H. ‘Mary Lou’

AI-generated watercolor illustration of Hosta 'Mary Lou' (not a photograph)
AI-generated watercolor illustration by The Hosta Farm — not a photograph of this cultivar. How we use images

Hosta ‘Mary Lou’ is a registered cultivar () , originated by P. Banyai.

Year registered1986
RegistrantP. Banyai
Section classII-2 (Large)

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.

This summary was generated with AI from the registry record and has not been reviewed yet; the registry data on this page is the reference. How we use AI.

Size and leaf

Clump height18 in (45.7 cm)
Clump width36 in (91.4 cm)
Leaf length10 in (25.4 cm)
Leaf width8.25 in (21 cm)
Vein pairs10
Flower scape height36 in (91.4 cm)

From the American Hosta Society Registry record.

Similar cultivars

Other registered hostas in the same AHS section class (II-2, large size):

Related guides

Registration data: AHS Registry #3670. How we check this data.