Use & Care NotesCompanion Plants
Tears in Heaven Hosta: Blue Foliage That Spills Like a Fountain
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Tears in Heaven hosta is an upright blue hosta, which is less common than it sounds. Its wedge-shaped, intense powdery blue leaves rise on upright stems, then spill outward at the tips with ruffled, wavy edges, so the clump looks like a small waterfall.
It stays about 15 inches tall and wide. In midsummer, scapes up to about 2 feet carry pale lavender trumpet flowers with a darker lavender pattern at the center of each petal.
Tears in Heaven at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Hosta 'Tears in Heaven' |
| Foliage | Intense powdery blue, ruffled, waxy |
| Flowers | Pale lavender with a darker lavender center |
| Size | About 15 inches tall and wide; scapes 12 to 24 inches |
| Bloom | Starts early July, peaks mid-July |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 9 |
| Light | Part to full shade |
| Deer | Susceptible |
Blue in the shade, lavender in the sun
Hostas and lavender want opposite conditions. Lavender bakes happily in hot, dry soil; Tears in Heaven wants shade and steady moisture. Put this hosta under trees, along the north side of the house or in a pot on a shaded porch, with ferns and astilbe nearby.
The connection to a lavender garden is color. Blue hosta leaves and lavender-colored flowers repeat the cool tones of the sunny lavender beds, so the shady side of the yard feels like part of the same plan. Map out sun and shade areas in the Companion Plant Planner.
A natural container plant
Its upright, cascading form and modest size make Tears in Heaven a lovely specimen in a pot. A few tips:
- Use a container at least as wide as the mature clump, with good drainage.
- Fill with a rich, humus-heavy mix that holds moisture but does not stay soggy.
- Water deeply during dry spells, especially the first summer.
- Keep the pot in shade. The waxy coating that makes leaves blue wears off faster in hot sun.
- In winter, move the pot to a sheltered, unheated spot so the crown does not sit wet.
Care in the ground
- Soil: rich and evenly moist but well drained.
- Bloom: cut spent scapes after flowering.
- Dividing: divide crowded clumps in early spring as shoots emerge.
- Pests: slugs can chew holes in the leaves. Watch also for Hosta Virus X, seen as mottled, streaked leaves; discard infected plants.
- Winter: fully hardy in Michigan. Cut foliage down after a hard frost to remove slug eggs and debris.
Plug tray sizes
Tears in Heaven is offered in 72-cell and 20-cell plug trays. See each product page for current availability, or the Wholesale Hub for tray orders.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the blue color last?
Its intense blue lasts late into the season, longer than many blue hostas, especially in shade.
Is it safe around pets?
Hosta foliage is listed as toxic to dogs and cats, so keep it away from pets that chew plants.
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