Give your garden a prehistoric flourish with this gargantuan hosta. With a spread of up to 9 feet across, Jurassic Park's huge, heart-shaped green leaves with a puckered dinosaur-scale texture are both attractive and resistant to slugs.

Scientific Name: Hosta 'Jurassic Park'

Common Name: 'Jurassic Park' Hosta

Garden Size: 26-40 inches tall by 66-108 inches wide; scape height 38-42 inches

Growth Rate: Fast

USDA Zone: 3-9

Exposure: Partial to full shade

Water & Soil: Moist, well-drained soil

Habit (Form): Mounding, Spreading

Foliage: Enormous, dark green, heart-shaped leaves. The foliage has a quilted or corrugated texture and is resistant to slugs.

Flowers: Tube-shaped, pale lavender flowers that grow on scapes above the foliage. Blooms mid summer.

Plant Origin: East Asia, primarily Japan and Korea. Most commercially available hostas are hybrids.

Wildlife Support: Hummingbirds and some bees enjoy the flowers. A favorite treat for our local deer.

Fertilizing: Apply compost in early spring before new growth emerges.

Pruning: Remove spent flower stalks to encourage new growth; trim back damaged or yellowing leaves as needed. Leave the leaves over the winter and wait until early spring to clean up.

ASPCA Toxicity flags (see their site for details): Toxic to dogs, cats, and horses

Uses: Ideal for shade gardens, woodland borders, and container plantings.

AHS Classification: I-1 (Giant Leaved, Green)

Parentage: Unknown