Hosta Shadowland® 'Above the Clouds'

Dive into a peaceful haven with **Hosta Shadowland® 'Above the Clouds'**! This majestic new addition to the SHADOWLAND® collection stands out with its **large, cloudy blue, cup-shaped leaves and unique puckered texture**, evoking celestial clouds. Compared to other blue Hostas, 'Above the Clouds' features more rounded leaves with no rippling, offering an impressive and refreshing presence in shade gardens.

Characteristics

• Foliage : Forms a large mound of cloudy blue foliage. Leaves are large, **cup-shaped** and have a puckered texture. They are more rounded than similar varieties and have no rippling along the margins. The foliage is of heavy substance.
• Bloom : Pale lavender flowers appear in midsummer, on flower scapes reaching 76 to 97 cm (30 to 38 inches). They attract hummingbirds.
• Light : Thrives in **part shade to full shade** (4 to 6 hours of indirect sun or less than 4 hours of direct sun). It's the ideal choice to bring freshness to the shady corners of your garden.
• Habit : Its habit is **mounding**, forming a large and attractive clump of foliage that integrates perfectly into landscape designs.
• Growth : Its growth is **medium**. It reaches a height of 64 cm (25 inches) and a spread of 137 to 152 cm (54 to 60 inches).
• Humidity : Requires average to consistent water needs. It grows best in moist, well-drained soil.
• Soil : Thrives in average to fertile, moist, well-drained, and organically enriched soil. Tolerates acidic and neutral soils.
• Temperature : Extremely **hardy**. It is well-adapted to cold winters.
• Watering : Requires average to consistent watering to keep the soil moist.

Uses

• Types of Use : Ideal for **containers**, **landscape beds**, as a **border plant**, or as a **unique specimen and focal point** in shady areas. Its large leaves provide excellent coverage for dying bulb foliage. It is well-suited for Asian, cottage, eclectic, formal, modern, and woodland shade gardens.
• Decorative Advantages : Its unique cloudy blue foliage, puckered texture, and imposing size create a **remarkable presence** and a refreshing appearance in the garden. It adds a touch of colour, texture, and sophistication to shady corners and is tolerant of urban pollution.

Care

• Fertilization : An annual fertilization with a balanced perennial fertilizer in early spring can be beneficial to support its healthy growth.
• Pruning : Maintenance is **easy**. Cleaning up dead foliage after frost is recommended to prevent insect problems.
• Planting :
  • Distance : Space plants about 137 to 152 cm (54 to 60 inches) apart to allow this large hosta to fully flourish.
  • Depth : Plant the root ball at the same level as the soil in the original container.
  • Period : Spring or early fall are the best times for planting.