H. ‘Madison’

Overview

Registered in 2011, *Hosta* 'Madison' is a medium-sized cultivar of unknown parentage distinguished by its intensely blue-green, heavily glaucous leaves with wavy margins and a pronounced upright, vase-shaped habit that exposes the purple coloration of its petioles. The foliage measures 10 inches (25.4 cm) long by 5 inches (12.7 cm) wide, with 10 to 11 pairs of veins, and exhibits a glaucous bloom on both surfaces.

In the Garden

'Madison' reaches a mature spread of 36 inches (91.4 cm) and a height of 24 inches (61.0 cm), with scapes rising 16 to 18 inches (40.6 to 45.7 cm) above the foliage. Its upright, moderate growth rate and vase-like form make it suitable for mid-border positions in partial to full shade, where its blue-green leaves contrast well with gold-foliaged companions such as *Hosta* 'Sum and Substance' or with fine-textured ferns. The purple petioles are most visible when the plant is viewed from above or when lower leaves are removed.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture during establishment and throughout dry periods; apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. While slug and deer resistance is not absolute, the thick, glaucous leaves offer moderate deterrence in typical hosta-growing zones.