Facts about Hostas

• Hostas are attractive foliage plants that prosper in the shade from spring to the first frost.
• Hosta varieties vary in height from the Blue Angel at 4 feet to  Thumb Nail at 4 inches.
• Blue green and yellow leaved hosts all like water and the yellow & gold leaved varieties will stand more sunshine like Sun Power .
• Varied textures are available from smooth, crinkled, puckered and leathery all  to tempt you.
• Hostas do not seem to die of old age and require minimum maintenance.

Variagated Leaves

• There are many variations amongst different varieties with wide and narrow outer bands. it is hard to get a perfect match as light, temperature and growing conditions can influence the colour pattern.

• Juvenile leaves always look different not only smaller but less rounded and some leaf patterns take years to fully develop.
• Hosta sieboldii varieties have distinctive patterns like Haku-Chu-Han and Kabitan.
• Combine variagated Hostas with Arum italicum Pictum or other variagated leaved plants.

Hosta Flowers

• Hosta flower on long lasting Racemes like Hosta Blue Angel.
• Flowers may be white and scented like Fragrant Candelabra  or Fragrant Bouquet
• Some plants have pale blue  flowering spikes like the spreading Hosta ventricola Aureo-marginata
• Flowers are not the main reason for growing Hostas but provide another level of interest & valuable benefits.

Where to use Hostas

• In Japan hostas are grown as pot plants for both indor and our door use.
• They can be planted on the edge of a gravel path under the shade of a hedge.
• Small hostas can be used in the wet areas of a rock garden or rockery.
• A woodland setting is often best with key elements of shade and moisture being available.

• Good patterns can be found amongst the leaf arrangements and that is one reason the foliage is often used by florists.
• Other companion plants not mentioned above include Epimedium, Acorus, Astilibes, Berginia and Pulmonaria. Aim for plants that will add variety to the height and shapes.

• Protect Hostas from Slugs
• Hostas at Thompson and Morgan