‘Blue Moon’ Hosta is a distinctive and popular perennial, admired for its striking foliage. Its unique appeal lies in the deeply cupped, blue-green leaves that bring a calming presence to garden spaces. Gardeners often choose this variety for its aesthetic value and the texture it adds to shaded areas.
Understanding Blue Moon Hosta
‘Blue Moon’ Hosta, also known as Plantain Lily, is a smaller hosta variety that typically forms a compact mound of foliage. Its heart-shaped leaves are notably thick and can exhibit a corrugated or dimpled texture, contributing to their robust appearance. This particular cultivar features a distinct blue-green hue, which is a result of a powdery, waxy coating on the leaf surface. The plant generally reaches a height of 7 to 18 inches and spreads about 12 inches wide. In mid-summer, delicate white, bell-shaped flowers emerge on scapes that rise 9 to 12 inches above the foliage.
Cultivating Blue Moon Hosta
‘Blue Moon’ Hosta thrives in locations offering part to full shade, with conditions that include morning sun or dappled light being particularly beneficial. The plant performs best in evenly moist, organically rich, and well-drained soil. While established plants can tolerate some dry shade, consistent moisture is important for achieving their full size and maintaining vigor. When watering, it is best to apply water directly to the soil beneath the leaves.
Annual mulching in spring helps to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds. Hostas are considered heavy feeders, so incorporating good quality compost, manure, or a balanced organic fertilizer in the spring can enhance their growth and foliage quality. Division of clumps can be performed in early spring as new growth emerges or in late summer to rejuvenate older plants or propagate new ones. Placing ‘Blue Moon’ Hosta in areas protected from strong winds can prevent leaf damage.
Preserving the Distinct Blue Hue
The blue color of ‘Blue Moon’ Hosta comes from a natural waxy coating on its leaves, called pruina. This delicate layer can degrade, causing the blue to fade. Prolonged direct sunlight, high heat, or heavy rainfall can diminish this coating, revealing the underlying green pigment.
To maintain the vibrant blue hue, it is beneficial to site ‘Blue Moon’ Hosta in light shade. Excessive direct sun can cause the wax to melt or degrade, leading to a greener appearance and potentially leaf scorch. Frequent handling of the leaves can also rub off this powdery coating, affecting the blue color. While the blue may fade during the summer, new leaves emerging in spring will display the characteristic deep blue once again.
Common Challenges and Solutions
‘Blue Moon’ Hosta can face several common challenges, with slugs and snails being frequent pests. These mollusks create irregular holes in the leaves and leave slime trails. Solutions include applying slug bait, creating barriers with crushed eggshells, or setting out beer traps. Ensuring adequate air circulation by thinning crowded plants can also make the environment less appealing to these pests.
Deer and rabbits also pose a threat, as they readily consume hosta foliage. Repellent sprays can be applied to deter these animals. Hosta Virus X (HVX) is a serious concern, manifesting as mottled leaves, spots, puckering, or distortion. Infected plants should be promptly removed and destroyed to prevent the virus from spreading to other hostas.
Fungal issues like anthracnose can appear as irregularly shaped white to tan spots with brown borders, often causing leaves to become tattered. This disease thrives in warm, wet conditions, so providing good plant spacing and avoiding overhead watering can help prevent its occurrence. Foliar nematodes cause yellow discoloration that progresses to chocolate brown streaks between leaf veins. Affected plants should be removed to prevent further spread. Too much direct sun or insufficient water can lead to leaf browning or crisping, known as sun scorch.