A Colossal Blue-Green Giant for the Woodland Garden
Charles Purtymun registered Hosta 'Abiqua Elephant Ears' in 1987 at Walden West. He developed it as a sieboldiana hybrid prized for its enormous, heart-shaped leaves. Individual leaves reach over 40 cm in length with a deeply corrugated, seersucker surface. Hardy from zones 3 to 9, it anchors woodland gardens across Canada with ease. Its massive, spreading mound and glaucous blue-green colour make it a true landscape statement.
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Leaf Shape and Texture: Broadly ovate with a cordate base, deeply corrugated with heavy seersucker puckering — individual leaves exceed 40 cm in length, providing bold, coarse texture in the woodland garden.
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Leaf Colour: Glaucous blue-green with a misty waxy coating that deepens to a sophisticated blue-green through summer; thick, wax-coated surface provides exceptional slug and wind resistance.
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Mature Size: 80–90 cm high × 150–180 cm wide (32–36 in × 60–72 in) — a massive, spreading landscape mound that needs 4–6 years to reach full size.
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Flowers: Pale purple blooms on thick, upright scapes in early summer — sturdy enough to hold their own above the spectacular foliage canopy.
| Feature |
Specification |
| Size (H × W) |
80–90 cm × 150–180 cm (32–36" × 60–72") |
| Hardiness Zone |
3–9 |
| Colour |
Glaucous blue-green with pale purple flowers |
| Light Requirements |
Partial to full shade |
Grower's Tip: Hosta 'Abiqua Elephant Ears' handles Canadian winters with ease from Zone 3 through 9, making it a bold anchor for shade gardens from Victoria, BC to Halifax, NS. Give it deep, fertile soil and plenty of room — it needs 4–6 years to reach its full, impressive spread. We grow it at our nursery in Bécancour, QC, and our True to Type standard means you receive the authentic 'Abiqua Elephant Ears', verified before it leaves Bécancour, QC.
