This slug resistant hosta is called hosta wheee! As the name suggests, the look of this fun plant is whimsical with an extremely ruffled foliage habit.
I have a large varieties of hostas in my shade garden, but and most of them are susceptible to slugs, so I was pleased to come across this slug hesitant variety called hosta wheee!
Another variety that is not as popular with slugs is Hosta Blue Angel.
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About Hosta Wheee!
- Family: Asparagaceae – which includes asparagus, agave, ponytail palm, dracaena, and a number of other succulents.
- Genus: Hosta
- Cultivar: Wheee!
Hosta Wheee! is a whole plant mutation that was discovered by William J. Meyer of Woodbury, Connecticut in 2004. Rumor has it that his wife Carol could not resist shouting “Wheee!” every time she passed the plant in their garden, and thus it was named.
This pretty perennial hosta has green leaves with cream colored margins that widen as the plants mature. Since the leaves are quite sturdy and thick with good substance, this makes them more slug resistant than most hostas.
Like most hostas, variety hosta wheee! likes a shady spot. Give it full shade to partial shade for best results.
The plant grows to about 20-24 inches wide and about 12-18 inches tall. It has a mounding habit of growth and will multiply each year. The ruffled margins of the foliage is evident even in young specimens of the plant.
Hosta Wheee! likes well draining soil with a neutral to acidic PH and has moderate watering needs. Don’t let the soil dry out completely. The best specimens and healthiest plants come from consistent moisture. (Add coffee grounds to the soil for extra acidity.)
Adding compost to the soil each year will give the plant extra nutrients and keep it healthy.
Hosta Wheee! has bell shaped lavender flowers in arrive in mid-season. The flowers clump on top of purple scapes. Growing time for the plant is spring through summer
This variety of hosta is hardy and will over winter in zones 3-9. The plant grows from a rhizome.
Hosta wheee! makes a dramatic specimen in any shady garden spot. It is useful in containers on a shaded patio or porch. and it is also attractive to hummingbirds.
The plant looks like a bit of a reverse of hosta ‘undulata’, but with reversed color margins and centers. Where undulata (shown below) has cream centers and ruffled yellow margins, Wheee! is the opposite.
Propagate by division. This will give you new plants for free. Division is most easily done in early spring before the ruffled leaves unfurl.
General Growing tips for Hostas
Hostas are very popular perennials in today’s gardens because they are so versatile and easy to grow. With their dramatic foliage and tall flower scapes, they make great landscape plants.
Hostas do best in part shade in well draining soil. Adding compost helps to make sure the soil does not get too wet and helps with nutrients.
Some varieties can take a bit of sunlight, but most of them do best in shade. There are few plants that brighten up a shade garden like hostas!
This perennial foliage plant is both tough and versatile. Generally speaking, the plants with the greenest leaves are the most shade tolerant and those with more color and variegation can take a bit of sun without as much damage.
As a rule, hostas start to grow quite late in the spring, but quickly fill in their allotted spots in the garden. Hostas may take 2-5 years to reach their mature size so keep this in mind when planting.
The plant is fairly disease resistant but be on the lookout for slug and snails unless the plant is labeled slug resistant like hosta wheee!
More Hosta Varieties:
Are you lover of hostas like I am? Here are some other varieties to check out.
- Hosta Minuteman
- Hosta Autumn Frost
- Hosta ‘Cat and Mouse’
- Hosta Stained Glass
- Hosta ‘Yellow Splash Rim’
- Hosta Kiyosumiensis
Want to know what to grow in the garden along with hostas? Check out my post for hosta companion plants for some ideas.
This post may contain affiliate links. I earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you if you purchase through an affiliate link.
Where to buy hosta wheee!
This variety of hosta is considered a premium hosta and is not found easily at many garden centers. There are a few places online that I have found it for sale:
- Hosta Wheee! on Etsy
- Find it on Bluestone Perennials
- NH Hostas also has hosta wheee! for sale.
Pin these tips for growing hosta wheee! for later.
Would you like a reminder of this slug resistant hosta? Just pin this image to one of your gardening boards on Pinterest.
Hosta Wheee! - Variegated Slug Resistant Hosta Plant
This slug resistant hosta is called hosta wheee! As the name suggests, the look of this fun plant is whimsical with an extremely ruffled foliage habit.
Materials
- Hosta Wheee! plant
- well draining potting soil
- compost
- shady garden spot
Tools
- Gardening tools
Instructions
- Remove the plant from its container.
- Dig a hole in a shady garden spot large enough for the entire root ball.
- Add some compost to the hole.
- Place the plant in the garden and water well.
- Be sure that plant is in a shady spot (part shade to full shade)
- A neutral to acid soil is best.
- Water when dry. The plant flowers in mid summer.
- Mulch in the fall before frost. The plant is hardy in zones 3-9.
- The plant can also be grown in a container on a shady patio or porch.
Notes
Hosta wheee! has thick sturdy leaves, so it is considered quite slug resistant. It is attractive to butterflies.
Marge
Wednesday 26th of June 2019
My hostas have been attacked by slugs, any suggestions other than beer to get rid of them. I have removed affected leaves and started placing coffee grounds and egg shells around the bases.
Carol
Monday 1st of July 2019
Slugs and hostas just seem to go together. the coffee grounds, beer and eggshells are the most common methods suggested other than chemicals. Perhaps other readers will have more ideas.