Perennial Profile: Hostas

Striptease

Nothing beats hostas for shade gardens. Coming in sizes from 6 inches to 4 feet, and every size in between, there is a hosta for every size and shape of shade garden. In addition, hostas come in a huge variety of leaf color, pattern, size and shape. In fact, it is estimated that there is over 3,000 varieties of hosta! How's that for variety?

While the number of varieties is overwhelming, hostas can be generally divided by color. Hostas are green, blue, yellow or varigated (which can be any combination of green, blue, yellow or white). 

Hostas are very easy to grow and will do well in full shade to part shade with some of the newer varieties (such as Sum and Substance) doing well in part sun. These plants are fairly drought tolerant and will thrive with very little attention. Plants can be divided at any time in the season, except on the very hottest days.

When planting hostas, choose a variety of colors, sizes and leaf shape. Strive to not have the same varieties planted next to each other for most interesting planting. Hostas also look great with other woodland shade plants such as ferns, astilbe, goat's beard (aruncus), and bleeding heart. 

Some notable varieties include:

Red October

Loyalist: A variegated hosta with green margins and pure white centers. This is a medium-sized hosta that gets 18 inches high and 24 inches wide. 

Red October: A smaller hosta at 10 inches high and 20 inches wide, the most notable feature of this plant is it's red stems that stretch into the bottom of the leaves. The narrow leaves are blue green with white undersides. 

Great Expectations

Great Expectations: This is a slower growing hosta but worth the wait. A variegated hosta, Great Expectations has blue-green margins on large oval puckered leaves. The center color changes from chartreuse to yellow to white throughout the season. It gets 20 inches high to 40 inches wide. 

Sum and Substance: A very large hosta with 16 inch oval leaves, this plant grows to 3 feet high and up to 6 feet wide. A stunning specimen in the garden, Sum and Substance has much better sun tolerance than many hostas. The foliage is a sunny chartreuse, perfect for brightening shade gardens. 

Striptease: An interesting variegated hosta with dark green margins on pointy, oval leaves and light green centers with white outlining. A medium sized plant that grows 20 inches high to 36 inches wide. 

With so many colors, shapes and sizes to choose from there is a hosta perfect for every garden. Choose several of your favorite varieties to plant together for a lush and stunning shade garden.