With the large selection of hosta varieties, you are spoiled for choice. Find out here what else you should look out for when buying hostas.
Hostas (Hosta) are among the most popular ornamental plants when it comes to foliage in the garden. The deciduous perennial plants with their colorful foliage are particularly popular for planting in shady or damp places. But they also thrive in pots or tubs. There is now an unbelievable variety of varieties and breeds of hostas. If you've been thinking about growing one or more Hosta plants for a long time, but don't quite know how to do it, then you've come to the right place.
Buy hostas: You should pay attention to this
The range of hostas offered is huge. In order to find the Hosta that is perfect for you, you should pay attention to two main points: the choice of variety and the quality of the plant. We will now tell you exactly how to do this.
Choose the right Hosta variety
There are over 4000 varieties worldwide. You quickly lose track of things. And accordingly, you should be clear beforehand about what you actually want. The following criteria can help to select the right hosta variety for you:
The choice of variety determines the size of the plant. This can range from dwarf hostas that are just ten centimeters tall to giant hostas that grow to around 100 centimeters in height. The leaf colors also vary greatly depending on the variety. From single-colored to striped to spotted, hostas have everything. The flower colors also depend on the variety and can be white, lilac, violet or blue. When the hostas bloom also depends on the variety, and the time can be between June and September. You can also select the variety according to whether the hosta should smell particularly nice or in which form it grows. Finally, you should consider where in your garden you want the plantwant to set. Because some varieties like it shady, others sunny, some prefer moist soil, while others do well with dry conditions.
You can find out more about the different hosta species in this article.
Criteria for variety selection:
- Size
- Leaf Colors
- Blossom Colors
- Blooming time
- Fragrance
- Growth form (compact, high… )
- Light conditions (shady, sunny… )
- Soil conditions (moist, dry… )
Only buy he althy hostas
Hostias are prized for their longevity. So the plant you choose will accompany you in the garden for a long time. It is all the more important to make sure that you only buy he althy and high-quality hostas.
The basic requirement for a trustworthy source of supply is that the plants are fully labeled. This includes the type and variety designation as well as the appropriate location, the expected growth size and appropriate care instructions. This is the only way to know which of the more than 4,000 hosta varieties you are dealing with.
The plant of your choice should also be free of diseases and pests. The hosta's biggest enemy is the snail - so make sure when you buy it that the leaves and shoots are free of any signs of damage. Sometimes hostas can also be afflicted by fungal and viral diseases. You can recognize these by the fact that the leaves change color or deform and the plant generally grows stuntedly, so you will not enjoy such plants. A he althy root system is also important for a good start for the hosta in your garden. To check, feel free to remove the plant from the pot and examine the roots for rot smell and damage.
How do I recognize a he althy and high-quality hosta?
- Labeling (variety, location, size) and care instructions are available
- No damage to the shoots
- No gnawed leaves
- No pests
- No signs of disease
- Good rooting
- No smell of rot
Recommended sources for buying hostas
Funkias have long been a classic among perennials and are therefore easy to find. You will surely find what you are looking for in (perennial) nurseries, garden centers and hardware stores. Even bigger isthe selection of different types and varieties but on the Internet. Some dealers there have specialized exclusively in the sale of hostas and offer an almost endless selection of perennials for delivery. We have put together some recommended sources for Hosta plants for you:
Hostaparadise: In the online shop of this nursery you can only buy hostas. You will find Hosta classics as well as special rarities here, some of them from our own breeding.
Perennial Garden Gaißmayer: Perennials, herbs, ferns, seeds and flower bulbs are sold in the online shop. The offer also includes a very large selection of hostas.
Planwerk: The specialized Hosta nursery at Lake Chiemsee currently has a total of 700 different Hosta varieties in cultivation.
Perennial nursery Countess von Zeppelin: The perennial nursery near Freiburg im Breisgau has existed since 1926. The range includes numerous roses, lilies and of course many different hostas.
Euro Hosta: This nursery offers about 1000 different hostas. To make the search easier, the countless hostas on offer can be filtered using search criteria such as size, color or scent. Would you like to learn more about the different types and varieties of hosta? Then read on here.