H. ‘Broadway Frances’

Overview

Registered in 1997, 'Broadway Frances' is a sport of Hosta 'Frances Williams' distinguished by its giant size and intensely blue-green leaves with wide, rippled gold margins. The leaf blades reach 14 inches long and 12 inches wide, with 16 vein pairs, a cordate base, and a slightly shiny upper surface contrasting with a dull underside.

In the Garden

This cultivar forms a substantial mound 36 inches in diameter and 30 inches tall, with a moderate growth rate. It performs best in partial to full shade, where the blue-green leaf centers and 2.5-inch-wide yellow margins develop their strongest coloration. The 18- to 20-inch scapes bear flowers in midsummer. Its large size makes it suitable as a specimen or as a focal point in shaded borders and woodland gardens, where it pairs well with ferns and other shade-tolerant perennials.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture during the growing season; apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Like most hostas, 'Broadway Frances' is susceptible to slug and deer damage, particularly on the broad, tender leaves.