Hosta are among the most popular of perennials for shady areas, with hundreds of varieties now readily available. Plants form a sturdy mound of foliage, topped with lily-like blooms. This small selection, considered one of the best to come from Mary Chastain, features thick, heart-shaped leaves with wide, dark green margins and narrow, creamy-white markings feathering out from the centre. Light, lavender flowers appear in mid summer. Suitable also for planting in mixed containers or tubs. Hosta go completely dormant in the fall, and the dying foliage can be removed any time before mid spring. Easily divided in either spring or fall, but plants may be left alone for years.