The beautiful leaf ornamental perennial convinces with simple elegance. Here you can find out everything - from planting to caring for hostas.
Not all places in the garden are spoiled by the sun. In contrast to many other plants, the hosta (Hosta) feels very comfortable in the shade. It is therefore ideal for greening shady or damp locations in the garden. With its impressive foliage, it turns otherwise neglected areas in the garden into real gems. So that you too can grow hostas successfully, we have summarized everything you need to know about the popular decorative leaf perennial in this article. Here you can find out where hostas come from, which varieties there are, what you should look out for when buying, how to plant and care for them and how you can propagate hostas yourself.
Hostas: origin and characteristics
Hostas belonged to the subfamily Agave (Agavoideae) and to the Asparagus family (Asparagaceae). All hosta species are summarized under the collective term Hosta. Another name for the beautiful plant is sweetheart lily.
Whether in the shade bed or in the Japanese garden: a hosta should never be missing there. Their large variety of varieties invites collectors to try out new varieties in the garden. And the hardy Hosta not only cuts a fine figure in garden beds, but also in pots. So it's no wonder that the Funkie was voted Perennial of the Year by the Association of German Perennial Gardeners in 2009.
Originally hostas come mostly from Japan. In their homeland, they feel particularly at home in shady and damp mountain forests. Because of their lush leaves and beautiful leaf markings, they have been used as ornamental plants in Japan for centuries. Other hosta species are also native to China, Russia or Korea.
The hosta is a perennial, herbaceous plant that forms thick, branched rootstocks (rhizomes) or sometimes runners. The plants are available in very different sizes, from dwarf hostas to gianthosts Depending on the species, leaves of different sizes, which can be heart-shaped, spatulate or lanceolate, grow on long petioles. Leaf color also depends on the species and cultivar and can be gray-green, blue-green, light green, green-yellow or even white with or without markings. Racemes inflorescences sit on the leafy to bare stems. The flowers are usually tubular or bell-shaped and can appear white, violet, or lilac. These develop into capsule fruits containing many black, winged seeds.
Hostia species and varieties
There are an estimated 45 hosta species and over 4000 varieties worldwide. Our special article gives you an overview of the different types and interesting variety suggestions. We present some particularly popular hosta varieties here.
- 'Abby': This variety has blue-green leaves with a narrow yellow-green margin and is ideal for pot growing.
- ‘Aurea‘: This species of white-edged hosta is also called gold hosta because its leaves are a brilliant golden yellow.
- 'Doubled Up': This variety is one of the lily hostas, which are famous for their fragrant flowers. The large, heavily scented white flowers of this variety bloom from mid-July to August.
- 'Elegans': This popular hosta variety grows up to 70 cm high and up to 100 cm wide. The leaves are solid green. The flower color is purple.
- 'Empress Wu': The impressive thing about this giant hosta variety is its sheer size: it can grow up to 1.5 m in height, and the dark green ones Leaves grow up to 60 cm long.
- 'Feather Boa': The leaves of this Blue Leaf Hosta are light green to yellow with a narrow white leaf margin. It blooms in delicate lilac.
- 'Great Expectations': The leaves of this variety are bicolored with a green border and a lighter center.
- 'June': The leaves of this variety are elongated and heart-shaped. They are creamy yellow in color with a green border. The center of the leaf is golden yellow and suffused with blue in spring. This variety also has pale purple flowers. Due to its small stature, it is also well suited for cultivation in pots.
- 'Mediovariegata': The distinctive feature of this snow feather hosta is the bicolored, green and white striped leaves that are wavy and twisted.
- 'Remember Me': The leaves of this Grey-Blue Hosta are creamy white and become the leaf margintowards light green and grey-green. It's blooming purple.
You can read an overview of the most well-known hosta species and many suggested varieties in our special article on the subject.
Expert tip: Hostas are popular plants and are therefore easy to find in specialist shops such as nurseries or garden centers, but also in hardware stores. There is an almost endless selection of hosta species and varieties on the Internet. In this special article on the subject, you can find out what you should look out for when buying hostas.
Planting Hostas
Planting hostas is actually very easy if you follow a few simple rules. Let's start with the best time to plant: Hostas can generally be planted throughout the growing season as long as there is no frost. In extreme drought and heat, you should refrain from planting. Planting in spring is ideal so that the hosta can develop early and is prepared for the hot summer. Wait until no more frosts are to be expected, i.e. after the ice saints in mid-May.
When is the right time to plant hostas?
- Possible from May to October
- It is ideal in May after the last frost
Planting hostas naturally also includes the right location and the right procedure when planting. In the next sections we will turn you into a hosta planting expert.
The perfect location for planting hostas
Plantains are considered shade plants, but that doesn't always have to be the case. Because the different species and varieties have very different demands on the location, especially on the lighting conditions. Therefore, when buying, pay close attention to the variety you choose and consider beforehand where in your garden you want to put your new hosta. So you can select a Hosta that suits your situation.
In general, most hostas feel better in partial shade and shade than in full sun. The darker and more delicate the leaves, the more shady the location should be. Conversely, this means that hostas with thick and firm leaves that are light green or yellowish tolerate direct sunlight better. In terms of soil conditions, the different varieties are more similar. Fresh, well-drained soil is ideal for hostas. If they are also rich in nutrients and humus andare not prone to waterlogging, your hosta will feel right at home in her new home.
Where should hostas be planted?
