Hosta var 'Blue Angel'

Hosta spp. 'Blue Angel'

Asparagaceae 

• Part shade to full shade (4 hours or less sun)
• 36" tall (in leaf) x 48-71" wide
• Drought Tolerant: Moderate (tolerates dry shade once established)
• Evergreen: No (herbaceous perennial, dies back in winter)
• Flower Color: Pale lavender to white, blooms mid-summer
• Wildlife Benefits: Attracts hummingbirds; slug resistant

Hosta 'Blue Angel' is one of the largest blue-leaved hostas available, forming a massive, gracefully cascading mound that commands attention in any shade garden. This giant cultivar performs best in part shade to full shade with high-filtered or dappled sunlight. Morning sun is tolerable and helps intensify leaf color, but hot afternoon sun should be avoided. The plant thrives in moist, well-drained, highly organic soils with a pH between 5.5 and 7.5, with sandy loam preferred over clay for better root aeration. While 'Blue Angel' prefers consistent moisture and performs best with regular watering, established plants demonstrate notable tolerance for dry shade conditions, particularly due to their thick leaves. This is a long-lived perennial that can thrive for 20+ years in the same location.

The foliage of 'Blue Angel' is absolutely magnificent, featuring gigantic, heart-shaped leaves that measure up to 16 inches long by 12 inches wide. The thick, heavily textured leaves are slightly convex with a glorious blue-green to silver-blue color created by a waxy, glaucous coating. The leaves display prominent veins and light marginal undulations, creating a corrugated appearance that adds dimensional interest. The upright leaf petioles support the cascading foliage in a beautiful architectural form. In mid-summer, dense racemes of bell-shaped, pale lavender to white flowers appear on erect, leafy, gray-green scapes rising dramatically to 48 inches tall. The waxy coating on the leaves naturally resists slug damage better than thin-leaved varieties, though the coating can dissolve as the season progresses.

The tall flower scapes provide nectar for hummingbirds throughout mid-summer. The massive size and architectural form make this a true garden centerpiece and conversation piece. Young shoots can be harvested in early spring and prepared like asparagus, though the plant is primarily grown for ornamental purposes. 'Blue Angel' has received numerous prestigious awards including the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit and multiple American Hosta Society awards. The plant demonstrates excellent adaptability to urban environments, withstanding pollution from car exhaust and other city stresses. The thick leaves and large size provide excellent coverage for dying bulb foliage and create dramatic textural contrast in the garden.

'Blue Angel' is perfect as a bold specimen plant in shade gardens and woodland settings where its massive size can be fully appreciated. Use it as a dramatic focal point near water features, at the back of shade borders, or massed in groups for extraordinary impact. The plant provides excellent groundcover under mature trees where grass struggles to grow. Pair with finer-textured shade perennials like ferns, Astilbe, and smaller hostas for striking contrast. Combine with early spring bulbs like daffodils and tulips, as the large foliage emerges later and conceals dying bulb foliage. Plant with Helleborus, Brunnera, and Pulmonaria for a shade garden with varied textures and forms. The blue foliage creates stunning combinations with yellow or chartreuse-leaved plants and white or pink-flowered perennials.