Hostas are low maintenance garden plants. Although they are thought of as foliage plants, many have outstanding fragrant flowers, as well. A native plant of China and Japan, but often called plantain lilies, they are used in North American gardens.
Planting Hostas
The hosta is a mounding plant that sends up a flower stalk. Hostas grow best in zones 3 – 8 in morning sun, part or full shade. Except in colder regions, where cooler temperatures with moist soils are the norm, full sun exposure will result in yellow leaves or scorched leaf margins.
Hostas in southern gardens require more afternoon shade. They do not survive in the Deep South or in hot sun during an extended number of hot summer days.
Amend soil with organic matter before planting hostas. They prefer moist well-draining slightly acidic soil. When planting a hosta, dig the hole approximately one and one half times the anticipated diameter of the mature plant.
Caring for Hostas
Hostas are dependable low maintenance perennial plants but there are a few basic care tips worth knowing for growing hostas. If they are grown for their flowers, deadhead flower stalks after blooming to keep plants tidy. If hostas are in the garden strictly as foliage plants, debud them to encourage plants to fill out with leaves.
Weeds do not grow under mass plantings of hostas but they can have insect and disease issues. Among these are leaf spot, crown rot, chewing insects and slugs. Slugs are perhaps the most common and every gardener is sure to pass along their favorite remedy. Fall clean up is always a good garden practice and will remove hiding places for slugs in the process
Late spring frosts can damage early emerging plants, including hostas. While this looks unsightly, light frosts do not usually damage a hosta permanently. Northern gardeners are adept at listening for frost warnings and keeping plant coverings handy, just in case.
Hostas do not require digging and dividing often but when done, spring is the best time. After transplanting, water new plants in well.
Hosta Plant Combinations
Whether it is shaded rock gardens, around outer edges of ponds, container gardens, or specialty gardens like railroad displays and fairy gardens there is a hosta size, color and leaf shape for every gardener to choose.
Hostas are grown in butterfly, hummingbird and scented gardens. Combine hostas with maidenhair ferns and Solomon’s seal in a shade garden. Plants like grassy sedges, lungwort, Brunnera with tiny blue for-get-me-not flowers or Astilbe tolerate similar environments. Especially, the big leaved hosta specimens require fewer to cover a space and make a bold statement.
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