H. ‘Abiqua Blue Shield’

AI-generated watercolor illustration of Hosta 'Abiqua Blue Shield' (not a photograph)
AI-generated watercolor illustration by The Hosta Farm — not a photograph of this cultivar. How we use images

Hosta ‘Abiqua Blue Shield’ is a registered cultivar () , originated by Walden West.

Year registered1988
RegistrantWalden West
Section classI-2 (Giant)

Overview

Registered in 1988 by Walden West, this giant blue-green cultivar forms a substantial mound of heavily textured foliage. Its most distinctive features are the broad, heavily undulated leaf margins and intense blue coloration that persists well into the growing season.

In the Garden

With a mature spread of 50 inches (127 cm) and height of 22 inches (56 cm), 'Abiqua Blue Shield' requires ample space to develop its full form. It performs best in partial to full shade, where the blue leaf color remains most intense, and pairs well with other large-leaved perennials such as ferns, Rodgersia, and Actaea. Its substantial size makes it unsuitable for containers.

Care Notes

Water regularly during dry periods to maintain leaf turgor and color intensity. Apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Like most blue-leaved hostas, this cultivar is susceptible to slug damage, particularly on the undulated margins, and may require protection in damp conditions. Deer resistance is typical for the species.

This summary was generated with AI from the registry record and has not been reviewed yet; the registry data on this page is the reference. How we use AI.

Size and leaf

Clump height22 in (55.9 cm)
Clump width50 in (127 cm)
Leaf length13 in (33 cm)
Leaf width10 in (25.4 cm)
Vein pairs16
Leafblue undulated margins
Flower scape height24 in (61.0 cm)

From the American Hosta Society Registry record.

Similar cultivars

Other registered hostas in the same AHS section class (I-2, giant size):

Related guides

Registration data: AHS Registry #60. How we check this data.