Common Name: hosta
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Zone: 3 to 8
Height: 1.00 to 3.00 feet
Spread: 1.00 to 3.00 feet
Bloom Time: July
Bloom Description: Pale lavender
Sun: Part shade to full shade
Tolerate: Heavy Shade, Black Walnut
Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in part shade to full shade. Tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions. Does best in rich, moist, organic soils in light, sun-dappled shade to dense shade. Plants need consistent moisture during the growing season. Water is best applied directly to the soil beneath the leaves. Divide plants as needed in spring or autumn. Division is usually easiest in early spring before the leaves unfurl.
‘Liberty’ is a sport of H. ‘Sagae’. It is a large hosta that typically grows in an upright vase-shape to 20-24” tall. Thick, wide-oval leaves (to 12” long and 10” wide) with mucronate tips and heart-shaped bases emerge in spring. New leaves are blue-green with extremely wide yellow margins (to 2 1/4” wide). As the leaves mature, the centers become greener and the margins lighten to creamy white. Foliage mound will typically spread over time to 30-36” wide. Funnel-shaped pale lavender flowers appear in early summer on scapes rising above the foliage mound to as much as 40” tall. H. ‘Liberty’ is in part distinguished from H. ‘Sagae’ by having much larger leaf margins. Machen 2000. U. S. Plant Patent PP12,531 issued April 9, 2002.
Slugs and snails are attracted to the foliage, chewing jagged holes in the leaves, and if left unchecked, can cause serious damage over a fairly short period of time. Leaf spots and crown rot are less frequent problems. Otherwise, hostas are virtually pest-free and are considered ideal low-maintenance garden perennials. Leaves, particularly of exposed plants, can be severely damaged by hail storms.
Hostas are a mainstay of shade gardens. This hosta makes an excellent garden specimen because of its size and striking foliage. It also can be mixed with other perennials in shady borders, shade gardens or woodland gardens.