Hosta 'Patriot'

Hosta 'Patriot': White Margins Bright as a Flag

Dark green centres with bright white margins, a contrast so sharp it could cut the ribbon at a grand opening. 'Patriot' brings the ceremony to any shady bed. SCISSORS NOT INCLUDED.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Hosta 'Patriot'
• Common Name: Plantain Lily, Hosta
• Height: 56 cm (22 in) foliage, with flower stems to about 76 cm (30 in)
• Spread: 76 cm (30 in)
• Flowers: Lavender, funnel-shaped, held above the leaves on tall stems
• Bloom Time: Midsummer (July)
• Foliage: Dark green centres with wide white margins that emerge creamy yellow in spring
• Features: Hosta of the Year 1997

Where to Plant: Use it to edge a shady path, line a north-facing foundation, or repeat down a woodland border, since the white margins read from a distance in a dark spot. It also does well as the leafy filler in a large container.

Companion Plants: Brunnera 'Alexander's Great' brings blue flowers in April and May and large heart-shaped leaves at 35 to 40 cm, an early partner for this white-edged hosta. Eurybia macrophylla grows up to 100 cm behind and opens lavender asters in August and September, following the hosta's July flowers in a matching colour. Hakonechloa 'All Gold' gives a low, arching grass with golden colour, a fine texture next to the hosta's crisp leaves. All three share the same shady to part-sun spot.

Plant Care: Plant in part sun to full shade, in moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Morning sun is fine, but hot afternoon sun can scorch the leaves. If you garden on heavy clay, mix in plenty of compost at planting. Water deeply in dry spells, especially during its first summer. Deer and rabbits will eat hostas, so use a repellent or fencing if they visit. Watch for slugs in wet springs. Cut the flower stems after bloom if you like a tidy look, and remove the foliage after a hard frost. Divide in spring as the shoots emerge.

History: John Machen Jr. of Mobjack Nursery in Virginia found 'Patriot' as a sport of Hosta 'Francee' and registered it in 1991, and the American Hosta Society's records describe it as the first recognized tetraploid hosta sport. The American Hosta Growers Association named it Hosta of the Year in 1997.

Final Thoughts: Easy care and hummingbirds on the flowers. Plant it where you need something bright to break up the green. INSTANT HEADLINER.