Comments on: Hosta ‘Francee’ with Variegated Leaves

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 21:42:39 +0000

Rebecca, thanks for the suggestion, I will have to check it out. I really enjoy the way the highlights of white on the leaves show up in the shadows. They make the shady garden beds look a little more dappled with sunshine.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 21:14:04 +0000

If you like Francee, you might want to consider ‘Albo-marginata’, another beautiful variegated variety. :)

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 17:05:00 +0000

Dave, it’s good to hear that ‘Francee’ is hardy, and makes robust growth too. They are sheltered under branches, so perhaps that will help them avoid some hail damage. Those gaping holes in the spring garden are always tempting to fill. Plants should really put out a leaf or two if they want to stake their territory.

The astilbe and fern in your west side bed with Francee would help show off the foliage, and the aster would brighten it up. I really like the leaves on my Actaea ramosa, although mine are just purple tinged, and don’t have the extra dark leaves. It’s hard to get the spacing correct when those darn things keep growing.

By: Dave

Dave — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 13:48:00 +0000

Hi Northern Shade:

I put in a Hosta ‘Francee’ in 2004 and it has done spectacularly well since. At the moment its leaves cover 2 x 3 feet and are about 2 feet high. My first flower stalk is just up. Last year, in spite of moderate hail damage, the Francee put up 6-7 flower stalks, and I’m hoping for a repeat performance this year. A stunning plant that makes me feel somewhat less the hosta black thumb – a Hosta ‘Fragrant Bouquet’in the same bed lasted only a year (the blooms were very fragrant) and a Hosta ‘Frances William’ nearby has only a half dozen leaves this year and the slugs have made a mess of them (in 2007 and in 2008 hail whacked it severely). Slugs, hail, and impatience with a trowel (hostas are a bit slow to come up) seem to be the primary mortality factors.

The Francee is in a narrow bed between a sidewalk and plank fence on the west side and gets an hour or two of direct sun and a moderate amount of indirect sun. Extra snow from shovelling the sidewalk may help it to overwinter. The Francee is definitely the belle of the ball, but goes very well with its companions: Astilbe ‘Fanal’, Deer Fern (Bechnum spicant) and a native showy aster (Aster conspicuus). This year I also put in a Hillside Black Beauty snakeroot (Actea [Cimicifuga] racemosa) in the spot the Fragrant Beauty once occupied. The divided purple-black leaves are striking next to the white margins of the Francee, but if it does too well, it may overpower the hosta.

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 04:41:18 +0000

Jackie, I was pleasantly surprised by the blooms. I really wasn’t expecting much, and thought they might distract from the decorative leaves, but they look quite nice in flower.

By: Jackie (Ellie Mae's Cottage)

Jackie (Ellie Mae's Cottage) — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 04:33:51 +0000

Those are some beautiful blooms. I hope it overwinters well for you. -Jackie

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 14:45:18 +0000

Joy, I know what you mean. I’ve had black & green aphids, along with quite a few slugs this year. I will also look at August Moon, I’m not familiar with it. :)

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 13:49:56 +0000

Joy, I will have to check out your pictures of August Moon. I like to repeat a favourite plant around in different beds too.

I’ve been fortunate to not have many slugs in my garden so far. There are aphids around the garden, but at least they keep the ladybugs happy. Those two seem to have achieved something of a balance.

By: Joy

Joy — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 12:37:38 +0000

That is a very pretty hosta that brightens a shady area : )
August Moon was one of my hostas that “grabbed” me .. it has since been divided and loves sharing itself with other partners in the garden .. but sadly those darn slugs have been snacking on them as well as a few others .. what would it be like to have a year with no slugs or aphids in the garden ? .. aahhhh! it would be heaven !!

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 03:32:19 +0000

Gail, I hope the new Hosta do well. It’s always hard to tell for sure how plants will overwinter until the next year. I’m always glad to see the new growth in spring.