Hosta 'Touch of Class'

Hosta 'Touch of Class': Powder Blue Brushed with Gold

Powdery blue leaves with a chartreuse-yellow centre and a bit of green streaking, like a designer scarf on a plain blue coat. 'Touch of Class' adds polish to the shade garden WITHOUT TRYING TOO HARD.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Hosta 'Touch of Class'
• Common Name: Plantain Lily, Hosta
• Height: 40 cm (16 in), with flower scapes to about 56 cm (22 in)
• Spread: 60 cm (24 in)
• Flowers: Pale lavender bells held above the leaves
• Bloom Time: Midsummer (July)
• Foliage: Thick, pointed, powdery blue leaves with a chartreuse to yellow centre and green streaking
• Features: Good slug resistance

Where to Plant: It fits the front or middle of a shady border and makes a sharp edging along a woodland path. Plant three together for a neat drift of blue and gold, or give one a large container on a shaded patio. If deer and rabbits visit your yard, plan on a repellent or a fence.

Companion Plants: Plant 'Touch of Class' in a moist, shady bed with red trillium, cream foamflower and a golden-scaled fern. Trillium erectum opens maroon-red flowers at 20 to 40 cm in April and May. Tiarella 'Cutting Edge' adds creamy bottlebrush spikes at 20 to 25 cm in May and June. Dryopteris affinis rises behind at 60 to 120 cm with arching, deep green fronds. Liriope 'Royal Purple' edges the front with grass-like leaves and purple spikes.

Plant Care: Plant in spring or early fall in moist, humus-rich soil that drains well. If you garden on clay, dig in plenty of compost first. Water deeply through the first season and during dry spells after that. A layer of mulch keeps the roots cool. The blue colour comes from a waxy coating on the leaves. Afternoon sun and hard rain wear it off, so morning sun and afternoon shade suit it best. Cut the flower scapes once they finish. Cut the leaves down after a hard frost, or leave them until spring. It's a steady, medium grower and rarely needs dividing. If you want more plants, divide in early spring as the shoots come up.

History: 'Touch of Class' came from hybridizer Hans Hansen at Shady Oaks Nursery in Minnesota as an induced sport of Hosta 'June'. It was registered with the American Hosta Society in 1999.

Final Thoughts: Good slug resistance and very little work. Plant it in the shade and let everything around it look more expensive. PINKIES UP.