H. ‘Delta Blues’

Overview

Registered in 2012, *Hosta* 'Delta Blues' is a medium-sized cultivar of unknown pollen parentage, with *H.* 'Ice Palace' as its pod parent. This hosta is visually distinctive for its intensely blue-green, heavily corrugated leaves that form a dense, mound-like habit, maintaining its blue coloration throughout the growing season.

In the Garden

'Delta Blues' reaches a mature spread of approximately 20 inches (50.8 cm) in diameter and a height of 14 inches (35.6 cm), with a moderate growth rate. It performs best in partial to full shade, where its blue-green foliage retains its color most effectively; excessive sun may cause leaf bleaching. The rounded, cordate-based leaves with 11 vein pairs and a corrugated texture make this cultivar suitable for the front of shaded borders, as a groundcover in woodland settings, or in containers. Companion plants that appreciate similar conditions include ferns, *Heuchera*, and *Tiarella*.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture, especially during dry periods, and apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Slugs and deer may damage the foliage, so monitor regularly and employ control measures as needed in typical hosta-growing zones.