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Hosta 'Gold Standard'

Plantain Lily

• Position: partial or full shade
• Soil: fertile, moist, well-drained soil
• Rate of growth: average to fast-growing
• Flowering period: July and August
• Flower colour: lavender-blue
• Hardiness: fully hardy
  
  Gorgeous, greenish-yellow, heart-shaped leaves with dark green margins and spikes of lavender-blue flowers in July and August. The greenish-yellow leaves of this hosta fade to yellow then cream. Best in full sun with shade at midday and protected from cold winds, it's an attractive groundcover plant for moist, well-drained areas of the garden.
  
  
• Garden care: You'll get thicker, lusher leaves if you give your hostas a really good feed. An annual mulch in spring or autumn will help to keep the weeds down and is an easy way to improve soil and boost nutrient levels. Add a generous mulch of about 5-10cm (2-4in) deep of garden compost or leaf mould around the plant. Spraying the leaves regularly with a high nitrogen fertiliser during the growing season will also help to boost leaf size.
  
  Water your hosta well as soon as you plant it and from then on water regularly during their first growing season. Give them a water about once or twice a week around the base of the plant, avoiding the leaves. Little and often can be disatrous as it's encourage the plant to produce roots closer to the surface in a desperate quest for moisture.