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hosta abiqua drinking gourd marginal pond plants bp045
hosta abiqua drinking gourd marginal pond plants bp045
hosta abiqua drinking gourd marginal pond plants bp045
hosta abiqua drinking gourd marginal pond plants bp045

Hosta 'Abiqua Drinking Gourd'

Bog Plant
Availability:
Out of stock
Availability:
in stock, ready to be shipped
Availability:
in stock, ready to be shipped
Availability:
in stock, ready to be shipped
Availability:
in stock, ready to be shipped
Availability:
in stock, ready to be shipped
Availability:
in stock, ready to be shipped
Availability:
in stock, ready to be shipped
Availability:
Out of stock
Availability:
in stock, ready to be shipped
Availability:
Out of stock
Availability:
in stock, ready to be shipped
£0.00 - £0.00
£0.00
£6.80
£2.60 - £55.58
£6.80
Package Quantity: 1
Size: 9cm Bareroot
Size Information

You can choose plants in various pot sizes. Non-potted plants arrive bare root for you to pot in the specified pot size.

Seasonal Information

Depending on the time of year, pond plants may be supplied fully-leaved, with flowers, or with foliage trimmed back.

Delivery Information

This plant is grown in the UK and sent directly from our tried, tested and trusted plant partner. Delivery price calculated at checkout.

Description of Hosta 'Abiqua Drinking Gourd'

Hosta 'Abiqua Drinking Gourd' is a big-leaved hosta with deep, cupped foliage that holds rainwater. You may see it called plantain lily 'Abiqua Drinking Gourd'. It suits damp shade and it gives you strong leaf shape from spring until the first hard frosts.

Appearance

Hosta 'Abiqua Drinking Gourd' forms a wide clump of thick, puckered leaves. Each leaf curves upwards into a bowl shape, so the undersides often show, which adds texture even when the plant is not flowering. The colour sits in the blue-green range, especially early in the season when the waxy coating is fresh. In midsummer it sends up stems with pale, lavender-tinged flowers, though most people grow it for the foliage.

In a moist spot it can reach about 60 to 70cm tall in leaf, with a spread that can push out towards 90 to 120cm over time. It looks best with space around it so the leaf shape reads clearly. Use it beside ferns, astilbes, and Japanese primroses, or as a calm patch between brighter pond-edge flowers.

Care Guide

Grow Hosta 'Abiqua Drinking Gourd' in part shade or shade. Morning sun is fine, and it can take more sun if the soil stays cool and moist. In a bog garden, place it where the ground is damp but not waterlogged. If the crown sits in standing water, it can rot.

  • Soil: Deep, humus-rich soil gives the best leaf size. Mix in compost at planting time.
  • Water: Keep it evenly moist. In dry spells, soak the root zone rather than splashing the leaves.
  • Mulch: A spring mulch helps hold moisture and feeds the plant at the same time.
  • Cutting back: After the first frosts, leaves collapse. Cut them off at ground level and clear away debris.
  • Division: Split large clumps in spring as shoots start to show. Replant divisions straight away and water well.

Suitability for Bog Garden

Hosta 'Abiqua Drinking Gourd' works well in the shadier edge of a bog garden, or in a damp border that runs alongside it. It is a good choice if you have a liner under the bog, because it likes consistent moisture. Site it on the top tier or slope, not in the wettest sump. The thick leaves cope better with slugs than many hostas, so it is a sensible pick near water where slugs are common. If you want one plant that fills a gap and keeps looking neat for months, this one does the job.

FAQs

What is the difference between bog plants and marginal pond plants?

Bog plants prefer consistently damp or wet soil but generally do not want to remain submerged in standing water. Marginal pond plants are adapted to grow at the pond edge with their roots or crowns in shallow water. If an area stays flooded for long periods, marginal plants are usually more appropriate.

Do bog plants need to be planted in water?

No. Bog plants need reliably moist or wet soil rather than permanent standing water. They are suitable for bog gardens, damp borders and moist areas around ponds, but most should not be planted underwater.

How do I make a bog garden for bog plants?

Choose an area where the soil can be kept consistently moist and improve it with plenty of organic matter. A purpose-built bog garden can also be created by using a liner that retains moisture while still allowing some drainage, then filling the area with suitable soil before planting.

Can bog plants grow in shade?

Some can. Many bog plants grow best in sun, but there are species that tolerate partial shade. The important factor is maintaining the moist soil conditions the particular plant requires, so check the individual plant's light requirements before choosing its position.

What are the best bog plants for wildlife?

Flowering bog plants can provide nectar and pollen for insects, while dense foliage creates shelter around a pond or damp garden. A mixture of flowering periods, heights and foliage types generally provides more varied habitat than relying on a single species.

What are the best pond plants for a wildlife pond?

The best wildlife pond plants provide a mixture of underwater cover, surface shade, flowering habitat and places for aquatic insects to emerge. A balanced pond can include oxygenating plants, marginal plants and floating-leaved plants such as water lilies. Native species are particularly useful for supporting UK pond wildlife.

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