H. ‘Ode to Joy’

Overview

Registered in 2004 as a sport of *Hosta* 'Moonlight Sonata', 'Ode to Joy' is a giant cultivar distinguished by its nearly round, blue-green leaves with white margins and unstable white streaking. The foliage bears a dull glaucous bloom on the upper surface and a glaucous bloom beneath, with lightly rippled margins and light corrugation.

In the Garden

This cultivar forms a mound 20 inches (50.8 cm) tall and 40 inches (101.6 cm) wide, with a moderate growth rate. It performs best in partial to full shade, typical for blue-leaved hostas, and its substantial size makes it suitable as a specimen or background plant in woodland borders. The fragrant flowers appear on scapes 36 to 39 inches (91.4 to 99.1 cm) high.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture during the growing season, particularly in warmer climates. Apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as shoots emerge. As with many large-leaved cultivars, slug and deer damage may occur and should be managed through appropriate barriers or deterrents.