H. ‘Azure Chalice’

Overview

Registered in 1996 from unknown parentage, 'Azure Chalice' is a large hosta distinguished by its upright, broadly mounded habit and intense blue-green foliage. The leaves are cordate at the base, measuring 10 inches (25.4 cm) long by 9 inches (22.9 cm) wide, with 17 vein pairs and a dark blue-green margin; both surfaces carry a glaucous bloom that contributes to the cultivar's cool, powdery appearance.

In the Garden

This cultivar reaches a mature spread of 42 inches (106.7 cm) and a height of 10 inches (25.4 cm), making it suitable for mid-border or specimen placement in part shade to light shade. Its upright leaf habit and substantial size pair well with ferns, astilbes, and other shade perennials that contrast in texture or flower color. 'Azure Chalice' is not recommended for container culture due to its large mature dimensions.

Care Notes

Water regularly to maintain even soil moisture, especially during dry periods. Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. The glaucous foliage is moderately resistant to slug damage, though standard preventive measures may be warranted in wet seasons. Deer may browse the leaves, particularly in early spring.