Hosta 'Abiqua Drinking Gourd' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
Plantain Lily

Hosta 'Abiqua Drinking Gourd'

£8.99
Very hardyShade-tolerantRHS award winnerLoved by pollinators
Pot size
11cm / 0.75L £8.99

FREE tracked delivery on orders over £60

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Description

Hosta 'Abiqua Drinking Gourd' is arguably the finest of all the cupped blue hostas, a plantain lily whose thick, blue-green leaves curl upwards into deep, gourd-like hollows that actually cradle rainwater. Named the American Hosta Growers Association Hosta of the Year in 2014, it is a sculptural, slug-resistant beauty that turns a shady corner into a talking point.

It is fully hardy, rated RHS H7, and shrugs off the coldest British winters. As a deciduous, herbaceous perennial it dies back to a dormant crown each autumn and unfurls fresh cups every spring, the seasonal rhythm we set out in our hardy exotics guide. The heavy substance of the leaves also makes it far more resistant to slugs and snails than most hostas, a genuine bonus in this pest-prone group.

Water through the first two summers to establish the clump, then mulch each spring. It is stunning grouped with other plants for shade, as a cool centrepiece in exotic border plants, or displayed close up in a container from our pots and containers range where the water-holding cups can be admired. Near-white summer flowers bring in the bees, a welcome extra among plants for pollinators. As with all hostas, it is toxic to cats, dogs and horses if eaten.

Set it beside the giant Hosta 'Big Daddy' for a study in blue, or explore the full hardy exotics range. Every plant is nursery-grown, hand-selected for a healthy crown and strong roots, and packed with care to arrive in top condition.

Live Arrival Guarantee

All plants are covered by our 7-day live arrival guarantee. We pack every order in protective, sustainable packaging designed to keep your plants safe in transit, and every plant is checked before it ships. On the rare occasion something is not right on arrival, we will make it good, provided the plant is still in its original nursery pot.

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What to Expect

Seasonal by nature: what to expect

  • Grown outdoors, the way nature intended. Weather-tested and hardened in real UK conditions, so they thrive in your garden. A few marks on the older leaves are normal, the sign of a tough, real plant rather than a flaw.
  • It follows the seasons. Depending on when you order, your plant may arrive cut back, dormant or leafless. That's healthy: dormancy is the ideal time to plant.
  • Posted, not posed. Big leafy plants like bananas and gingers may be trimmed or gently folded to travel safely. It does the plant no harm, and it powers away again in spring.

Not sure what to expect from yours? Dormant, cut-back or weather-marked plants are all perfectly healthy and normal. Read what to expect through the seasons

Delivery & returns

Order by 1pm Monday to Friday for same day dispatch. Every plant travels in protective, plant-safe packaging with tracked delivery.

Changed your mind? See our Return Policy.

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How to care for Plantain Lily

Give me sun with a little shade and the coldest UK winters do not worry me.

In their words

What our customers say

Arrived just like the photos - maybe even fuller. Healthy, well-acclimated, and straight into my collection with no issues.

Emily P.

Flawless leaves, stunning variegation, and clearly cared for by experts. It’s already a talking point in my home office.

James R.

Hard to find rare plants that are pet-safe. Ours arrived in perfect condition and looks amazing without any worry.

Sophie L.
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About Plantain Lily

Hosta 'Abiqua Drinking Gourd' needs partial shade or full shade and moist but well-drained soil. It is very hardy, standing the coldest UK winters outdoors.

Good for

Exotic Borders Pots & Containers Shade

Hardiness

TenderVery hardy

RHS H7 · Hardy Exotic · below −20°C

fully hardy across the UK (RHS H7), needing no winter protection.

Position

Partial shadeFull shadeNorth-facingEast-facingWest-facingSheltered

partial to full shade; shade keeps the blue at its deepest, while hot sun scorches and fades it.

Soil

ChalkClayLoamSandMoist but well-drainedAcid pHAlkaline pHNeutral pH

fertile, humus-rich and moisture-retentive but well-drained; add leaf mould or compost when planting.

