A Rippled Masterpiece of Blue-Green Texture
A sophisticated introduction from the legendary Mark Zilis, Hosta 'Azure Frills' is a 2010 registration that brings a high-fashion, ruffled aesthetic to the shade garden. Derived from a 'Venetian Blue' seedling, this variety is celebrated for its semi-upright, spreading habit that showcases its most distinct feature: incredibly intense, heavily frilled leaf margins. The leaves emerge with a thick glaucous bloom on both the top and underside, giving the plant a cool, frosted appearance in early spring. As a fast grower, it quickly matures into a wide, textural mound that serves as a perfect focal point for Canadian gardeners looking to move beyond standard smooth-leaved varieties.
Why It Stands Out
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Heavily Rippled Margins: The edges of each leaf are deeply frilled and wavy, creating a sense of constant movement and intricate detail.
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Double-Sided Glaucous Bloom: A waxy coating covers both the upper and lower leaf surfaces, intensifying the "Azure" tones throughout the spring.
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Semi-Upright Architecture: Its unique growth habit elevates the foliage, making the detailed, 9-to-11-vein-pair texture more visible from a distance.
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Vibrant Mid-Summer Blooms: Produces large, 7 cm tubular flowers in pale purple with medium purple mid-petals, appearing on green scapes in July.
Technical Specifications
| Feature |
Details |
| Size (Height) |
38 cm (15 inches) |
| Size (Width) |
84 cm (33 inches) |
| Hardiness Zone |
Canadian Zones 3–9 |
| Colour |
Intense blue-green (medium green by mid-July) |
| Light Requirements |
Partial Shade to Full Shade |
Grower's Tip
To truly appreciate the "frills" of this variety, we recommend planting it in a slightly elevated bed or large container where its semi-upright form can be admired at eye level. At Hosta Choice Gardens, we take our commitment to quality seriously; we wait for the characteristic ripples to emerge in our Bécancour fields to verify that every specimen is True to Type before shipping. Be sure to provide ample space, as this fast-growing beauty will quickly expand to nearly a metre in width once established in your garden.
