H. ‘Blue Moonlight Cup’
Hosta ‘Blue Moonlight Cup’ is a registered cultivar () .
| Year registered | 2015 |
|---|---|
| Section class | I-2 (Giant) |
Overview
Registered in 2015, *Hosta* 'Blue Moonlight Cup' is a giant hybrid resulting from a cross between *H.* 'Abiqua Drinking Gourd' and *H.* 'Empress Wu'. This cultivar is visually distinctive for its intensely blue-green, deeply cupped, and heavily corrugated leaves, which are nearly round with cordate bases and exhibit a pronounced glaucous bloom on both surfaces.
In the Garden
'Blue Moonlight Cup' forms a large, mound-like clump reaching 58 inches (147.3 cm) in diameter and 32 inches (81.3 cm) in height, with a moderate growth rate. It is best suited to partial to full shade, as is typical for blue-leaved hostas, where its intense coloration and textured foliage are most pronounced. The substantial leaves and upright scapes, which rise 49 to 52 inches (124.5 to 132.1 cm) bearing green flowers, make it an effective specimen or accent plant in woodland borders and shade gardens. Its giant stature precludes container cultivation.
Care Notes
Provide consistent moisture, particularly during establishment, and apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. The thick, corrugated leaves offer some resistance to slugs, but standard preventive measures may still be warranted in damp conditions.
Size and leaf
| Clump height | 32 in (81.3 cm) |
|---|---|
| Clump width | 58 in (147.3 cm) |
| Leaf length | 15 in (38.1 cm) |
| Leaf width | 12 in (30.5 cm) |
| Vein pairs | 15 |
| Leaf | intensely blue-green flat margins; glaucous bloom on top; glaucous bloom underneath; deeply cupped, intensely corrugated |
| Flower scape height | 49–52 in (124.5–132.1 cm) |
| Seasonal colour change | blue slowly fades to dark green by mid August |
| Notable characteristics | large size, intense blue color, texture and deeply cupped leaves |
From the American Hosta Society Registry record.
Parentage
- Pod parent: H. 'Abiqua Drinking Gourd' — H. ‘Abiqua Drinking Gourd’
- Pollen parent: H. 'Empress Wu' — H. ‘Empress Wu’
Similar cultivars
Other registered hostas in the same AHS section class (I-2, giant size):
- H. ‘Midnight Dream’ (2015)
- H. ‘Kim’ (2016)
- H. ‘Blue Mammoth’ (2010)
- H. ‘Coal Miner’ (2010)
- H. ‘Groo Bloo’ (2010)
- H. ‘Mike’ (2010)
Related guides
Registration data: AHS Registry #644