H. ‘Abiqua Blue Jay’

Overview

Registered in 1988 by Walden West, this medium-sized cultivar is distinguished by its heavily glaucous blue-green foliage with cordate leaf bases and prominent blue margins. The leaves measure 7.25 inches (18.4 cm) long by 5.5 inches (14.0 cm) wide, with 12 pairs of veins, and form a dense, rounded clump.

In the Garden

'Hosta 'Abiqua Blue Jay' reaches a mature spread of 40 inches (101.6 cm) with a height of 15 inches (38.1 cm), making it suitable for mid-border positions in partial to full shade. Its blue foliage pairs well with golden or chartreuse-leaved companions such as *Hosta* 'Sum and Substance' or *Carex elata* 'Aurea'. The 35-inch (88.9 cm) scapes bear pale lavender flowers in midsummer.

Care Notes

Plant in moist, well-drained soil and water regularly during dry periods; apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. This cultivar shows typical hosta resistance to slugs and deer, though protection may be warranted in heavily infested gardens.