Spring Catalogue 2013 - Bowden Hostas

ABOUT HOSTAS
Hostas are wonderful plants – their buds emerge in the spring to provide new shoots whose
growth can be seen day by day and then the leaves unfurl to give luxuriant foliage wherever they
are situated. Hostas are adaptable too, giving an eye-catching focal point, brightness in a dull spot,
or a calming feel to a busy border.
Hardy perennials, coming up year after year with fresh new leaves each spring then going dormant
in the autumn, hostas are easy to grow and maintain. They are tolerant of shade, happy in places
where many other plants would not be, but will thrive in most situations (though not at their best
in dry soil with full sun all day).
From leaves as small as a teaspoon up to those larger than a dinner plate, from wide flat mounds
to upright or cascading formations, hostas provide such a range of size and shape. Deep blues to
silvers, darkest shiny greens to bright yellows, single solid hue to the myriad of variegations, the
choice of leaf colour is almost overwhelming.
Flowers
Grown predominantly for their outstanding foliage, all hostas flower, with colours ranging from
deep purple through to white, some spectacularly, a number with fragrant flowers. The flowers
are sometimes held on distinctively coloured or particularly tall scapes and can be an attraction
in themselves. Some people prefer to cut off the flowers when they appear in order to keep the
leaves looking good for longer. Others enjoy their hostas blooming.
We have identified fragrant-flowered plants in the icons throughout our catalogue. The description
alongside each hosta ends with the flower colour in bold type.
Sizes
The size of hosta plant varies not only with age, but also with soil and climatic conditions. The
following generally agreed classification groups hostas according to the size of their leaves and
mound height when the hosta is fully grown in good soil and good conditions:
Height Leaf Size
Inches Centimetres Square Inches Square Centimetres
Miniature 28 >71 >145 >900
In our icons we have abbreviated them as follows:
Min Miniature S Small M M Medium L
Large G Giant
Icons
The icons with each hosta picture denote the following:
S
Size Happy in Sun NEW
New Fragrant Flower
Speciality Hostas These are available in smaller numbers than the other hostas. Please order early
to be sure you receive what you wish this year!
We always send planting and care instructions with our parcels, however for many more tips
on growing, splitting and dealing with pests, please see our frequently updated website
www.bowdenhostas.com and our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/user/bowdenhostas
www.bowdenhostas.com 4 order line: 01837 840989