Product Description
'Wheee!' Hosta PP23565 (Walters 2011)
2021 Proven Winners National Hosta of the Year®
Extremely ruffled, cream colored margins extend from the tip of each green leaf all the way down the petiole to the crown. This ruffled margin is evident even in the juvenile stage of the plant before vernalization. The leaves of this medium sized hosta are of excellent substance, making them slug resistant in the landscape.
Light lavender flowers appear atop purple scapes in midsummer.
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.
Height: 11.0-18.0 Inches
Spread: 28.0-30.0 Inches
Scape Height: 24.0 Inches
Hardiness Zones: 3,4,5,6,7,8,9
Flower Color: Purple shades
Foliage Color: Variegated
Part Shade (4-6 hrs. Direct Sun) - 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, Container, Cut Foliage, Easy To Grow, Mass Planting
Hosta 'Wheee!' is a unique and playful hosta cultivar that adds a touch of whimsy to shade gardens with its extremely ruffled and wavy foliage. It is a medium-sized hosta with a vigorous growth habit and excellent slug resistance. Here is a closer look at its captivating features:
Appearance:
- Ruffled, Variegated Foliage: 'Wheee!' displays narrow, ovate leaves with extremely ruffled margins. The leaves are medium green with creamy white margins that extend from the tip of the leaf all the way down the petiole (leaf stalk) to the crown. The ruffling gives the foliage a dynamic and playful texture.
- Lavender Flowers: In midsummer, it produces pale lavender flowers on 2-foot tall scapes (stalks) that rise above the foliage.
- Mounding Habit: It forms a neat and compact mound, typically reaching about 1 to 2 feet tall and 2 to 2.5 feet wide.
Growing Conditions:
- Shade: Thrives in partial shade to full shade. It prefers some shade during the hottest part of the day to prevent the leaves from scorching.
- Moist Soil: Prefers moist, well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter.
- Hardiness Zones: Suitable for USDA hardiness zones 3-8, making it a versatile choice for many gardeners.
Care:
- Watering: Water regularly, especially during dry periods, to keep the soil consistently moist.
- Fertilizing: Fertilize in spring with a balanced fertilizer to promote healthy growth.
- Mulching: Mulching around the plant helps retain moisture and suppress weeds.
- Dividing: Divide clumps every few years in spring or fall to maintain vigor.
Uses:
- Shade Gardens: Adds a playful and textured accent to shade gardens.
- Borders: Can be used as a border plant to add interest and contrast.
- Containers: Its relatively compact size makes it suitable for containers on shaded patios or balconies.
- Specimen Plant: Its unique foliage makes it a great choice for a specimen plant in a container or a special spot in the garden.
Additional Information:
- Slug Resistance: It exhibits good resistance to slugs due to its thick, heavy substance leaves.
- Parentage: It is an uninduced whole plant mutation of an unknown hosta, discovered by William J. Meyer.
- Award Winner: It was named the 2021 Proven Winners National Hosta of the Year.
If you are looking for a hosta with playful, ruffled foliage, a compact habit, and a vigorous growth rate, Hosta 'Wheee!' is an excellent choice. It is a fun and captivating addition to any shade 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!
