{"product_id":"hosta-sieboldiana-frances-williams","title":"Hosta sieboldiana 'Frances Williams'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHosta sieboldiana 'Frances Williams'\u003c\/strong\u003e is one of the great classic plantain lilies, a giant, variegated hosta that has been a shade-garden favourite for generations. Its huge, rounded, heavily puckered blue-green leaves are framed by a wide chartreuse-yellow margin that softens to creamy tones as summer wears on, creating a bold, textural mound with real presence. Few foliage plants make such a statement in a cool, shady spot.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt is fully hardy, rated RHS H7, and comes through the coldest British winters unaided. As a deciduous, herbaceous perennial it dies back to a dormant crown each autumn and returns bigger and better every spring, the natural cycle we describe in our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ehardy exotics guide\u003c\/a\u003e. The thick, puckered leaves also give it good resistance to slugs and snails, a genuine advantage in a group those pests adore.\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, with a little gentle morning sun to sharpen the margin; shelter from hot afternoon sun.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e rich, humus-laden and reliably moist but well-drained; dig in leaf mould or compost before planting.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e a giant, reaching around 60 to 70cm tall and a broad 140 to 160cm across in time.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e fully hardy across the UK (RHS H7), with no winter protection needed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eWater well through the first two summers to settle this large clump, then mulch generously each spring. Frances Williams is superb as a specimen among \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-shade\"\u003eplants for shade\u003c\/a\u003e, as a commanding centrepiece in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic border plants\u003c\/a\u003e, or in a very large container from our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003epots and containers\u003c\/a\u003e range. Near-white early-summer flowers draw in bees, a useful bonus 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\u003ePair it with the plain blue mounds of \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hosta-big-daddy\"\u003eHosta 'Big Daddy'\u003c\/a\u003e for a giant blue duo, or browse 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":58089271984511,"sku":"HOSTFRANWILL11","price":7.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/franceswilliams.jpg?v=1785938880","url":"https:\/\/growtropicals.com\/products\/hosta-sieboldiana-frances-williams","provider":"GrowTropicals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}