Looking for the perfect perennial to brighten up a shady spot? You’re in luck, because there are many types of hostas for every garden. These leafy favorites are famous for their stunning foliage and easy-going nature, making them a top pick for gardeners of all skill levels.
With hundreds of cultivars available, you can find hostas in sizes from teacup tiny to sofa large. Their leaves come in blues, greens, golds, and whites, often in beautiful combinations. Let’s look at how to pick the best ones for your space.
Types Of Hostas – For Every Garden
This main category breaks down by size, which is the easiest way to plan your garden. Size helps you place them correctly so they don’t get lost or take over.
Miniature and Small Hostas
These little gems are perfect for the front of borders, rock gardens, or containers. They typically stay under 10 inches tall and spread slowly.
- ‘Blue Mouse Ears’: Known for its thick, rounded blue leaves that look just like, well, mouse ears! It’s incredibly cute and tough.
- ‘Pandora’s Box’: A tiny standout with white-centered leaves and a thin green edge. It adds a bright spot in deep shade.
- ‘Holy Mouse Ears’: A fun variegated sport of ‘Blue Mouse Ears’ with creamy edges. It’s slow growing but worth the wait.
Medium Hostas
This is the most common group, filling the middle of flower beds beautifully. They range from about 1 to 2 feet tall.
- ‘Patriot’: One of the most popular, with dark green leaves and crisp, irregular white margins. It’s a vigorous grower.
- ‘June’: A real show-off with blue-green edges and a gold center that seems to glow. Its color changes with the light.
- ‘Francee’: A classic. It has heart-shaped, deep green leaves with clean white edges. It’s reliable and looks good with everything.
Large and Giant Hostas
Use these as dramatic focal points. They can reach over 2 feet tall and spread several feet wide, making a big statement.
- ‘Sum and Substance’: A legendary giant with huge, chartreuse to gold leaves. It can handle more sun than most and gets massive.
- ‘Sagae’: A magnificent plant with blue-green, heart-shaped leaves that have creamy yellow margins. It forms a stunning, vase-shaped mound.
- ‘Empress Wu’: One of the largest, with deeply veined, dark green leaves. Give it plenty of room to reach its full, impressive potential.
Choosing by Leaf Color and Shape
Beyond size, hostas offer incredible variety in their apperance. You can create whole gardens based just on foliage.
Blue-Leaved Hostas
The blue color is actually a waxy coating on green leaves. They prefer shadier spots to protect their coating.
- ‘Halcyon’: A top-rated blue with heart-shaped, slug-resistant leaves. Its color holds well throughout the season.
- ‘Big Daddy’: Has huge, cupped blue leaves with a seersucker texture. The texture makes it really stand out.
Gold and Yellow-Leaved Hostas
These brighten up dark corners. They often can tolerate a bit more morning sun, which enhances their color.
- ‘Gold Standard’: A classic with gold centers and apple green edges. It’s a strong grower that lights up the shade.
- ‘Sun Power’: Features long, wavy, chartreuse-yellow leaves. It’s sun tolerant and has a graceful, arching habit.
Variegated Hostas
Leaves with multiple colors. Margin variegation has a colored edge, while center variegation (mediovariegata) has a light center.
- ‘Fire and Ice’: The reverse of ‘Patriot’, with pure white leaves and thin green edges. It’s incredibly bright.
- ‘Guacamole’: Large, fragrant flowers and leaves with a gold center and dark green edges. The name fits its colors perfectly.
How to Plant and Care for Your Hostas
Getting them off to a good start is simple. Follow these steps for healthy plants.
- Pick the Right Spot: Most hostas prefer dappled to full shade. Gold and yellow varieties can handle some morning sun. Avoid hot afternoon sun, which can scorch leaves.
- Prepare the Soil: They love rich, well-draining soil. Mix in plenty of compost or other organic matter when planting.
- Plant Properly: Dig a hole as deep as the root ball and twice as wide. Place the plant so the crown (where stems meet roots) is level with the soil surface. Fill in, water deeply, and add mulch.
- Water Wisely: Keep the soil consistently moist, especially in the first year. A deep watering once a week is better than frequent sprinkles.
- Feed Lightly: A balanced, slow-release fertilizer applied in early spring is usually enough. Too much can harm the roots.
Managing Common Pests
Hostas are easy, but they have a few admirers you might not want. Here’s how to deal with the main culprits.
- Slugs and Snails: They love tender hosta leaves. Use organic bait, traps with beer, or sprinkle diatomaceous earth around plants. Choosing slug-resistant varieties with thicker leaves (like many blue ones) helps alot.
- Deer: Unfortunately, deer think hostas are salad. The only sure protection is a tall fence. Some gardeners have luck with repellent sprays, but results vary.
- Voles: These rodents eat the roots and crowns. Surrounding the root ball with sharp gravel when planting can deter them.
Design Ideas Using Different Types of Hostas
Think beyond just planting a single hosta. They are fantastic design tools.
- Create Texture and Contrast: Pair large, bold ‘Sum and Substance’ with fine-textured ferns or the slender leaves of astilbe.
- Make a Hosta Pathway: Line a shady walkway with a repeating pattern of medium hostas, like ‘Francee’ or ‘Patriot’.
- Container Combos: Plant a small blue hosta, like ‘Blue Mouse Ears’, with trailing sweet potato vine and pink impatiens for a stunning pot.
- Foliage-Only Beds: For low maintenance, design a bed using only hostas, heucheras, and ferns. You’ll have constant color and interest without flowers.
FAQ About Hostas
What are the best hostas for deep shade?
Blue-leaved hostas (like ‘Halcyon’) and dark green varieties (like ‘Francee’) perform excellently in deep shade. They won’t fade as much as gold types.
Can hostas grow in full sun?
Some can tolerate more sun, especially if you keep them well-watered. Look for varieties with thicker leaves like ‘Sum and Substance’, ‘Guacamole’, or ‘Sun Power’. Morning sun is usually fine.
How do I divide my hostas?
The best time is early spring as leaves emerge or in early fall. Dig up the entire clump, wash off soil, and use a sharp knife to cut it into sections, each with at least 2-3 “eyes” or growing points. Replant immediately.
Why are the leaves on my hosta turning brown at the edges?
This is often caused by too much sun, not enough water, or too much fertilizer. It can also be a sign of scorching wind. Check your growing conditions and adjust accordingly.
Do hostas have flowers?
Yes! They send up lovely stalks of lily-like flowers in summer, usually in lavender, white, or purple. Some, like the ‘Royal Standard’ variety, are even fragrant. You can cut them off if you prefer just the foliage.
With so many types of hostas available, you can easily find the perfect plants to fit your garden’s style and conditions. Whether you choose a tiny blue variety for a pot or a giant gold one as a backdrop, these dependable perennials will bring beauty for years to come. Their versatility and low fuss nature make them a true garden treasure.