Very few Hostas are renowned for their flowers, but 'Fujibotan' would like to change all that! Discovered growing on Mt. Fuji by a Japanese plantsman and rarely available in the United States, this is the only double-flowered lavender Hosta in the world! Its lightly fragrant blooms arise on 4-foot stems in midsummer — and a mature plant can send up more than 50 blooms on every stem! Truly a one-of-a-kind plant, 'Fujibotan' is not to be missed!
These blooms are exquisite, with a sweet scent and a nicely symmetrical pattern. (The "botan" part of this plant's name means "tree peony," and though these flowers are only 1½ inches across, you can see the resemblance!) They arise on dramatic 4-foot stems that shoot up from the center of this green-leaved plant. Imagine the effect of this in the rear of the shade border — beautiful blooms peeking out from among the Ferns and Heucheras!
'Fujibotan' was collected on Mt. Fuji several years ago by Japanese plantsman Kenji Watanabe for his Gotemba Nursery. The plant — 20 inches high and 2 feet wide — is so highly prized in Japan that it often sells for the equivalent of hundreds of dollars, and it is almost never available in this country. I am honored to bring it to Wayside gardeners at a price that is far, far more reasonable than even I had hoped when I first began growing this Hosta!
If you're new to Hosta growing, you're in for a treat. Like most Hostas, 'Fujibotan' is very tolerant of just about any soil and weather conditions. Hardy from one end of the country to the other, it is very long-lived. Periodically you can dig it up and whack the rooty crown into several new plants, or simply let the older ones grow more magnificent with the passing of time!
Space plants 2 feet apart in the garden or a large container. Once established in your garden, this plant is quite tolerant of heat and humidity. Zones 3-8.
