Plant Encyclopedia

Other Names:  Plantain Lily, Funkia

Description:

A small, slow-growing variety producing low mounds of thick, lance-shaped, bright yellow leaves with dark green margins; adds color, texture and contrast to gardens and borders; lavender flowers appear on showy red scapes in the late summer

Ornamental Features

Rainbow's End Hosta features dainty spikes of lavender tubular flowers rising above the foliage from mid to late summer. Its attractive small textured narrow leaves remain yellow in colour with showy dark green variegation throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Rainbow's End Hosta is a dense herbaceous perennial with tall flower stalks held atop a low mound of foliage. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Insects

Rainbow's End Hosta is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Border Edging
• General Garden Use
• Groundcover

Planting & Growing

Rainbow's End Hosta will grow to be only 6 inches tall at maturity extending to 10 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 24 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 20 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain low and dense right to the ground. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant does best in partial shade to shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.