasperware that the Josiah Wedgwood studio developed in the 18th century and with which it is still associated all these years later. ‘Blue Wedgwood’ hostas grow to sizes of 2 feet high and 1 foot wide and form a mound up to 1½ feet tall. These plants are early bloomers and produce lilac-hued flowers in the early- to midsummer months.
Planting 'Blue Wedgwood' Hostas
Also called “plantain lilies,” hostas are popular additions to shade gardens and containers. The Southern Living Garden Book explains, “They are generally shade lovers, though some will tolerate dappled or morning sun if well-watered. Plants growing in more sun will be more compact and will produce more flowers. Provide good, organically enriched soil, with regular feeding during the growing season.” Hostas can be susceptible to garden pests including slugs and snails, so keep an eye out for any distress as your hostas grow, and continue monitoring them once they're established.
Other Hosta Species
If you want to expand your hosta collection, there are countless other species to browse. H. clausa, H. crispula, H. decorata, H. fortune, H. lancifolia, H. minor, H. plantaginea, H. pulchella, H. sieboldiana, H. sieboldii, H. tardiflora, H. tokudama, H. undulata, H. ventricosa are all species with a variety of appearances when it comes to foliage and flowers. Hosta hybrids including ‘Blue Angel’, ‘Francee’, ‘Great Expectations’, ‘Hadspen Blue’, ‘Piedmont Gold’, and ‘Shade Fanfare’ are also popular plantings in the South.
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Do you have ‘Blue Wedgwood’ hostas in your garden? What’s your favorite selection of hostas to plant?
