Hosta 'Silly String'

Hosta 'Silly String': Wavy Blue Ribbons for Shade

Narrow, very wavy blue leaves that look like somebody emptied a can of party spray and it just kept growing. 'Silly String' is THE WILD CHILD of the shade garden.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Hosta 'Silly String'
• Common Name: Plantain Lily, Hosta
• Height: 36 cm (14 in)
• Spread: 71 cm (28 in)
• Flowers: Pale purple with a white throat, on purple stems
• Bloom Time: Midsummer (July to August)
• Foliage: Narrow, very wavy blue leaves that shift to blue-green as summer goes on
• Features: Unusual rippled texture

Where to Plant: Put it at the front of a shade bed or along a path where people can see the ripples up close. It's also a natural filler in a shady container.

Companion Plants: For a bold backdrop, plant Ligularia 'Britt-Marie Crawford' behind it; its orange daisies in August and September make a warm contrast with the hosta's lavender blooms. Tiarella 'Spring Symphony' is a tidy edging at 20 to 25 cm, with pink flowers in May and June before the hosta flowers. Adiantum pedatum brings delicate, airy fronds that soften the hosta's leaves without crowding them. It's an easy trio for a shady corner that keeps something happening from spring to late summer.

Plant Care: Plant in part sun to full shade, in moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Blue hostas keep their colour best in shade, so avoid hot afternoon sun. Water regularly through the first summer and in dry spells. Deer and rabbits will eat hostas, so use a repellent or fencing if they visit. Check for slugs in wet weather. Remove the flower stems once they fade and clean up the foliage after a hard frost. Divide in spring once the clump fills out.

History: 'Silly String' was bred by Hans Hansen at Walters Gardens in Michigan and registered in 2018, from a cross of Hosta 'Curly Fries', another hosta known for narrow, wavy leaves, with one of Hansen's own seedlings. It inherited the ripples and added a blue coat.

Final Thoughts: Easy care, unusual texture and hummingbirds on the purple flowers. Plant it and dare the neighbours to clean it up. IT'S NOT COMING OFF.