Hostas
Photo by Phillip Oliver
Hostas are one of the major stars of the shade garden with their bold foliage and striking leaf patterns. Native to eastern Asia, they offer a wide range of leaf shapes (heart-shaped, lanced, oval, round, etc.) and colors (lime to dark green as well as blue and variegated). They also come in a variety of sizes, from just a few inches to giant ones with 5-6 ft. spreads. Stalks with white or lavender flowers appear in summer.
Although shade lovers, hostas can tolerate a bit of sun. Hostas with white and yellow leaves are the most sensitive and should be situated where they receive some shade, especially from the afternoon sun. The varieties with dark green leaves can take more sun.
Hostas are easy to grow in organically rich soil. Ammend your planting hole well with compost or other organic matter and add a handful of alfafa or cottonseed meal. Mulch after planting and water regularly (at least one good watering per week). You can also fertilize once per month with a general, all-purpose liquid fertilizer.
Hostas will go dormant in the winter but you can be assured that they will reappear next Spring. They will multiply and are easily divided. The best time to do this is in early Spring.
Check out the current display of hostas in the greenhouse at Yard N’ Garden Land.
Some of the varieties we currently have available are:
- Autumn Frost
- Christmas Candy
- Fireworks
- First Frost
- Frances Williams
- Island Breeze
- Patriot
- Prairie Moon
- Praying Hands
- Rainforest Sunrise
- Shadowland Waterslide
- Sum & Substance
- Twilight
- Wide Brim
We also have a variety of miniature hostas. These little beauties are great for containers, rock gardens, path edgings, etc. Some varieties include:
- Corkscrew
- Hush Puppies
- Lemon Drop
- Mighty Mouse
- Mouse Ears
- Munchkin Fire
- Slim & Trim
- Woodland Elf
‘Autumn Frost’ (Image courtesy Proven Winners)
‘Shadowland Waterslide’ (Photo courtesy Proven Winners)
‘Rainforest Sunrise’
