Hostas (or plantain lilies to some) are one of the most popular plants grown in home gardens throughout North America. Known for their pretty leaves, hardiness, and shade tolerance, they are regarded as the ideal plants for gardeners. Regardless if you aim to create a peaceful green landscape or just brighten up a shady garden corner, growing hostas can transform your outdoor space.
In this guide, we’ll explore why you should be growing hostas in your garden, and go over their care and maintenance.
What are Hostas?
Hostas are perennial plants that are native to China, Korea, and Japan, and known for their broad, textured looking leaves. They are in fact closely related to asparagus although obviously they don’t look like them; both are indeed from the family Asparagaceae. They have since become very popular and nowadays, most American gardens feature hostas.
Just think, with flamboyant names like Blue Angel, Niagara Falls, June, Rainforest Sunrise, Dancing Queen, and Guacamole (just to name a few), it’s clear there is a large, established community of hosta growers that have sprung up over the years who were the ones to have developed and named such cultivars.
Since hosta leaves come in an endless variety of colors, sizes, patterns, and shapes, they are prized for their leaves rather than their blooms. While some have deep green/blue/yellow hued leaves, others have variegated patterns and shades. Hostas grow as clumps and gradually spread out over time, so they are great for filling out empty spaces in your garden, besides adding more depth and visual interest to a particular spot.
Hostas are perfect for Shady Gardens
You may have areas in your garden that receive little sunlight, and which no plants will grow there. Fret not; hostas are perfect for such shaded spots. Underneath trees, underneath awnings, along fences, and beside walls that face north, all these are excellent places to grow hostas. Due to their high tolerance for shade, hostas can be grown indoors without much problem and are often grown as foundation plants around homes and in woodland-style landscapes.
Despite being so beautiful, hostas are generally hardy and easy to grow; even beginners find them easy. They also come back every year since they are perennials – during winter, hostas die back leaving their roots underground, but return back the next year.
The only drawback to growing hostas if there is one, is that they are poisonous to your pets, such as cats, dogs, and horses. Usually the toxic effects are not lethal, but still should be unpleasant to the animal. Hosta leaves contain saponins, which are toxic to their digestive systems; humans can consume hostas though.
If you want to grow hostas while keeping pets, you’ll need to find a way to prevent your pets from consuming them; growing the hostas in containers out of reach of your pets is the safest way, although generally speaking, most cats and dogs are not interested in munching on them.
How to Choose the Right Hosta
There are literally thousands of varieties of hosta today, so choosing the right one depends on your space and design goals for your garden. Some hostas only grow a few inches tall, which is great for borders and small spaces. Others grow over 3 feet tall and are good as garden focal points. You might want to visit some local garden centers to check out the hosta varieties available there.
Factors to consider when selecting hostas are:
- Size: Choose a type that fits comfortably in its space.
- Color: Choose plants with colors that complement other garden plants.
- Sun tolerance: Some hostas tolerate sunlight better than others
Soil for Growing Hostas
Hostas like rich soil that drains well without becoming soggy. They also like slightly acidic to neutral soil, although they do tolerate a wide range of soil conditions. Before planting, it helps to improve your soil by adding some natural compost. This provides nutrients while improving drainage, especially for heavy, clay-based soil. Good soil conditions promote healthy root and foliage growth in hostas.
How to Plant Hostas
The best time to plant hostas is during spring or early fall when the temps are milder. To plant hostas, below are some guidelines.
- Dig a hole about twice as wide as the root ball diameter.
- When placing the plant into the hole, ensure the crown sits level with the soil surface.
- Fill back the hole with soil and press down gently.
- Space the plants to avoid overcrowding, as hostas spread out over time.
- Water well after planting.
- Add mulch around the plants to retain moisture and impede weed growth.
Watering and Care
Hostas grow best when they receive regular watering. Deep watering spurs root growth and healthier plants, while mulch keeps the soil moist and cool. In hot climates, watering during the early morning reduces evaporation while keeping the leaves fresh throughout the day.
Fertilization
Some fertilization during the growing phase is beneficial to hostas. During spring, apply a balanced fertilizer to encourage leaf growth. Many gardeners add compost or organic fertilizers to maintain healthy soil. But avoid over-fertilization too, as it leads to weak growth and soft leaves.
Common Problems in Growing Hostas
While hardy, occasionally hostas can face some issues. A common problem is slugs that love munching on their leaves. Traps, barriers, and repellents are some of the ways gardeners use to combat slugs. We explain more about slugs and their control here.
Excess sun exposure is another common issue, which causes leaf burn. But the solution is simple. Moving the plant to a shadier spot solves the problem. Good air circulation and sound watering practices also help prevent fungal growth that can creep up from time to time.
Dividing and Propagating Hostas
One of the best things about growing hostas is how easily you can divide and then propagate them. Generally, they develop into large clumps after a few years; which you can then split up into smaller sections to plant elsewhere.
This dividing of hostas is best done in spring or early fall. Simply dig up the plant, separate the root clump into smaller parts, and replant them in a new spot of your choice.
Hostas in Landscaping
Hostas are such a favorite of many a landscape designer. They go well with many kinds of landscaping styles, such as woodland and shaded gardens, borders and pathways, foundation plantings, and container gardens. With their layered leaves, hostas complement many kinds of flowers/shrubs like astilbe, hydrangeas, dogwood, and ferns.
Seasonal Changes in Hostas
Did you know hostas change throughout the year? In this sense, they are highly variable, which adds interest to the garden. In early spring, hostas wake up from their winter dormancy and poke their small, curled leaves through the soil. Over time, they gradually unfold into full, lush foliage.
As summer rolls in, many hostas produce tall flower stalks with delicate lavender/white blooms that attract pollinators such as bees and hummingbirds. Once fall comes by, the leaves gradually fade as the plant prepares for winter dormancy. When winter comes, the foliage has all but gone, but the roots remain alive underground, ready to regrow the following spring.
Why Growing Hostas is a Garden Investment
So hostas are not only beautiful, but they are actually very long lasting. If properly looked after, some plants can live for decades, becoming larger and more impressive with each successive year. Because they come back every spring, hostas provide long term value to anyone who grows them.
Many gardeners find that hostas help create a sense of stability for their gardens, and the value they provide goes beyond mere aesthetics. Their lovely foliage, good shade tolerance, and low maintenance attributes combine to make them the top choice for many gardeners, beginner or expert alike.
