H. ‘Mary Lou’

Overview

Registered in 1986 by P. Banyai, *Hosta* 'Mary Lou' is a large-sized cultivar of unknown parentage. It is visually distinctive for its blue-green leaves with blue margins and ten pairs of veins per leaf.

In the Garden

'Mary Lou' forms a substantial clump reaching 36 inches (91.4 cm) in diameter and 18 inches (45.7 cm) in height, with individual leaves measuring 10 inches (25.4 cm) long and 8.25 inches (21.0 cm) wide. It performs best in partial to full shade, typical of blue-leaved hostas, and pairs well with ferns, astilbes, and other shade perennials. Its large size makes it suitable as a specimen or in the middle to back of a shaded border.

Care Notes

Water regularly to maintain consistent soil moisture, especially during dry periods. Apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. While slug and deer resistance is not absolute, the thick, blue-green foliage offers moderate deterrence compared to thinner-leaved cultivars.