H. ‘Valley's Vanilla Sticks’

Overview

Registered in 2008, *Hosta* 'Valley's Vanilla Sticks' is a small, fast-growing cultivar derived from *H. 'Kifukurin Ubatake'* as pod parent, with unknown pollen parent. Its most distinctive feature is the combination of intensely blue-green foliage with purple-dotted petioles, and a flower bud that resembles the head of a Japanese crane.

In the Garden

This compact hosta reaches approximately 8 inches (20 cm) in height and 11 inches (27 cm) in diameter, making it suitable for the front of borders, rock gardens, or container plantings. It performs best in partial to full shade, typical for blue-leaved cultivars, where its flat, ovate leaves with cordate bases and dull surfaces hold their color well. Its upright habit and extremely fast growth rate allow it to fill space quickly alongside other small perennials such as *Heuchera* or ferns.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture during establishment; apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer in early spring. As with most hostas, slug and deer damage may occur, though the blue-green foliage is less palatable to slugs than yellow or gold cultivars.