Flowers · Perennials and shrubs
Frances Williams hosta
Hosta 'Frances Williams'
A large hosta with blue-green leaves edged in yellow-green, and pale lilac bells in summer. It is a shade plant, and the leaves scorch in hot sun.
Growing conditions
Soilclay, loam
Moisturemoist
pHacid, neutral
Position
SunShade, Partial sun
Aspectnorth, east, west
Exposuresheltered
HardinessH7
Size
Time to maturityA full clump in 2–3 years
Max height0.5–0.7 m
Max spread0.8–1.1 m
In the garden
Plant in spring in moisture-retentive soil improved with leafmould. Slug protection matters most as the shoots emerge.
Slugs and snails shred the leaves. Vine weevil can attack plants in pots.
Colour and scent
A mark in a season means the plant is doing that for at least part of it.
| Season | Foliage | Flower | Scent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Leaves | — | — |
| Summer | Leaves | pale lilac | — |
| Autumn | Leaves | — | — |
| Winter | — | — | — |
- JanDormant
- FebDormant
- MarDormant
- AprFoliage
- MayFoliage
- JunFoliage
- Julpale lilac
- Augpale lilac
- SepFoliage
- OctFoliage
- NovDormant
- DecDormant
Jobs
These dates suit a mild southern garden. A northern or Scottish plan shifts spring and autumn jobs by a fortnight.
1 April
Protect new shoots
Start slug control as Frances Williams noses through, before the leaves unroll.
15 November
Clear collapsed leaves
Cut the mushy autumn leaves away so slugs have fewer places to shelter.