Hosta 'Monkey Business'
Hosta 'Monkey Business'
Hosta 'Monkey Business'
Hosta 'Monkey Business'
Hosta 'Monkey Business'

Hosta 'Monkey Business'

"Plantain lily"

Hosta 'Monkey Business'

1 bare root — £9.90

Spring planting season is currently closed 
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Delivery schedule

Orders placed until 29 February 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

Available for (pre)ordering again in December
Free delivery on UK orders over £50
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Shipping to the UK

UK orders over £50
Free shipping

UK orders under £50
£4.99

Northern Ireland orders under £50
£5.99

More info

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— Ship carbon neutral;
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Description

There are hostas, and then there are hostas! Choose the recently-introduced cultivar Hosta 'Monkey Business', and you will have a plantain lily that will turn heads. It is a fantastic new sport from the popular Hosta cultivar 'Funky Monkey' and, in our view, it is even better. It has long leaves with a bright apple green centre, and a dramatic, wide, creamy yellow margin. In full sun, the margins become almost white. The colour difference is among some of the most significant contrasts found in any Hosta. Not only this, but the leaves of Hosta 'Monkey Business' are held high on majestic, stiff, deep purple-red stems.  

The plant’s overall height is just 40-45cm, making it perfect for the front of a bed or border, or for use in a patio pot. With a long season of interest (don’t forget, that lavender-purple blooms appear in mid-summer, as well) and being a great eye-catcher, Hosta 'Monkey Business' is a must-have cultivar for any serious Hosta collector. As long as its soil does not dry out, it will grow into a gorgeous compact plant, and delight all who see it.  

Key features

  • Perfect for pots

  • Comes back every year

  • Loved by pollinators

  • Great for shade

  • In peat-free compost

  • Low maintenance

  • Fully hardy

  • Rodent resistant

Specs & details

  • Botanical name

    Hosta 'Monkey Business'

  • Plant size

    1

  • Established height

    30-50cm

  • Established spread

    30-50cm

  • Plant spacing

    5 plants per m2

  • Leaf colour

    Green, creamy yellow

  • Habit

    Clump-forming
    Upright

  • Life cycle

    Perennial

  • Hardiness

    Fully hardy

  • Years to establish

    1-2 years

  • Sunlight

    Partial shade
    Dappled shade
    Full shade

  • Position

    Sheltered

  • Suitable for

    Pots
    Large containers
    Borders
    Ground cover
    Cottage gardens
    Low maintenance gardens

  • Soil acidity

    Any

  • Soil moisture

    Damp
    Free draining

  • Soil type

    Loam
    Clay
    Loam-based compost
    Multipurpose compost

  • RHS Award (AGM)

    Yes

  • Growing skill

    Easy to grow

  • Scented

    No

  • Pollinator-friendly

    No

  • Mouse resistant

    Yes

  • Rabbit resistant

    Yes

  • Deer resistant

    Yes

  • Toxicity

    No report

Plant calendar

JanFebMarAprMayJuneJulyAugSepOctNovDec
  • Planting
  • Flowering

Useful information

    • Soak the Hosta 'Monkey Business' 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. Some varieties are a length of root which should be planted lengthways and shallowly (1-2cm deep).

    • 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.

    Read all planting & care instructions

  • Orders placed until 29 February 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

Perennials in 1 minute

The beauty of perennial plants doesn’t just lie in their long-lasting flowers and sturdy, resilient nature, but it’s their sheer determination to keep on coming back stronger every year —in year one they’re good, but in future years they’re even better!

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