This handsome, upright hosta was imported from the Netherlands in a happy accident. Attractive in its own right, Liberty Dutch Form features a vase-like habit and sturdy, elongated, blue-green leaves with thin ivory borders.

Scientific Name: Hosta 'Liberty Dutch Form'

Common Name: Liberty Dutch Form Hosta

Garden Size: Likely 16-24 inches tall by 24-36 inches wide; scape height 22-36 inches

Growth Rate: Most hostas have a moderate to fast growth rate.

USDA Zone: 3-9

Exposure: Partial to full shade

Water & Soil: Moist, well-drained soil

Habit (Form): Mounding, upright, vase-like

Foliage: Sturdy, elongated, blue-green leaves with a very thin ivory edge and heavy wax coating. The leaves are held aloft on upright petioles, giving the plant a tall, vase-like shape.

Flowers: Lavender, tube-shaped flowers that grow on tall scapes above the foliage. Blooms mid to late 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: Unregistered

Parentage: Unknown; possibly from the Netherlands

Notes: This hosta has an unusual backstory, coming to us from a vendor who imported some Liberty hostas from a Dutch grower. When they arrived, it was clear that the plants they'd received were not Liberty hostas, but a different unknown variety. The vendor renamed the new mystery hosta 'Liberty Dutch Form'.