Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Earth Angel Hosta: Big Blue-Green Leaves with Cream Edges
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Earth Angel hosta is the variegated form of the well-known 'Blue Angel'. Its big, heart-shaped blue-green leaves carry wide margins that open creamy yellow in spring and mature to creamy white by summer. The clump grows about 30 inches tall and 40 inches wide, and pale lavender bells rise on tall 40-inch stems in midsummer. It was named Hosta of the Year for 2009 and holds a Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit.
Earth Angel at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Hosta 'Earth Angel' |
| Foliage | Blue-green, wide margins creamy yellow aging to creamy white |
| Flowers | Pale lavender bells on 40-inch stems |
| Size | About 30 inches tall, 40 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts early July, peaks mid-July |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 9 |
| Light | Part sun to full shade |
| Deer | Susceptible |
A shade-garden centerpiece
Earth Angel is the kind of hosta you build a shade bed around. Its scale and two-tone leaves make it a natural focal point under a tree or at the bend of a shaded path. The tall lavender flower spikes in July are a pleasant echo of the lavender rows in the sunny part of the garden, even though the two plants live in opposite conditions.
Lavender needs dry, sunny ground; Earth Angel needs shade and steady moisture. Plan them as two parts of one property. Around the hosta, ferns add fine texture, astilbe adds summer plumes and dark coral bells make the cream margins look brighter. Lay it out in the Companion Plant Planner.
Seasonal care
- Spring: watch the margins shift from creamy yellow to cream. Divide crowded clumps as new shoots appear.
- Summer: water during dry spells and keep it out of afternoon sun to avoid scorch.
- Slugs: check in damp springs and keep mulch thin around the crown.
- Fall: cut foliage down after hard frost to clear out slug eggs and disease.
- Winter: fully hardy in Michigan and needs winter cold to rest. Avoid soil that stays waterlogged.
Deer browse hostas readily, so plan protection if they visit your yard.
Choosing a tray
Earth Angel is offered as a 72-cell plug tray and a 20-cell plug tray. The 72-cell tray is built for growers and large plantings; the 20-cell tray holds fewer, deeper plugs that are easier to grow on in pots. See each product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
How is it related to Blue Angel?
It is a sport of 'Blue Angel', meaning a natural variegated mutation, so it shares the big blue-green leaves and adds cream margins.
Why are the margins yellow in spring?
That is normal. They open creamy yellow and fade to creamy white as summer arrives.
Is it good for cut foliage?
A few large leaves make a striking base for an arrangement. Cut them in the cool of the morning.
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