Product Description
Hosta 'Dancing with Dragons' PP32040 (20)ct Flat
This beautiful blue hosta positively dances when you look at it. Heart-shaped leaves have margins that are heavily rippled and give the hosta an overall wavy appearance. As an added bonus, 'Dancing with Dragons' holds its beautiful blue color throughout the season. Near white flowers top the habit in late summer.
Hostas are exceedingly popular perennials in today's gardens due to their versatility in the landscape. Their subtle colors, tall flower scapes, and broad, coarse leaves fill a niche in garden designs that few other plants can achieve. Their large leaves provide excellent coverage for dying bulb foliage. Hostas also grow well in city environments where the air may be polluted by car exhaust, etc.
Hostas grow best in moist, well-drained, highly organic soils with a pH between 5.5 and 7.5. Sandy loam is better than clay because it provides more aeration for the roots. High-filtered or dappled sunlight is necessary for clean, healthy growth. Morning sun is tolerable and will help to intensify the leaf colors, but hot afternoon sun is usually deadly to hostas. They are most at home in shady, woodland settings and often work well as specimen or edging plants.
Especially in northern zones, hostas should be mulched with a layer of finely shredded organic material to prevent heaving in the winter. Mulch is beneficial because it retains moisture around the plant's roots, but it is also the ideal place for slugs to hide. Watch for holes in the center of the leaves. If they are present, so are slugs. Applying a slug bait in early spring when new shoots are beginning to emerge will help to reduce the slug population. After a few years when plants are firmly established, the mulch can be removed completely, which should eliminate the slug problem altogether. Also be sure to clean all hosta foliage out of the garden in early winter after the plants have gone dormant. By doing so, you will be ridding the area of the eggs of slugs and other leaf-eating insects.
Height: 18 Inches
Spread: 43 Inches
Scape Height: 25 - 33 Inches
Hardiness Zones: 3,4,5,6,7,8,9
Flower Color: White shades
Foliage Color: Blue shades
Part Shade to Full Shade
Average to Consistent Water Needs
Average to Fertile Soil Quality
Bloomtime: Late Summer
Attracts Hummingbirds
Growth Rate: Medium
Border Plant, Container, Cut Foliage, Easy To Grow, Attractive Foliage, Mass Planting
Hosta 'Dancing with Dragons' (Plantain Lily) is a captivating hosta variety known for its heavily rippled, heart-shaped blue leaves that bring a sense of motion and texture to the shade garden . This clump-forming perennial retains its blue color throughout the season and produces near-white flowers on tall scapes in late summer.
- Unique Foliage: The heavily rippled, heart-shaped blue leaves are the standout feature of this hosta. The wavy margins create an illusion of movement, adding dynamism to shady garden beds.
- Color Retention: Unlike some blue hostas that lose their color intensity as the season progresses, 'Dancing with Dragons' maintains its vibrant blue hue throughout the growing season.
- Late Summer Blooms: In late summer, tall flower scapes emerge, bearing near-white flowers that add a touch of elegance to the foliage display.
- Moderate Growth Rate: This hosta grows at a moderate pace, forming an attractive mound that reaches 18 inches tall and 43 inches wide at maturity.
- Easy Care: Hosta 'Dancing with Dragons' is relatively low-maintenance and easy to grow, making it a suitable choice for gardeners of all skill levels.
Growing Conditions and Care Hosta 'Dancing with Dragons' thrives in part shade to full shade and prefers fertile, moist, well-drained soil . It benefits from protection from cold, dry winds.
Here are some essential care tips:
- Watering: Water regularly, especially during dry periods, to maintain soil moisture.
- Fertilizing: Apply a balanced fertilizer in spring to promote healthy growth.
- Pest Control: Watch for slugs and snails, which can damage the foliage. Use appropriate pest control methods if necessary.
- Maintenance: Remove spent flower stalks after blooming to encourage the plant's growth. Trim back any discolored leaves to the ground.
Landscape Uses This versatile hosta is ideal for various shade garden settings:
- Specimen Plant: Its unique foliage makes it a striking focal point in a shady border or woodland garden.
- Container Plantings: Thrives in containers, adding texture and color to patios and balconies.
- Mass Planting: Creates a dramatic effect when planted in groups.
- Underplanting: Can be used as an underplanting for shrubs or trees.
- Mixed Borders: Combines well with other shade-loving perennials such as ferns, astilbes, and heucheras.
Hosta 'Dancing with Dragons' is a unique and captivating addition to any shade garden. Its heavily rippled blue leaves, late summer blooms, and easy care make it a favorite among hosta enthusiasts. Whether planted as a specimen, in containers, or as part of a mixed border, this hosta is sure to bring a touch of elegance and dynamism to your landscape.
Other Details
The most important part of the plant is its root system. Healthy roots are the foundation of a healthy, vibrant plant. The type of plug container used is based on the specific needs of the plants. Perennials offered as bare root traditionally perform better when planted as bare root.Planted in a specialized mix, potted plants have well established root systems. Top growth stage will vary depending on the current life cycle and time of year when shipped. In Winter and early Spring dormant plants may be shipped. Dormant plants may be planted right away, even before the last frost date.
Most bare root varieties are field grown for at least one season, though Hemerocallis and Hosta are grown for two seasons. The bulk of the soil is removed during the harvesting process and the tops of most varieties are trimmed back to the crown. They are graded, packed in shredded aspen or sphagnum moss and stored in freezers until ready to be shipped.
See our Container Sizes and Bare Root Perennials pages for more information.
Plant information and care is provided in the Overview section, Plant Genus Page and general information is provided in the Planting Care & Guides. Additional questions can be asked on each Plant page.
Plant Spacing: Using the maximum mature spread or width of a plant to guide spacing, ensures space to grow to full size. To fill an area sooner, plant them closer together. Just remember, future thinning or transplanting may be needed.
Water: Keep a close eye on newly planted perennials, especially throughout the first growing year. Most early plant loss is due to too much or too little water!
