Growing Hostas In The Garden

Loyalist Hosta	Shady Places Hosta Mix	Frances Williams Hosta

Hostas are one of the toughest perennials there is, it can survive just about anywhere and comes in many sizes and colors and leave shapes. Perennial hosta plants have tall spikes with blooms in mid summer, and they are mainly planted for their great foilage.

Perennial hosta plants bear tall spikes of white or lavender flowers in mid summer, hostas are planted primarily for the season long show of their striking foilage. Few perennials are care free but perennial hostas come close, they never need dividing. Once established they shade the soil so thoroughly that they crowd out most weeds. Hostas are not fussy about soils and they even do well in filtered sun.

 Hosta leaves come in broad range of solid colors from blue gray to deep green to light green to gold. Blue often have a soft waxy bloom. Some green varieties have very shiny leaves. Others have a matte appearance . Variegation can be white cream, or yellow on the edges of the leaves, in the center or streaked throughout the leaf. The most common leaf shape is heart shape, but some have a narrow strap like shape. The largest hostas are three to four feet tall, and the smallest only eight to twelve inches.

Hostas are among the most adaptable perennials. They do well almost anywhere. Hostas need a period of cold weather, at which time they turn a pale yellow and then go dormant. Insufficient winter chill and dry air such as in western deserts are limiting factors.
 
Some hostas are native to woodlands and others grow in moist meadows where tall grasses provide some shade. In the garden, one third shade is ideal. If soil moisture is ample, most hostas can take direct sunlight especially in cooler climates.

Gold hostas must have full sunlight to show their full color, in shade they become chartreuse. Blue develop the best in full shade. When hostas get to much sun or not enough water the leaf edge becomes papery brown, more shade is beneficial.

The only major pest the hosta have are slugs, which thrive in the cool moist shady areas that hostas love. Controls include traps, and deterrents like a layer of crushed egg shells under the hostas leafs. Hostas unlike many perennials do not need regular dividing to keep them growing strong.

Hostas are great addition to any garden.