Hosta 'El Nino'

Hosta 'El Nino': Cool Blue, Crisp White, Total Calm

Powder-blue leaves with streaky creamy edges that get WIDER every year, like a weather system that just keeps building. 'El Nino' rolls into the shade garden and changes the whole forecast.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Hosta 'El Nino'
• Common Name: Plantain Lily, Hosta
• Height: 40–45 cm (16–18 in)
• Spread: 75–90 cm (29–35 in)
• Flowers: Pale lavender, held upright above the leaves
• Bloom Time: Midsummer (July to August)
• Foliage: Thick, pointed powder-blue leaves with streaky creamy white margins that widen as the plant matures
• Features: Good slug resistance

Where to Plant: Its neat shape suits edging a shady walk, lining a foundation on the north side, or repeating down a border for rhythm. It's also a good size for a large container on a shaded patio.

Companion Plants: Plant 'El Nino' in a moist, shady bed with pink-to-blue lungwort, near-black heuchera and a male fern. Pulmonaria 'Dark Vader' opens pink to blue bells at 25 to 30 cm in April and May. Heuchera FOREVER® 'Midnight' adds near-black foliage at 30 cm. Dryopteris filix-mas rises behind at 60 to 120 cm with upright fern fronds. Carex 'Gold Fountains' edges the front with gold-edged blades at 20 to 30 cm.

Plant Care: Plant it in moist, rich, well-drained soil with compost mixed in. Give it shade during the afternoon. Blue hostas get their colour from a waxy coating on the leaves, and strong sun and heat wear it off faster. Water deeply in dry spells, especially in the first year. Deer and rabbits like hostas, so use a repellent or fencing if they visit. Remove flower stems after blooming and clean up the leaves after a hard frost. Divide in early spring when the shoots emerge if you want more plants.

History: Dutch nurseryman Piet Warmerdam registered 'El Nino' in 2003 as a hybrid of the classic blue Hosta 'Halcyon', though many hosta experts believe it is a sport of that plant.

Final Thoughts: Thick leaves, good slug resistance, very little upkeep. The only climate event you'll actually want in the yard. EXPECT A COOL FRONT.