SHADOWLAND® ‘Wheee!’
Hosta
Because Gardening Should be FUN!
- Striking foliage plant for shade
- Intensely ruffled, variegated foliage
- Grows beautifully in containers and landscapes
- Light lavender flowers appear in midsummer
- Attracts hummingbirds
- 11-18” tall x 28-30” spread
- Perennial in USDA Zones 3-9
- Pronounced “HAH-stuh”
Go ahead and say it. Don’t be shy. Say it with us: Wheee! Yes, this hosta really is that much fun! Everyone needs a few amusing plants in their garden and this exuberantly ruffled perennial surely fits the bill. Even at a very young age, this plant shows off its fantastic foliage from the time it emerges out of the ground in spring to the time it goes back to sleep in late fall.
You will love how this hosta gains character with each passing year. Its leaves thicken up and become more intensely ruffled as it ages. The clump becomes fuller as more eyes develop at the base and after a few years, you will be wishing you planted more all over your shade garden. This hosta is perfect for your gardens under the shade of tall oak trees or in the shadow of your home’s eaves. Try a few in containers and planted in the landscape, too.
HOW TO GROW SHADOWLAND® ‘WHEEE!’HOSTA
Planting
When choosing a spot to plant ‘Wheee!’ hosta, consider that it prefers to grow in morning sun or dappled sun throughout the day. Afternoon sun can be too strong and burn the foliage, especially in warm climates.
The first place you might consider planting your new hosta is under a tree. If the tree is deeply rooted, like an oak or hickory, there will be plenty of room for the hosta’s roots to grow. But maples, birches and spruce trees have broad, shallow root systems that could outcompete the hosta for root space. Consider root competition when finding the right spot.
‘Wheee!’ hosta grows best in humus-rich soil that is moist and well-drained, but it will also grow reasonably well in sandy and clay soils. Use a good quality potting soil with a bit of slow release plant food mixed in if you plan to grow it in a container.
This hardy perennial isn’t too fussy about when you plant it. Cooler spring and fall weather is ideal, but if summer is your only option, just be sure to plant it in the shade and keep the soil moist through the warmest months while its roots get established.
When planting, dig the hole about twice as wide but just as deep as the container it is growing in. If your soil is light in color–indicating it doesn’t contain much organic matter–add several handfuls of humus, compost or aged manure when you backfill the hole. That will provide extra nutrients and water-holding capacity to the soil.
Maintenance
Hostas require very little maintenance during the growing season. They need little more than some shade, good soil and moisture to flourish all on their own.
Watch for rabbits in spring–this is their favorite time of year to munch on hostas. Just as their pointed tips emerge from the soil, a hungry bunny may come along and nip them off. It won’t hurt the hosta but once its leaves unfurl, you’ll see the bunny’s teeth marks. Avoid this by applying animal repellent on your hostas in early spring just as they start to come up.
If deer are an issue in your garden, consider growing more deer resistant plants or plan to protect your hostas with animal repellent or fencing. Taller, thinner leaved cultivars are more prone to damage simply because they are easier for the deer to eat.
During wet weather, slug populations can multiply quickly. If you start seeing holes in your hosta leaves, it’s a sure sign that they have moved in. Here is an article to help you “slug it out” with these pesky creatures.
Hostas should be cut back in fall once their foliage has gone to sleep for the season. Remove the spent foliage from the garden bed and dispose of it to help avoid future slug damage around the plants.
Companion plants
Since the leaves of Hosta ‘Wheee!’ are relatively narrow, they look best when paired with other plants that have broader leaves like Hosta ‘Coast to Coast’ or Brunnera ‘Jack of Diamonds’. If you are pairing it with something more finely textured, choose something with very narrow leaves like Graceful Grasses® fiber optic grass for best contrast.
‘Jack of Diamonds’ Brunnera
When pairing your hostas with other plants, look for those that prefer similar cultural conditions, including a preference for shade and rich, moist soil. Your local garden center likely has a separate section for shade perennials where you’ll find all sorts of companions for ‘Wheee!’ hosta.
New Flame Recipe
Fun and Games® ‘Red Rover’ Heucherella
Fun and Games® ‘Eye Spy’ Heucherella
Exposure
Part shade-shade
Season
Early Spring
Spring
Summer
Fall
Container Size
14 Inches
Click the plant names for more info
top 3 reasons to
grow ‘Wheee!’ Hosta
IT’S FUN!
Banish the blahs from your shade garden with this exuberantly ruffled hosta.
IT’S SUPER COLD HARDY
Hardy down to -40°F, you will never have to worry about this perennial returning reliably every year.
IT WILL THRIVE IN YOUR SHADIEST PLACES
While many showy perennials need full sun to thrive, ‘Wheee!’ will happily light up your shade garden with its unique foliage.
Shadowland® ‘Wheee!’ Hosta USPP23565 Can4948