Product Description
Hosta 'Gigantosaurus' PP35135 CPBRAF (20)ct Flat Proven Winners® SHADOWLAND® Collection
Common Name: Hosta
The massive size and leaves of 'Gigantosaurus' will have your garden feeling like Jurassic Park. This variety will come roaring to life in early spring as one of the first Hostas to emerge. Large blue leaves have a wavy yellow margin. In summer yellow margins turn to creamy white. Pale lavender flowers first begin appearing in early summer and are held just above the foliage.
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: 30.0-32.0 Inches
Spread: 72.0-78.0 Inches
Scape Height: 24.0-30.0 Inches
Hardiness Zones: 3,4,5,6,7,8,9
Flower Color: Purple shades
Foliage Color: Blue shades
Part Shade to Full Shade
Average to Consistent Water Needs
Average to Fertile Soil Quality
Bloomtime: Midsummer, Late Summer
Attracts Hummingbirds
Growth Rate: Medium
Border Plant, Container, Cut Foliage, Easy To Grow, Attractive Foliage, Mass Planting, Specimen, Focal Point
Hosta 'Gigantosaurus' is a massive new hosta variety with stunning blue-green leaves and creamy yellow margins that fade to creamy white in the summer. It was hybridized by Hans Hansen and introduced in 2021 by Walters Gardens. The genus Hosta was named after Nicolaus Host, physician to the Austrian Emperor. This hosta is part of the Proven Winners® SHADOWLAND® collection. It is one of the first hostas to emerge in the spring. The leaves are moderately corrugated with deeply impressed veins. Pale lavender flowers appear in early summer.
- Mature size 30 inches tall and 72 inches wide
- Leaf color Blue-green with a yellow margin that fades to creamy white in the summer
- Flower color Pale lavender
- Scape height 24-30 inches
- Flowering time Early summer
- Hardiness zones 3-9
- AHS Heat Zones 8 to 1
- Growth Habit Mounded
- Parentage A hybrid of Streaked Hosta 'Empress Wu' and Hosta 'Blueberry Muffin'
Hosta 'Gigantosaurus' truly lives up to its name, reaching a massive size of 30 inches tall and 72 inches wide at maturity. Its blue-green leaves, adorned with a striking yellow margin that fades to creamy white in the summer, create a bold presence in the garden. The thick foliage is heavily textured, adding extra dimension to this plant. The leaves are also thick enough to hold up to slugs and bugs, making the plant more resistant to pests.
Care Hosta 'Gigantosaurus' grows best in moist, well-drained, organically enriched soil and full to part shade. It prefers 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 can be deadly.
Here are some additional care tips:
- Water regularly, especially during the first year after planting.
- Mulch with a layer of finely shredded organic material to prevent heaving in the winter.
- Apply a slug bait in early spring when new shoots are beginning to emerge.
- Clean away dead foliage after frost to prevent insect problems.
Uses Hosta 'Gigantosaurus' is a versatile plant that can be used in a variety of ways in the landscape. Here are some ideas:
- Accent: Use it as a focal point in a shady garden.
- Border: Plant it in a border along a walkway or driveway.
- Container gardening: Grow it in a pot on a shaded patio or balcony.
- Foundation planting: Use it to soften the foundation of a house.
- Massing: Plant several together for a dramatic effect.
- Specimen: Plant it as a standalone plant in a prominent location.
- Woodland: Use it in a woodland garden under trees.
- City environments: Hostas can tolerate air pollution from car exhaust, making 'Gigantosaurus' a good choice for urban gardens.
- Cut flower or foliage: The sturdy leaves and pale lavender flowers can be used in floral arrangements.
Design Ideas The impressive size and unique foliage of Hosta 'Gigantosaurus' make it a standout plant in any shade garden. Here are some design ideas to help you incorporate this prehistoric giant into your landscape:
- Companion Plants: Pair 'Gigantosaurus' with finely textured plants to create contrast. Ferns, such as Japanese painted ferns (Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum') or autumn ferns (Dryopteris erythrosora), are excellent choices. Other good companions include coral bells (Heuchera), foam flower (Tiarella), and astilbe.
- Garden Styles: 'Gigantosaurus' is well-suited to a variety of garden styles, including woodland gardens, shade gardens, and contemporary gardens. Its bold foliage can add a touch of drama to a minimalist design or complement the lush plantings of a cottage garden.
- Focal Point: Plant 'Gigantosaurus' as a focal point in a shady border or as a specimen plant in a container. Its large size and striking foliage will draw the eye and create a sense of grandeur.
Hosta 'Gigantosaurus' is a remarkable addition to any shade garden, offering a unique combination of impressive size, striking foliage, and easy care. Its early emergence, long season of appeal, and resistance to pests and diseases make it a top performer in the landscape. Hostas are incredibly easy to grow and require little maintenance. As part of the SHADOWLAND® collection, 'Gigantosaurus' is known for its disease resistance and excellent garden performance. Whether used as a focal point, a border plant, or in a container, 'Gigantosaurus' is sure to bring a touch of prehistoric grandeur to your garden.
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!
