{"product_id":"hosta-first-frost","title":"Hosta 'First Frost'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHosta 'First Frost'\u003c\/strong\u003e is a beautifully refined plantain lily and one of the most admired blue-and-gold hostas of all. Its thick, intensely blue leaves are edged with a wide margin that opens a warm gold in spring and matures to cool creamy white as summer goes on, giving the plant a fresh, ever-changing look. Named Hosta of the Year in 2010, it is a compact, dependable variety that holds its good looks right up to the first frost.\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 returns every spring, the seasonal rhythm we explain in our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ehardy exotics guide\u003c\/a\u003e. The thick substance of the leaves also gives it useful resistance to slugs and snails, a real plus 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, sheltered from hot afternoon sun which can scorch the leaves and fade the colour.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e fertile, humus-rich and moist but well-drained; enrich with leaf mould or compost before planting.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e a neat medium hosta, reaching around 35 to 45cm tall and 80 to 100cm 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 well through the first two summers to establish the clump, then mulch each spring. First Frost is lovely at the front of a group of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-shade\"\u003eplants for shade\u003c\/a\u003e, as a crisp, cooling note among \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic border plants\u003c\/a\u003e, or in a container from our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003epots and containers\u003c\/a\u003e range. Light lavender 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 its margined blue beside the plain blue giant \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hosta-big-daddy\"\u003eHosta 'Big Daddy'\u003c\/a\u003e, or explore the full \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e range. Every plant is nursery-grown, hand-selected for a strong crown and healthy roots, and carefully packed to arrive in superb condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"11cm \/ 0.75L","offer_id":58089269068159,"sku":"HOSTFIRFRO11","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/firstfrost.jpg?v=1785938636","url":"https:\/\/growtropicals.com\/products\/hosta-first-frost","provider":"GrowTropicals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}