Hosta 'FRANCEE'

Plantain lilies are reliable perennials from East Russia, Korea, China, and Japan. In the wild they grow in various locations – along rocky streambanks, in alpine meadows, as well as in not too shaded woodland. They are cultivated for their bold foliage, often variegated, and bell-shaped flowers in summer.

Francee is a frequently cultivated plantain lily variety whose most attractive features are tolerance to direct sunlight and resistance to slugs (they don’t seem to like the taste of its foliage). The leaves are broadly oval, acuminate, slightly puckered, blue-green to dark green with creamy white, thin margins. They grow congested one next to another forming dense clumps. Francee readily expands creating an attractive understory, densely covering the ground. In early July rise rather thin, 60-70 cm tall stems with thin, terminal panicles composed of narrowly funnel-shaped, pale lavender violet flowers from mid to late summer. Grow it as a clump or divide young plants and plant them nearby to create a dense groundcover. This variety is cultivated almost all around the world in its temperate parts and nowadays exist more clones which slightly differ in leaf size and texture, habit, and the strength of variegation.

Hostas need constantly moist, fertile soil that never dries out – keep it always mulched. They respond well to fertilizing and produce stronger foliage and denser tufts. Ideal location is partial shade, or full sun with some shade during the day. Full shade is fine but plants may not flower as freely or at all. Drought can result in weakened plants that will be prone to diseases, and combination of drought and full sun will damage most variegated cultivars. Beware of slugs and snails who come to feast on their leaves without an invitation. Being deciduous, remove all wilted foliage from previous year in early spring and make sure not too damage emerging bourgeons. They cope well with polluted environment in cities. Hardy to about -40 °C (USDA zone 3).

Last update 27-02-2022