Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ first photo on 5-1-09, #12-40.
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’
1986 AHS Best Blue Leaf Award
2009 AHS Benedict Garden Performance Award of Merit
2006 AHS Benedict Garden Performance Honorable Mention Award
Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ was first introduced to the trade in Germany by Georg Arends in 1905 as Funkia fortunei var. robusta. It was originally described as a ‘Fortunei’ x Hosta sieboldiana hybrid, but Mark Zilllis in Hostipedia says it is most likely a cross between H. sieboldiana x ’Tokudama’. Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans was registered by the American Hosta Society on behalf of Georg Arends in 1987 and 2002.
There are 25 registered sports of Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ and 85 registered hybrids with it as a parent.
<<<<2012>>>>
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ on 4-15-12, #86-36.
I bought this Hosta in the spring of 2009 from an Ebay seller. It has always performed very well, even in Mississippi when other Hosta did poorly.
<<<<2013 NOW IN MISSOURI>>>>
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ on 5-14-13, #148-12.
I sold the mansion in Mississippi to a group who renovated the mansion and turned it into a bed and breakfast. Dad asked me to move back to the family farm in mid-Missouri, so I did. I gave up several hundred plants but brought most of my succulents, perennials, Colocasia and Alocasia, and several other plants I couldn’t leave behind. I moved to the farm in 1981 after my grandpa passed away and started gardening. I was 20 years old at the time. I made my first Hosta bed next to the northeast corner of the house and bought Hosta from Bluestone Perennials. I left in 1987 and my parents didn’t have the time to maintain the beds so the Hosta and other perennials were mowed off. When dad retired in 1996, my parents bought a manufactured home and moved it to the farm. A few years later they had my grandparent’s old house torn down.
When I moved back here I had to figure out what to do with the Hosta and other plants I had brought with me. I had made a bed all the way around grandmas old goldfish pool which at that time was in the sun. When I came back, this area was shaded by three large trees so that is where I dug a shade bed for the Hosta and Ajuga reptans ‘Chocolate Chips’.
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ on 6-1-13, #151-46.
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ wasted no time growing and growing!
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ on 6-11-13, #155-13.
None of my Hosta even flowered in Mississippi, even after 4 years. I was very glad to see them all flowering here in Missouri in 2013 and every year since without fail.
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ on 6-29-13, #159-10.
USEFUL INFORMATION:
Family: Asparagaceae (formerly in Liliaceae)
Origin: Hybrid introduced by Georg Arends.
Zones: USDA Zones 3a-8b (-40 to 15° F).
Size: 30” tall x 48”+ wide after a few years.
Flowers: White flowers May to July in 30-36” tall stems.
Leaves: Large, blue-green, thick, corrugated, cupped.
Light: Light to full shade.
Soil: Prefers moist, well-drained soil.
Water: Average water needs once established.
Propagation: Division every 3-5 years.
Uses: Attracts hummingbirds, shade garden, containers, etc.
Tolerates: Dry shade and high humidity.
Resistant: Slugs and snails.
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ on 7-3-13, #160-22.
Its beautiful blue-green leaves can grow 13″ long x 10″ wide. Its leaves are corrugated, cupped, and thick making it very slug resistant. I have not had any problems with slugs or snails here but I did in Mississippi. Slug resistance is very important if you live where they are a problem.
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ on 7-30-13, #165-42.
I take a lot of photos during the summer as a record of how well the plants perform during their lifespan and at different times of the season. Sometimes I get a little behind weeding, so pardon my untidiness at times. There is always plenty to do on the farm during the summer.
<<<<2014>>>>
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ on 6-1-14, #228-49.
The Iris in this photo is a variety that I planted here in the early 1980’s that survived all those years of neglect and being mowed off. That was amazing!
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ on 6-12-14, #229-19.
I bought a Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’ (to the right) from Lowe’s and planted it in the shade garden.
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ on 6-29-14, #230-64.
I am kind of running out of words, so you’ll just have to look at the photos… Photos, so they say, are worth a thousand words.
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ on 7-12-14, #231-65.
<<<<2015>>>>
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ on 4-9-15, #236-11.
The Hostas are always one of the first perennials to come up in the spring. That is always a good sign and you can tell how much the Hosta have spread.
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ on 4-21-15, #243-12.
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ on 5-11-15, #254-6.
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ on 6-14-15, #268-30.
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ on 6-27-15, #270-33.
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ on 7-12-15, #271-26.
<<<<2016>>>>
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ on 7-19-16, #274-39.
<<<<2017>>>>
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ on 4-20-17, #320-8.
