{"product_id":"hosta-abiqua-drinking-gourd","title":"Hosta 'Abiqua Drinking Gourd'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHosta 'Abiqua Drinking Gourd'\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt 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 \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ehardy exotics guide\u003c\/a\u003e. 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e partial to full shade; shade keeps the blue at its deepest, while hot sun scorches and fades it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e fertile, humus-rich and moisture-retentive but well-drained; add leaf mould or compost when planting.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e a large hosta, reaching around 60 to 70cm tall and 90 to 120cm across.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e fully hardy across the UK (RHS H7), needing no winter protection.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eWater through the first two summers to establish the clump, then mulch each spring. It is stunning grouped with other \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-shade\"\u003eplants for shade\u003c\/a\u003e, as a cool centrepiece in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic border plants\u003c\/a\u003e, or displayed close up in a container from our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003epots and containers\u003c\/a\u003e range where the water-holding cups can be admired. Near-white summer flowers bring in the bees, a welcome extra among \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003eplants for pollinators\u003c\/a\u003e. As with all hostas, it is toxic to cats, dogs and horses if eaten.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSet it beside the giant \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hosta-big-daddy\"\u003eHosta 'Big Daddy'\u003c\/a\u003e for a study in blue, or explore the full \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e range. Every plant is nursery-grown, hand-selected for a healthy crown and strong roots, and packed with care to arrive in top condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"11cm \/ 0.75L","offer_id":58089237676415,"sku":"HOSTABI11","price":8.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/gourd.jpg?v=1785939296","url":"https:\/\/growtropicals.com\/products\/hosta-abiqua-drinking-gourd","provider":"GrowTropicals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}