Hosta 'Francee'

Hosta 'Francee': Crisp White Edges, Half a Century Strong

Dark green leaves with a narrow, crisp white edge, as neat as a freshly ironed shirt collar. 'Francee' is the hosta that brings a hostess gift and NEVER OVERSTAYS ITS WELCOME.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Hosta 'Francee' (often listed under Hosta fortunei)
• Common Name: Plantain lily, hosta
• Height: 50–60 cm (20–24 in) foliage, with flower stems rising well above the leaves
• Spread: 100–125 cm (40–50 in)
• Flowers: Medium lavender and funnel-shaped, in clusters on tall stems
• Bloom Time: Midsummer (July to August)
• Foliage: Dark green, heart-shaped leaves with a narrow, clean white margin
• Features: RHS Award of Garden Merit

Where to Plant: It's a natural for edging a shady path or running a line along the north side of the house, where the white edges trace the shape of the bed. It also fills the ground under deciduous trees, and planted in a group it reads as one clean, bright sweep. Cold winters don't bother it at all.

Companion Plants: Give white-edged 'Francee' a moist, shady bed with hart's tongue fern, shieldleaf and late white asters. Asplenium scolopendrium adds glossy, strap-shaped fern fronds at 30 to 50 cm. Astilboides tabularis brings huge round leaves and cream plumes at 90 to 125 cm in June and July. Eurybia divaricata 'Eastern Star' adds white wood asters at 30 to 45 cm from August to October. Carex pensylvanica carpets the front at 15 to 30 cm with fine, arching blades.

Plant Care: Plant it in part sun to full shade, in rich, moist, well-drained soil with compost worked in. Morning sun is fine. Hot afternoon sun can scorch the white margins. Water deeply in dry spells, especially during the first year. Slugs may nibble the leaves, and deer and rabbits find hostas delicious, so protect it if they visit your yard. Snip off the flower stems once blooming ends, and clear away the leaves after a hard frost. Divide in spring as the shoots poke up, if you want more plants or the clump outgrows its space.

History: Minnie Klopping of Nebraska introduced 'Francee' in the 1970s, and the American Hosta Society registered it on her behalf in 1986. A member of the fortunei group, it holds the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit and has been a shade garden standard for about half a century.

Final Thoughts: Classic, tidy and easy, so line a shady path with it and look like you hired someone. TASTEFUL, AS ALWAYS.