Watering

Water regularly through the first two summers so the clump establishes, keeping the soil moist but never sodden. Mulch each spring to conserve moisture. Slugs and snails are the main threat, but the thick, puckered, cup-shaped leaves of this hosta are notably more resistant than most. Read moreShow less

Water regularly through the first two summers so the clump establishes, keeping the soil moist but never sodden. Mulch each spring to conserve moisture. Slugs and snails are the main threat, but the thick, puckered, cup-shaped leaves of this hosta are notably more resistant than most.

Mature size

Height60-70 cm
Spread90-120 cm

Reaches full size in 2-5 years

Growth habit

Clump-forming

Flowering

Jul-Aug

Seasonal colour

Foliage

Deciduous

Pruning

Remove faded flower stems, then cut the foliage right back after it collapses in autumn or tidy in late winter; lift and divide congested clumps in early spring.

Toxicity

Toxic to cats, dogs and horses if eaten. Like all hostas, the leaves, roots and flowers contain saponins that can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and general upset if chewed or swallowed. Site away from pets that like to graze, and seek veterinary advice if a pet eats any part of the plant.

Native range

Garden origin

Family

Asparagaceae

Also known as

Hosta 'Abiqua Drinking Gourd'

Genus

Hosta →
Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hosta 'Abiqua Drinking Gourd' hardy in the UK?

Yes. It is rated RHS H7, fully hardy throughout Britain and unbothered by hard frost. As a deciduous perennial it dies back to a dormant crown in autumn and returns each spring, making it a reliable, long-lived choice among plants for shade.

Why are the leaves of Abiqua Drinking Gourd cupped?

That deep cupping is exactly what makes this hosta special. The thick blue leaves curl upwards into gourd-like hollows that genuinely hold rainwater, giving a sculptural quality few other plants match. The effect deepens as the clump matures, so it becomes ever more striking in an exotic border.

How much shade does Abiqua Drinking Gourd need?

Partial to full shade suits it best, and shade is where the blue colouring stays richest. Hot afternoon sun can scorch and fade the leaves. It is superb in a cool border or grown in a large container, so it works well among both shade lovers and plants for pots.

How do I protect this hosta from slugs and snails?

Slugs and snails love hostas, but Abiqua Drinking Gourd is one of the tougher, more resistant varieties thanks to its thick, waxy leaves. Reduce damage further by clearing debris and hiding places, watering in the morning, and using wildlife-friendly measures such as grit, wool pellets or nematodes as the shoots emerge in spring.

Is Hosta 'Abiqua Drinking Gourd' poisonous to pets?

Yes. All hostas contain saponins and are toxic to cats, dogs and horses if the leaves, roots or flowers are eaten, usually causing vomiting, diarrhoea and general upset. Plant it where pets are unlikely to graze, and contact your vet if a pet eats any part of it.

How big does Abiqua Drinking Gourd get and does it flower?

It is a large hosta, settling at around 60 to 70cm tall and 90 to 120cm across. In midsummer near-white bell-shaped flowers rise on tall scapes and are worked by bees, so it earns a place among plants for pollinators, though it is grown chiefly for that remarkable cupped blue foliage.

Does my plant come with a pot?
Your plant will arrive in its nursery grow pot — the plastic pot it's been growing in. We don't include a decorative pot as standard, and there's a good reason for that: it means you get to choose one that fits your space and style, rather than being stuck with something that doesn't suit your home.

It also means you're not paying extra for a pot you might not want. The nursery pot is perfectly fine to keep your plant in for a while, just pop it inside a decorative cover pot or cache pot and you're good to go. When you're ready to repot (usually after a growing season or when roots start poking out the bottom), you can move it into something more permanent with fresh soil.

If you're not sure what size cover pot to go for, check the pot selector tool listed above, you'll want a decorative pot that's a centimetre or two wider than that to give it a comfortable fit.
How big will my plant be when it arrives?
Every plant on our site includes the pot size (e.g. 12cm) and, where possible, an approximate height. That's the most reliable way to set your expectations, photos can sometimes make a plant look larger or smaller than it really is.

