H. ‘Alice Blue Gown’

Overview

Registered in 2002, *Hosta* 'Alice Blue Gown' is a large cultivar of unknown pollen parentage, with *H.* 'Dorothy Benedict' as the pod parent. It is visually distinctive for its dark blue-green leaves with unstable streaking of medium green, greenish yellow, pale yellow, yellow, and gold along slightly rippled margins, combined with a glaucous bloom on the leaf undersides.

In the Garden

This cultivar reaches a mature diameter of 39 inches (99.1 cm) and a height of 24 inches (61.0 cm), with an upright, moderate growth habit. It performs best in partial to full shade, typical of most hostas, and its large, deeply corrugated leaves with broad ovate form and cordate base make it a strong specimen plant. It is not suited for containers due to its size, but pairs well with ferns, astilbes, and other shade-tolerant perennials.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture, especially during dry periods, and apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Like many hostas, it is susceptible to slug and deer damage, so protective measures may be necessary in garden settings.