Looking for a great ground cover plant for a shaded area? Look no further than Hosta ventricosa, also known as the Blue Hosta or Blue Plantain Lily. With heart-shaped, shiny dark green leaves featuring prominent veins, this plant forms a 2-foot mound and produces gorgeous dark violet flowers in August that can reach almost 3 feet tall. Native to China, this plant is rather slow to spread and should be spaced about 60cm apart each way. It can thrive in disturbed open areas from 0-500 meters and is widely cultivated as an ornamental around the world. Hosta ventricosa is a natural tetraploid that undergoes pseudogamous apomixis, meaning it breeds true but is of no use as a seed parent in hybridizing. However, it can act as a pollen parent. So if you're looking for a reliable and beautiful ground cover option, consider the Blue Hosta.
