H. ‘Versailles Blue’

Overview

Registered in 2000 by Paul Ruh, this giant hosta cultivar forms a substantial mound of heavily-textured blue-green foliage. Its most distinctive features are the large, cordate leaves with a pronounced glaucous bloom on both surfaces and slightly rippled margins, combined with a notably slow growth rate.

In the Garden

'Versailles Blue' reaches a mature spread of 40 inches (101.6 cm) with a height of 29 inches (73.7 cm), making it suitable as a specimen plant or as a bold accent in the middle to back of a shaded border. It performs best in partial to full shade, where its blue coloration is most pronounced, and pairs well with ferns, heucheras, and other shade-tolerant perennials. Its substantial leaf size and mound form also make it effective for filling large gaps in woodland gardens.

Care Notes

Water regularly during dry periods, particularly in the first growing season to establish the root system. Apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges; typical hosta-growing zones apply. The thick, glaucous leaves offer some resistance to slugs, though monitoring may still be necessary in damp conditions. Deer may browse the foliage.