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Hosta 'Francee'

Francee hosta

Asparagaceae

Garden cultivar (sport of 'Fortuna' discovered 1986); Hosta species native to East Asia

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Hummingbirds Container Friendly

SunPart Shade – Full Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 3–9

Overview

Hosta 'Francee' is a white-edged hosta forming a clump 18-24 inches (45-60 cm) tall and 36-48 inches (90-120 cm) wide. Heart-shaped (cordate) leaves 6-8 inches (15-20 cm) long carry a smooth (non-corrugated) dark green center bordered by a 0.25-0.5 inch (6-12 mm) crisp white margin. The white edge is genetically stable and maintains its width and brightness through the growing season; reversion to all-green leaves occurs in roughly 5-10% of mature clumps over 10+ years and is removed by cutting reverted shoots at the crown. Discovered as a sport (mutation) of Hosta 'Fortuna' in 1986 and registered with the American Hosta Society. Lavender bell-shaped flowers open on 30-36 inch (75-90 cm) scapes from late June through July, drawing hummingbirds and bumblebees. Fully herbaceous: foliage yellows and collapses with the first hard frost, and the crown remains dormant until April-May emergence. White-tailed deer browse hostas heavily; unprotected plants in deer-pressure areas are eaten to ground level. Slugs and snails produce irregular holes in the leaves; the smooth (non-corrugated) leaf surface allows easier slug traversal than puckered cultivars. Mildly toxic to dogs, cats, and horses (saponins) if ingested in quantity. Hardy to USDA zone 3 (-40°F / -40°C). Crown rot in waterlogged soil.

Native Range

The cultivar 'Francee' arose as a sport of Hosta 'Fortuna' in 1986 and was registered with the American Hosta Society. Hosta spp. species are native to forest edges, rocky slopes, and stream banks in Japan, Korea, and northeast China.

Suggested Uses

Used in shade and woodland gardens, as a groundcover under deciduous trees, and in mixed shade borders, spaced 36-48 inches (90-120 cm) apart for a closed mound. Container culture in 7+ gallon (26+ liter) pots is reliable, with overwintering protection in zones 3-5. The contrast between green center and white margin remains visible in low-light shade conditions where solid-green foliage merges with surrounding shadow.

How to Identify

Identified by smooth (non-corrugated) heart-shaped leaves with dark green center and a stable white margin 0.25-0.5 inch (6-12 mm) wide. The combination of crisp non-yellowing white edge and smooth leaf surface separates it from corrugated white-edged cultivars such as Hosta 'Patriot' (broader white edge, slight pucker) and from yellow-edged cultivars such as Hosta 'Wide Brim'. Lavender flowers on tall scapes appear in early to mid-summer.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1'6" - 2'

Width/Spread3' - 4'

Reaches mature size in approximately 5 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~4 weeks

Summer

Lavender bell-shaped flowers open on 30-36 inch (75-90 cm) scapes from late June through late July in zones 4-7 and from June in zones 8-9. Individual scape bloom lasts 2-3 weeks; total clump bloom extends 3-4 weeks as scapes flower in succession. Hummingbirds and bumblebees are the primary pollinators. Fragrance is light to absent.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Lavender, bell-shaped, on tall scapes

Foliage Description

Dark green with stable crisp white margin

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunPartial Shade SunFull Shade

Requires 1-4 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

3-5 years for full clump

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Performs in partial to full shade in moist organic-rich loam with pH 6.0-7.5; morning sun is tolerated in zones 3-6 but afternoon sun in zones 7+ scorches both green centers and white margins. Soil moisture is maintained evenly; established plants tolerate brief dryness but go dormant early in extended drought. Slugs and snails are the primary cosmetic pest; iron phosphate baits and copper barriers are common control methods. White margins burn faster than green centers in dry or sun-exposed conditions, making moisture and shade more critical for variegated hostas than for solid-green types. Crown rot develops in waterlogged sites. Deer browse hostas to ground level in pressure areas; physical barriers are required where deer pressure is high. Hardy to USDA zone 3.

Pruning

No structural pruning is required. Spent flower scapes are cut at the base after bloom to redirect energy and prevent self-seeding. Foliage is left until it yellows and collapses with the first hard frost, then removed to reduce slug egg overwintering. Reverted all-green shoots are cut at the crown when they appear, since reversions can outcompete the variegated tissue. Division every 4-6 years in early spring or early fall rejuvenates clumps that thin in the center.

Pruning Schedule

fall