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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Enormous Leaf Scale: Individual leaves exceed 40 cm in length, providing bold, coarse texture that contrasts beautifully with fine-foliage ferns and groundcovers.
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Deeply Corrugated Surface: Heavy seersucker puckering across the leaf adds incredible visual depth and a rugged, leathery character throughout the season.
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Exceptional Slug Resistance: Thick, wax-coated foliage is virtually slug-proof and highly resistant to wind damage — a major advantage in exposed Canadian gardens.
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Glaucous Blue-Green Colour: Emerges with a misty blue coating that matures into a deep, sophisticated blue-green as summer progresses.
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Sturdy Flower Scapes: Pale purple flowers appear on thick, upright stems in early summer, keeping the visual focus firmly on the spectacular foliage.
| 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: Give this giant deep, fertile soil and plenty of room — it needs 4–6 years to reach its full, impressive spread. We monitor the characteristic leaf puckering and vigour at our Bécancour trial fields each spring to confirm every plant is True to Type before it ships.