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ on 5-26-17, #334-22.
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ on 5-31-17, #339-26.
BEAUTIFUL!!!
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ on 5-31-17, #339-27.
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ on 6-6-17, #342-2-3.
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ on 6-11-17, #343-25.
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ on 6-18-17, #345-32.
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ on 6-24-17, #349-47.
The clump of Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ is getting quite large now. I think I will take some measurements in 2018…
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ on 7-9-17, #355-26.
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ on 7-19-17, #357-43.
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ on 10-11-17, #382-43.
As cooler temperatures approach and day length decreases, many of the Hosta and perennials are showing signs that their winter hibernation is near. I have confidence that Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ will return in the spring as it always does.
<<<<2018>>>>
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ on 4-13-18, #425-25.
It is always great to see the Hosta emerge in the spring. I also like seeing how the clumps of gotten bigger and spring is a perfect time to tell. The clump of Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ has grown consistently larger each year.
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ on 5-6-18 #436-34.
January was very cold and cool temperatures wanted to hang around as long as they could. Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ was getting off to a good start.
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ on 5-17-18, #443-50.
Always looks AWESOME!
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ on 6-9-18, #456-21.
Always a consistent bloomer as well…
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ on 6-14-18, #459-42.
This photo of Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ is pale in comparison to what it looks like in person. I have taken a lot of photos of this cultivar over the past few years and none are good enough to capture its awesomeness. On June 14, 2018, the clump measured 22″ x 41″, but in time it will average at least 28″ tall x 60″ or so wide. This is for sure a legendary giant blue Hosta.
Beautiful Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ leaf on 6-14-18, #459-43.
Its AWESOME blue-green leaves are heavily veined and corrugated making it slug and snail resistant. Its largest leaf measured 10″ wide x 12″ long on June 14.
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ on 7-8-18, #473-10.
We had a worse Japanese Beetle invasion in 2018 than in 2017. The shade beds are under three Chinese Elm trees and one maple. The beetles really love the leaves on the Chinese Elm which doesn’t do any good for a shady area. They eat the leaves which become see-through then die and fall off.
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ on 7-30-18, #488-10.
The shade beds became a lot sunnier with the loss of the leaves and many of the Hosta’s leaves were starting to burn. The beds also need a lot more watering…
I am sure Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ will return once again in the spring of 2019.
<<<<2019>>>>
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ on 3-7-19, #551-10.
I decided to go check to see if the Hosta were coming up on March 7. A few were starting to sprout including the Hosta sieboldiana “Elegans’. Morning temps have still been pretty cool so they won’t do much growing until temps warm up more. It was very good to see them once again.
Hosta sieboldiana Elegans’ on 4-7-19, #558-24
I am not sure what is going on with Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’. It usually comes up and does well right off the bat. It looks like the roots have heaved up over the winter so I will probably have to dig it up and spruce the soil up with some cow manure.
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ on 4-20-19, #560-24.
I did a little work on the soil around this Hosta and found there is an issue with moles tunneling under their roots over the winter. I had moved a couple of other Hosta for the same reason.
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ on 4-23-21, #562-20.
Even though it was just April 23 (in 2019), most of the other Hosta are doing very well. This one, however, is getting off to a slow start…
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ on 5-5-21, #566-43.
By May 5, temps had been getting warm enough for the Hosta to start growing much better.
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ on 5-25-19, #576-49.
I have had the Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ since 2009 and it has always well, especially after I moved back here to Missouri in 2013. Due to its issues, likely from moles tunneling under its roots and pushing them up over the winter, this Hosta really never got with the program in 2019. Unfortunately, it did not return in 2020. It was a great Hosta and hopefully, someday I will find a replacement.
If you are thinking about making a shade bed, Hosta are definitely very good plants to use. Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ will be an excellent choice to include as it has stood the test of time and will always amaze you with its beauty.
I hope you found this page useful. If you have any comments, questions or suggestions, I would like to hear from you. Please click on the “Like” below if you have visited this page. It helps us bloggers stay motivated. 🙂 Click here for my page about the Hosta genus, growing information and sources. The links below are specifically for this cultivar. There are several good sources of Hosta somewhere toward the bottom on the right side of the page.
The Belmont Rooster 
beautiful. i love the blue hosta. i miss them. funny abt florida: so many things can be grown here that cannot be grown elsewhere. +then we miss the hosta. ha. silly fool
LikeLike
Hello June! Oh yeah, I had difficulty with Hosta when I lived in Mississippi but they do great here. They need a cool period over the winter which they don’t get in the south. Take care and thanks for the comment!
LikeLike