‘Empress Wu’ is by reputation the largest hosta ever introduced into commerce. It will eventually mature to 4-5' tall and spread to 6-8' wide with huge, deeply-veined, green leaves to 28" long by 25" wide.
Like many hosta plant varieties, ‘Empress Wu’ hosta craves light to full shade. In northern regions, some gardeners grow their ‘Empress Wu’ hosta where it receives a few hours of morning sunlight, but in most situations, this plant giant performs best when it’s protected from direct sun.
Because ‘Empress Wu’ hosta forms such large leaves, it’s vitally important to supply plants with ample water. Make sure the soil where you plant ‘Empress Wu’ has the ability to retain moisture. Add plenty of organic matter to enhance the soil’s water holding capacity. You should also consider running a soaker hose or drip irrigation on the soil surface, especially if you garden where summer drought is a reliable event.
You might even consider using these watering methods in temperate regions where summer rainfall is adequate for most plants. Because ‘Empress Wu’ hosta leaves get so large, it’s tough for rain to penetrate through leaf layers and reach soil. When the plant spread is five feet or more, if rainfall only runs off leaves and hits soil along leaf edges, little water is reaching soil—or roots—near the plant’s crown.
A consistent mulch layer helps to retain soil moisture and is a must with ‘Empress Wu’ hosta. aim for a 2- to 3-inch layer
Hosta thrive in shade, even in competition with tree roots, hurray! It is hard to find a garden that won't benefit from incorporating some Hosta.
2 year old, 2 gallon plant