Other Names:  Plantain Lily, Funkia

Description:

This interesting variety presents large, green leaves on purple-red stems; provides beautiful texture and contrast to other plants; lavender-purple flowers appear from mid to late summer; protect from hot afternoon sun; low maintenance and easy to grow

Ornamental Features

Gooseberry Sundae Hosta features dainty spikes of lavender tubular flowers rising above the foliage from mid to late summer. Its textured heart-shaped leaves remain green in color throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Gooseberry Sundae Hosta is a dense herbaceous perennial with tall flower stalks held atop a low mound of foliage. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other garden plants with finer foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Insects

Gooseberry Sundae Hosta is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Border Edging
• General Garden Use
• Groundcover

Planting & Growing

Gooseberry Sundae Hosta will grow to be about 12 inches tall at maturity extending to 18 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 20 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 16 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant does best in partial shade to shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. This plant should not require much in the way of fertilizing once established, although it may appreciate a shot of general-purpose fertilizer from time to time early in the growing season. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.