- Location depends heavily on the species and variety
- Generally prefer shade or partial shade to full sun
- The thicker, firmer and more yellowish the leaves, the more sun the hosta tolerates
- Nutrient-rich and humus-rich soil
- Permeable and fresh soil
- No waterlogging
Tip: The bed creates a beautiful picture when hostas are planted together with ferns or other ornamental leaf perennials. Hostas also come into their own next to rhododendrons or other hardy shrubs.
How to plant hostas
Planting your Hosta shouldn't pose too much of a problem. First, prepare the planting site by loosening the soil well. In the case of compact, poorly draining soil, working in gravel can help loosen the soil further. Add compost or a slow-release organic fertilizer to the soil to provide nutrients and support soil life. Our Plantura organic flower fertilizer with organic long-term effect creates the best starting conditions for your hosta and is also sustainable and resource-saving.
Once all preparations have been made, a planting hole is dug into which the hosta is placed. The plant should not be deeper in the hole than it was in the pot before. Then fill the planting hole with the excavation and water the hosta well. If several hostas are placed next to each other or near other plants, you should keep a planting distance of at least 50 centimeters and keep in mind that some hosta varieties can grow very large and sprawling.
Planting hostas: step-by-step instructions
- Loosen the soil well
- Incorporate some gravel if necessary
- Fedish the soil with compost or a slow acting organic fertilizer
- Dig planting hole
- Put Funkie in the middle of the hole
- Put only as deep in the ground as the plant was in the pot
- Fill hole with excavation
- Cast on
- Planting distance: 50 - 70 cm
Tip: Spread a thin layer of bark mulch or clippings around the hosta immediately after planting. This keeps the moisture in the soil and suppresses weeds.
Funkias can also grow very well in tubs and beautify the balcony, front yard or patio. Choose a sufficiently large planter and create a drainage layer of expanded clay or potsherds. Potting soil is simply suitable as a substrate, which you can enrich with compost or a fertilizer with an organic long-term effect. We also recommend our Plantura organic flower fertilizer for hostas cultivated in pots. Fill the pot one third full with the substrate and place the hosta in the middle of the pot. Then the pot is filled with substrate and the plant watered.
Planting hostas in pots at a glance:
- Choose the right planter
- Create drainage layer
- Enrich substrate with compost or a long-acting organic fertilizer
- Fill a third of the planter with substrate
- Insert radio in the middle
- Fill the pot with substrate
- Cast on
Maintain hostas
Once your hostas have been planted, most of the work is done and you can sit back in the garden chair and watch your hostas grow. Hostas live for many years and develop into large and magnificent plants if left to grow alone. Just make sure you have the right amount of water and fertilizer and your Hosta will practically grow by itself.
Water hostas
Since it is native to the humid mountain forests of Japan, the hosta likes it to be sufficiently wet. This is especially important for potted plants. However, you have to avoid waterlogging as well as prolonged drought. Make sure your potted plant is sufficiently moist by watering it regularly. Especially on hot days, you may even have to water in the morning and evening. Due to their large leaf mass, hostas constantly consume a lot of water. Young hostas in the garden are also dependent on regular watering. Only when the plants are older do the roots reach into deeper soil layers and watering is only necessary on particularly hot and dry days in summer.
How are hostas watered?
- Prolonged drought and waterlogging must be avoided
- Better wet than too dry
- Water potted plants regularly
- Older hostas in the garden only need to be watered on particularly hot days
Fertilize Hostas
Hostias do not require excessive amounts of nutrients. Once a year you shouldstill deal with the fertilization of your ornamental leaf perennial. In the first year it is sufficient if a basic fertilization is carried out when planting. In every subsequent year, your Hosta will look forward to a primarily organic fertilizer in the spring. This has the advantage that the nutrients are not directly available to plants, but must first be converted by microorganisms and made available to plants. This means that nutrients are not washed out into the groundwater and the plant is provided with all valuable nutrients evenly over the long term. Our Plantura organic flower fertilizer with organic long-term effect is ideally suited. Alternatively, a portion of compost is also suitable.
The correct way to fertilize hostas:
- Basic fertilization when planting
- Fertilize once a year in spring afterwards
- Organic fertilizers such as compost or a fertilizer with an organic long-term effect are best suited
- Our Plantura organic flower fertilizer is the best choice for your Funkie
Propagating Hostas
The best way to propagate hostas is by division. The process is simple, but not always successful. The ideal time for propagation is on frost-free days in spring. The hosta that you want to share is carefully dug up with a digging fork. Gently tap off the soil from the rootstock. Now divide the root ball in half with a spade. Both parts can now be replanted in a suitable location. In the next few weeks you should water the propagated hostas regularly so that they can grow well.
Summary: Propagating hostas by division
- In spring before budding
- Dig up the root ball and remove the soil
- Dividing a bale with a spade
- Replant sections in a suitable location
- Water regularly
Are hostas poisonous?
Even if the rumor persists that hostas are poisonous, we can reassure you: No part of the hostas is poisonous, neither for humans nor for animals. The family to which hostas belong provides us with information about this: the asparagus family. Even if this practice has not yet caught on with us: In Japan, the leaf buds of hostas are eaten and prepared in a variety of ways. The Japanese hosta buds can be candied, fried, pickled in vinegar and oil or steamed as a vegetabletaste good. And who knows? Perhaps you will see your Hosta with different eyes now and taste the delicious buds of your Hosta even in early summer?