If you're thinking "that sounds quite small for the price," here's something worth knowing: younger, smaller plants almost always adapt better to your home than larger ones. They adjust faster to your light and humidity, put out new growth more quickly, and tend to establish stronger root systems long-term. A plant that grows into your space will usually outperform one that was already big when it arrived.

That said, every plant is an individual. The one you receive may vary slightly in height, shape, or fullness compared to the photo, that's the nature of living things, not a quality issue. We select healthy, well-established specimens, and if you ever feel your plant doesn't match what you were expecting, just get in touch and we'll take a look.
What makes your plants different from the supermarket or garden centre?
There's a big difference between a plant that's been sitting under on a retail shelf and one that's been looked after and cared for by people who specialise in exactly this.

Our plants are grown in house or sourced from specialist nurseries, many of them varieties you simply won't find at your local garden centre or supermarket. Before anything leaves us, it's checked over by our horticultural team to make sure it's healthy, well-rooted, and ready to thrive in your home. We're not shifting volume off a pallet, we're choosing plants we'd want to keep ourselves.

When you buy from a supermarket, you get a plant and a generic care label. When you buy from us, you get the knowledge that comes with it, detailed care guidance, a team you can actually contact if something isn't going right, and the confidence that what's arriving has been looked after properly from the moment it was grown to the moment it reaches your door.

We're a specialist nursery first, not a retailer that happens to sell plants. That's the difference, and you'll see it the moment you open the box.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
First things first, unbox it as soon as you can. Plants don't love being in dark boxes any more than you would, and the sooner yours is out and breathing, the better.

Remove all the packaging carefully, give the soil a check with your finger, and water lightly if it feels dry. Then find it a spot with appropriate light, but avoid putting it straight into harsh direct sun or next to a radiator. Think of it like arriving somewhere new after a long journey: it needs a moment to adjust.

It's completely normal for your plant to look a little tired or droopy after transit. This is called transit stress, and most plants bounce back within a week or two. You might see a yellow leaf or some drooping, don't panic, and resist the urge to overwater or start repotting straight away.

Our advice for the first couple of weeks: leave it in its nursery pot, water it only when the top layer of soil feels dry, and let it acclimatise to your home's light, temperature, and humidity. Once it's settled in and showing signs of new growth, you can think about repotting or moving it to its permanent spot.

Every plant we sell comes with a care guide on the product page so you'll know exactly what it needs going forward. And if anything doesn't look right, get in touch with our team, we're always happy to help.
Will my plant survive being shipped?
Yes! and we go to serious lengths to make sure of it. Every plant is hand-packed by our team with protective wrapping and secure, custom-designed boxes to keep it stable and safe in transit. We've shipped hundreds of thousands of plants across the UK and our packaging methods have been refined over years to handle the bumps and jolts of delivery.

During colder months, we monitor weather forecasts and offer heat packs where needed to protect against frost. In extreme conditions, we may hold your order for a day or two rather than risk sending it out, we'd rather you wait an extra day than receive a stressed plant.

That said, plants are living things, and the occasional transit wobble can happen. If your plant arrives damaged or isn't in the condition you'd expect, just get in touch within 48 hours with a photo, and we'll make it right, whether that's a replacement or a full refund. No fuss.

The short version: we treat every box like it's going to someone who really cares about what's inside, because it is.
Why Grow Tropicals

Plants delivered the way they deserve

Packaged with Care

Packaged with Care

Every order is hand-packed in eco-friendly, protective packaging - refined through thousands of deliveries to ensure your plant arrives healthy, hydrated, and looking its best.

Backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee.

Perfect for Gifting

Perfect for Gifting

From rare collector’s pieces to easy-care favourites, our plants arrive fully potted and ready to enjoy. Add a personalised note at checkout for a thoughtful finishing touch.

Delivered fresh, beautiful, and gift-ready.

Sustainability at Heart

Sustainability at Heart

All plants are ethically sourced from trusted growers, never wild-collected. Every order ships carbon-neutral in minimal-waste packaging.

Good for your home - and the planet.

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Hosta 'Abiqua Drinking Gourd'
£8.99