Hosta 'Forbidden Fruit'
"Plantain lily"
Orders placed before 1 March 2025
You can expect your order in February/March 2025
Orders placed 1 March - 15 April 2025
You can expect your order in March/April 2025
Orders placed 16 April - 15 May 2025
You can expect your order within 10 business days
UK orders over £50
Free shipping
UK orders under £50
£4.99
Northern Ireland orders under £50
£5.99
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Description
Hosta 'Forbidden Fruit' is a medium-sized cultivar with thick, highly coloured leaves. The outer edges are blue-green, while the inner sections are of a glowing, egg-yolk yellow and orange. Towards the end of the season, the centre or the leaf is almost white. As if this were not enough to attract you, pale lavender flowers appear in mid- to late summer, and these are a magnet for bees.
In general, hostas are among the most popular of perennials for shady areas, however 'Forbidden Fruit' will benefit from some direct sunlight. Be warned, though, long periods of hot afternoon sun can lead to scorching of the leaves, so partial shade is best when the sun is at its strongest.
Hosta 'Forbidden Fruit' is a tetraploid Hosta – meaning that it is more compact, has thicker leaves, and has more pronounced flowers than other, similar (non tetraploid) varieties. Mature clumps may be easily divided in the spring or autumn. This popular and desirable hosta (or plantain lily) has received an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).
Key features
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Perfect for pots
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Comes back every year
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Loved by pollinators
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Great for shade
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In peat-free compost
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Low maintenance
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RHS Award (AGM)
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Fully hardy
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Rodent resistant
Specs & details
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Botanical name
Hosta 'Forbidden Fruit'
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Flower colour
Purple
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Plant size
1
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Established height
50-70cm
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Established spread
50-70cm
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Plant spacing
5 plants per m2
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Leaf colour
Variegated, yellow, green
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Habit
Clump-forming
Spreading -
Life cycle
Perennial
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Hardiness
Fully hardy
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Years to establish
1-2 years
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Sunlight
Partial shade
Dappled shade -
Position
Sheltered
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Suitable for
Pots
Large containers
Borders
Ground cover
Cottage gardens
Low maintenance gardens -
Soil acidity
Any
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Soil moisture
Damp
Free draining -
Soil type
Loam
Clay
Loam-based compost
Multipurpose compost -
RHS Award (AGM)
Yes
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Growing skill
Easy to grow
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Scented
No
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Pollinator-friendly
No
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Mouse resistant
Yes
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Rabbit resistant
Yes
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Deer resistant
Yes
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Toxicity
No report
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- Planting
- Flowering
Useful information
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Soak your Hosta 'Forbidden Fruit' roots in water for 3-6 hours prior to planting.
Plant your "Plantain lily" bare roots into temporary pots with a multipurpose compost in spring and grow-on in a sheltered spot outdoors.
Choose a pot which comfortably fits the bare roots. Some have a noticeable crown which should be just below the soil surface with any top growth exposed.
Plant out into borders or permanent containers in late spring or early summer once in full growth. Choose a position in sun or shade depending on the variety.
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Orders placed before 1 March 2025
You can expect your order in Feb/March 2025Orders placed 1 March - 15 April 2025
You can expect your order in April 2025Orders placed 16 April - 15 May 2025
You can expect your order within 10 business days
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