H. ‘Valley's Big Freeze’

Overview

Registered in 2015, *Hosta* 'Valley's Big Freeze' is a giant blue-green cultivar derived from *H.* 'Empress Wu' as seed parent (pollen parent unknown). Its most distinctive features are its intensely blue-green, broadly ovate leaves with flat margins, a glaucous bloom on the upper surface, and a slightly shiny underside, combined with a fast growth rate that produces a substantial mound.

In the Garden

'Valley's Big Freeze' reaches a mature diameter of approximately 75 inches (190 cm) and a height of 55 inches (140 cm), with scapes extending up to 63 inches (160 cm). It performs best in partial to full shade, typical of most hostas, and its large, blue-green foliage provides strong textural contrast when paired with finer-leaved perennials such as ferns or astilbes. Given its giant size, this cultivar is best suited as a specimen or background plant in larger garden beds rather than in containers.

Care Notes

Water regularly during dry periods to maintain leaf turgor, and apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. As with many large-leaved hostas, slug and deer damage may occur; monitoring and protective measures are advisable in areas where these pests are prevalent.