Hosta sieboldiana 'Frances Williams' | Hosta 'Frances Williams'

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Hosta 'Frances Williams' {1-Gallon pot}

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Hosta sieboldiana 'Frances Williams' (AKA 'Eldorado', 'Yellow Edge', Plantain Lily 'Francis Williams', Funkia)

Pronunciation: HAH-stuh see-bol-dee-AH-nuh FRAN-sis WIL-yums
Product: 1000069

Shipping description: This product cannot be shipped to ID, and cannot be shipped May 20 to Oct 1 to AZ, CA, MT, NV, OR, UT, or WA

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(minimum of 1) 1-Gallon pot
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Lush, decadent, thick blue-green foliage puckers around the uneven gold-rimmed edges of Frances Williams. These salad-plate sized, heart shape leaves are so significant that the entire plant appears like a giant flower plopped down in your garden.

As one of the most dramatic Hostas, Frances Williams remains brightly colored all season and her variegated foliage is like a lighted lamp in dark corners of any shade garden. In July-August, this plant bears pale lavender-white blooms on 40-inch scapes.

With a moderate growth rate, Frances Williams prefers moist, well-drained, rich soil in shade or part shade (full shade in southern zones), but adapts well to less than ideal conditions, including drought, considerable sunlight, and poor soil.

This low-care perennial is one of the most popular for landscape uses and is a great choice for any beginner gardener. If you can only pick one Hosta and you wish to make a dramatic statement, Frances Williams is, hands down, a stunning show-stopper.

1 eye bare root plants.

Please read about bare root plants (especially the paragraph about bare root grasses) so you know what to expect.

Also read below under Things to Note about trimming.

Interesting Facts
The species is named for the German physician and botanist Philipp Franz von Siebold (1796-1866), who sparked interest in Hostas in the early 1800s after he returned to the Netherlands with several specimens he had collected during his long stint as a physician in Japan.

The cultivar is named for Mrs. Frances Ropes Williams (1883-1969) of Massachusetts, who spotted the first known specimen when it appeared in a field of H. sieboldiana at Bristol Nurseries in Connecticut, in 1936.

Gardener Tips
Frances Williams is more resistant to slugs than most other hostas.

Most people are unaware how much sun Frances Williams will actually tolerate. If you have a location that receives lots of morning sun and even a small bit of afternoon sun, she will do fine. Be aware that her foliage will scorch if there is too much sun, but nonetheless, when planting, this is one hosta that will tolerate some sun, so experiment with locations if you desire.

Frances Williams is so beautiful paired with white Astilbe in a bed of Vinca minor. You create a feeling of posh elegance with this trio.

See other plants that go well with this plant.

General information about Hostas:
The goddess of all that is lush and green, Hosta plants are indisputably one of the absolute best and most popular options for shaded garden spots. Of course with over 5000 cultivars, how in the world does one narrow down the choices?

We feature hostas most prized for their hardiness, foliage and flower colors, and overall performance. Essentially, we’ve done the sorting for you and offer you the best of the best at prices that are incredibly affordable.

First, a little technical information. Hostas are herbaceous perennial plants that grow from corms or rhizomes. Their broad lanceolate or ovate leaves vary widely in size, by species, from 1 - 15 inches long and 3/4 - 12 inches broad. Variation among the numerous cultivars is even greater, with clumps ranging from as little as 4 inches across to an astounding 6 1/2 feet across.

The leaf shades of wild Hosta species is typically a vibrant green, although some (e.g. H. sieboldiana) are known for their glaucous coating, lending leaves a hazy blue appearance that tends to be an incredibly soothing effect in a garden. There are natural sports (mutations) of native species that have yellow-green (almost gold) colored leaves or differing leaf variegation (the centers/edges are either white/cream or yellowish).

The (3/4 to 2 inch long) flowers are produced on (up to 31 inch tall) erect panicles. They are usually pendulous, appearing similar to a central beam with loads of miniature lavender loud-speakers growing out of it. The trumpet-like blossoms boast six petals, are generally not fragrant, and typically white, lavender, or violet in color.

Hostas are widely cultivated groundcovers, and they are a particularly perfect plant for shaded locales. Gardeners love getting their hands on those with golden or white variegated leaves. Other traits that make the Hosta such a prized perennial are the facts that they require very little care other than watering and perhaps some fertilizing, and they are a terrific option for erosion control on slopes.

A bank of hostas with thousands of blooms dangling like jewels from their suspended flower stalks is truly a sight to behold. A long-living, relatively disease-free plant that keeps multiplying, is easy to divide in spring or late fall, and promises years of lush, lovely leaves of color, hostas often become addictive to perennial collectors.

How they come: When you buy a Hosta, you will usually receive 1 or 2 eye plants. What are Hosta eyes, you ask? In the spring, you can gently uncover your hosta beds to reveal the green nubs poking through the soil. Each nub is called an eye, and it is the beginning of a complete set of hosta leaves. Eyes can be divided, but it is not necessary. When you move or divide hostas, it can take a year or so for them to be completely reestablished.

Things to Note
Starting in May we cut much of the top foliage off our Hostas before shipping. We feel that the tops are too big to be supported by the roots after transplanting, they tend to lay over on the ground and not recuperate. When the plants are smaller we leave the tops on. If you want us to ship your Hostas without trimming, indicate your desire in the Comments box near the shipping address when checking out. Be aware that you will likely experience the outcome we indicated above, and if this happens to you, simply trim them yourself. It will not harm the plant.

Interesting Facts
Hosta (originally named Funkia) is a genus of 23-40 species of lily-like plants native to northeast Asia. It was once classified in the family Liliaceae but is now (due to the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group) included in the family Agavaceae.

The genus name Hosta is after the Austrian physician & botanist Nicholas Host (1761-1834).

Gardener Tips
Hostas reward their gardener with prolific spreading and willingness to divide and relocate with ease. As such, they are wonderfully economic if you have large shaded areas you wish to fill. Plan to purchase enough to fill one area, and within 2 seasons, you’ll have at least double what you started with, providing ample plants for dividing and relocating to another area.

See all Hostas.

Specifications

Cold hardiness zone: 3-9 (-40 degrees F) - Contact your local extension to confirm hardiness if you are in a fringe zone (we cannot guarantee hardiness in fringe zones)
AHS Heat Zone: 8-1
Light: Part sun Shade
Growth rate: Moderate
Mature height: 24-36"
Spread: 36-48"
Spacing: 30-48"
Tolerant of: Wet Conditions, Rabbits
pH of Soil: 5.5 - 7.5, Ideal pH: 6.5 - 7.5
Attracts: Hummingbirds
Grows Under Trees: Conifer - Yes, Walnut - Yes, Other - Yes
Variegated: Yes