Empress Wu Hosta is a large shade-loving herbaceous perennial primarily grown for its foliage.  The huge 2 foot green basal leaves lose their waxy coating and blue tint as they mature, and are deeply veined and corrugated.  Small bell-like pale reddish-violet flowers raise up in terminals from the rootstalk above the mound in mid summer attracting butterflies and pollinators.  Best color in partial sun and moist well-drained soils.

MAINTENANCE NEEDS:   Low maintenance.  Snails and slugs can cause severe problems if left unchecked.  Foliar nematodes can cause interveinal browning. Plants infected with Hosta Virus X (HVX), tobacco rattle virus or tomato ring spot virus should be immediately removed from garden areas and destroyed.  Otherwise, little to no problems.

LANDSCAPE USES:  Accents or Group Plantings, Borders, Woodland Gardens, Naturalized Areas, Rock Gardens, and Containers.

COMPANION PLANTS:  Columbine, Lungwort, Bleeding Heart