Francee hosta

Sun

Partial shade or dappled shade; tolerates full shade. Gentle morning sun is suitable if the soil stays moist, but avoid hot afternoon sun.

Water

Keep evenly moist but not waterlogged. Water deeply during dry spells, especially beneath trees and in containers.

Soil

Humus-rich, moisture-retentive soil with good drainage; tolerates acidic, neutral or mildly alkaline conditions.

Height

1.5-2 ft (0.45-0.6 m) in leaf; flower stems to 2.5 ft (0.75 m)

Spread

3-4 ft (0.9-1.2 m)

Flowers

Pale lavender, funnel-shaped flowers on upright stems in summer.

Foliage

Broad, pointed, heart-shaped leaves with prominent veins, dark green centres and narrow white margins.

Growth

Moderate; develops a broad, mature clump over several years.

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Cold hardy
• Heat tolerant
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1 ft (0.3 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.2 ft (0.37 m)

3. After 2 years

   1.5 ft (0.45 m)

4. After 3 years

   1.7 ft (0.53 m)

   full size

About 3 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Growth rate

Moderate

• Water at soil level when the surface begins to dry; do not let newly planted clumps dry out.
• Apply compost or leaf mould in spring, keeping it clear of the crown.
• Feed lightly with a balanced fertiliser in spring if growth is weak; avoid repeated heavy feeding.
• Check emerging shoots for slugs and snails and protect them before leaves become damaged.
• Divide in early spring only when you want more plants or the clump has outgrown its space.

Pruning. Cut spent flower stems down to the base after flowering unless you want seed. Remove collapsed leaves after autumn dieback, or clear them before new shoots emerge in spring.

Early spring

Clear old foliage, check emerging shoots for slugs and divide established clumps if needed.

Spring

Plant new hostas, water them thoroughly and mulch with compost or leaf mould.

Late spring

Check plants beneath trees and in pots for drying soil; water deeply as needed.

Summer

Maintain even moisture and remove spent flower stems.

Early autumn

Plant or divide while soil is still warm, allowing time for roots to establish before freezing weather.

Late autumn

Remove collapsed foliage and keep the crown free of wet, matted debris.

• Plant repeated clumps along a shaded path, where the white leaf edges remain easy to see.
• Combine with ferns and fine-leaved sedges for contrasting leaf shapes in woodland borders.
• Use beneath open-canopied deciduous trees where you can provide enough water despite root competition.
• Grow in a large, well-drained container to bring patterned foliage to a shaded patio.

Garden styles it suits: Woodland, Japanese, English country, Modern courtyard, White garden and Blues and silvers.

Plant it with: Japanese painted fern, Astilbe, Siberian bugloss, Coral bells, Japanese forest grass and Solomon's seal.

Wildlife: Flowers provide nectar for bees and may attract hummingbirds in North America. The foliage is often eaten by deer, rabbits, slugs and snails.

• Slugs and snails chew holes in leaves, particularly as shoots emerge: inspect after dark, remove them by hand and use labelled iron-phosphate bait where needed.
• Deer and rabbits eat leaves and young shoots: protect plants with suitable fencing or temporary guards.
• Brown, dry leaf edges usually indicate drought or excessive sun: water deeply, mulch and move the plant to afternoon shade if necessary.
• Hosta virus X can cause unusual mottling, streaking or puckered tissue: remove and dispose of infected plants, do not divide them, and disinfect cutting tools between plants.

All parts contain saponins and are toxic to cats, dogs and horses if eaten, usually causing gastrointestinal upset; seek veterinary advice after ingestion. Hostas are not generally considered toxic to people, but ornamental plants should not be eaten without reliable identification and knowledge of pesticide use.

• Patriot hosta (Hosta 'Patriot')

  'Patriot' has much broader, more irregular white margins; 'Francee' has a relatively narrow white edge.

• White-edged undulata hosta (Hosta undulata 'Albomarginata')

  Its leaves are generally narrower, more twisted and more strongly wavy-edged than the broader, flatter leaves of 'Francee'.

The genus name Hosta honours the Austrian physician and botanist Nicolaus Thomas Host.

Propagation. Divide established clumps in early spring as shoots emerge, or in early autumn. Keep several buds and a good portion of roots on each division; seedlings will not reliably match 'Francee'.

Accepted botanical name

Hosta

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.