Product Description
Hosta 'Love Story' PP34224 CPBRAF (20)ct Flat
Proven Winners SHADOWLAND Collection
Common Name: Hosta
This Hosta will be a part of your garden "love story." Long heart-shaped leaves have medium green margins with chartreuse jetting that bleeds into creamy white centers. The medio-variegation extends from leaf tip to the petiole, flaring at the base of the leaf. A gentle piecrust wave edges each leaf. Tall scapes hold large clusters of tubular white flowers in early summer, creating a Hosta that can be enjoyed for its foliage and flowers.
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: 36.0-42.0 Inches
Spread: 20.0-26.0 Inches
Scape Height: 22.0-31.0 Inches
Hardiness Zones: 3,4,5,6,7,8,9
Flower Color: White Shades
Foliage Color: Green shades Variegated
Part Shade (4-6 hrs. Direct Sun) to Full Shade (< 4 hrs. Direct Sun)
Average to Consistent Water Needs
Average to Fertile Soil Quality
Bloomtime: Midsummer
Attracts Hummingbirds
Growth Rate: Medium
Border Plant, Cut Foliage, Easy to Grow, Attractive Foliage, Mass Planting
Hosta 'Love Story' is a charming and popular hosta known for its beautiful foliage and vibrant colors. It is a great choice for adding a touch of romance and elegance to the shade garden. Here is a closer look at what makes it so special:
Hosta 'Love Story'
- Stunning Foliage: The leaves are heart-shaped, slightly cupped, and have a beautiful blend of colors. They emerge in spring with a creamy white center and a wide, irregular, dark green margin. As the season progresses, the white center may lighten to a near-white or even develop subtle streaks or speckles of green, adding to the intrigue. The contrast between the creamy white center and the deep green border is really striking, and the heart shape adds a touch of classic elegance. The subtle changes in color throughout the season keep the plant looking fresh and interesting.
- Moderate Size: 'Love Story' reaches a moderate size, typically growing to about 12-18 inches tall and 24-30 inches wide. This makes it a versatile choice for various garden settings, including borders, containers, and smaller gardens. It is not so large that it will overwhelm a small space, but it is still large enough to make a statement.
- Attractive Flowers: In midsummer, 'Love Story' produces tall scapes with pale lavender flowers. While the flowers are not the main attraction, they add a touch of color and attract hummingbirds. The flowers provide a lovely contrast to the colorful foliage and add a touch of vertical interest to the plant.
- Vigorous Grower: This hosta is a reliable and vigorous grower, establishing quickly and filling in nicely. This is a great benefit for gardeners who want a plant that will quickly establish itself and start looking its best.
- Versatile: 'Love Story' can be used in a variety of garden settings, including borders, beds, and woodland gardens. It also works well in containers. Its adaptability makes it a great choice for both experienced and novice gardeners.
Growing Tips:
- Light: Prefers shade to part shade. Too much sun can scorch the leaves, especially the white centers. Dappled shade under trees is ideal.
- Soil: Thrives in moist, well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter. Amend the soil with compost or other organic matter at planting time.
- Watering: Water regularly, especially during dry spells. Keep the soil consistently moist, but not soggy.
- Maintenance: Remove any dead or damaged foliage in spring. Slugs and snails can be a problem with hostas, so keep an eye out for them and take preventative measures if necessary.
Additional Information:
- Hardy: Generally hardy in zones 3-9.
- Low Maintenance: Hostas are generally low-maintenance plants, making them a great choice for busy gardeners.
Hosta 'Love Story' is a beautiful and reliable hosta that will bring years of enjoyment to your garden. Its stunning foliage, moderate size, and vigorous growth make it a great addition to any shade garden. It is a romantic and elegant choice that is sure to capture your heart.
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!
