Hosta 'Empress Wu'

Hosta 'Empress Wu': The Majesty of Shade

Towering and regal, Hosta 'Empress Wu' reigns supreme as one of the largest hostas in cultivation. Its immense, deeply veined green leaves can span over 45 cm across, creating a lush, tropical feel in even the shadiest garden corners. Rising to nearly a metre in height, this stately cultivar makes a bold architectural statement, crowned in midsummer with pale lavender flowers on towering scapes.

Plant Characteristics:

• Height: 100–120 cm
• Spread: 150–180 cm, forming an enormous, upright clump
• Flower Colour: Pale lavender
• Flowering Period: Midsummer
• Foliage: Massive, dark green, heavily veined leaves with a deeply corrugated texture
• Sunlight Requirements: Partial to full shade
• Soil Requirements: Moist, well-drained, organically rich soil

Uses and Benefits: Hosta 'Empress Wu' is ideal for anchoring large shaded borders, woodland gardens, and grand-scale foundation plantings. Its imposing size and bold texture give it unmatched presence among foliage plants. Whether planted alone as a focal point or layered with contrasting forms, it delivers lush structure and a dramatic sense of scale that intensifies with each passing season.

Companion Plants: Flank Hosta 'Empress Wu' with Athyrium 'Godzilla', a massive, silver-washed fern that echoes the hosta’s scale and offers airy contrast. Add Ligularia 'The Rocket', whose bold foliage and tall yellow spires mirror the drama of ‘Empress Wu’ in both height and texture. Complete the scene with Hakonechloa macra 'All Gold', a flowing ornamental grass that softens the composition with its cascading golden blades.

Care Instructions: Provide partial to full shade and consistently moist, fertile soil. Water deeply during hot, dry periods to support its large foliage. Cut back dead leaves in early spring before new growth emerges. Divide infrequently—every 5–7 years—as needed to control size or rejuvenate mature clumps.

History: Hosta 'Empress Wu' was developed by Brian and Virginia Skaggs and introduced by Walters Gardens. Named for China’s only female emperor, it lives up to its namesake with a commanding presence and a legacy of admiration among hosta collectors worldwide.

Final Thoughts: Towering, textural, and timeless, Hosta 'Empress Wu' transforms the garden into a place of shade-drenched drama. A true monarch of the perennial border, she invites awe and admiration in every season.