Hosta 'Elegans' (Sieboldiana): The Original Giant Blue Hosta

Hosta 'Elegans': The Classic Giant Blue Hosta of the Sieboldiana Group

Hosta 'Elegans' (also known as 'Blue Hearts', 'Fortunei Robusta') is a cultivar of Hosta sieboldiana, the species that gave the hosta world its giant blue genes. Hybridized by Schmid and introduced in 1991, 'Elegans' represents the quintessential sieboldiana traits: massive, deeply corrugated, intensely blue leaves on a monumental scale.

Sieboldiana Grandeur

The leaves are enormous—18–24 inches long, 14–18 inches wide—heart-shaped, deeply cupped and corrugated, with a thick, waxy blue coating. The plant forms a massive, arching mound 3–4 feet tall and 5–7 feet wide. Near-white flowers on 4-foot scapes in early summer. The sheer size and blue intensity are the hallmarks of the sieboldiana lineage.

Species Heritage

H. sieboldiana is native to Japan and is the primary source of the giant blue trait in hosta breeding. 'Elegans' is a selected form that exemplifies the species' best qualities. It prefers deep shade (sun fades the blue), rich moist soil, and is hardy in USDA zones 3–9. The thick leaves are highly slug-resistant.

Taxonomic Profile

• Family: Liliaceae
• Genus: Hosta
• Species: sieboldiana
• Cultivar: 'Elegans' (syn. 'Blue Hearts', 'Fortunei Robusta')
• Hybridizer: Schmid
• Introduced: 1991

Foundation of Blue Hostas

'Elegans' and its sieboldiana kin are the genetic foundation of virtually all modern giant blue hostas. Growing it connects you to the species that started it all. It's a specimen of grandeur—give it space, shade, and time. A living monument to the species that defined "blue hosta."