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Hosta

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
HOS-tah
Description

Hostas are herbaceous perennials in the Asparagaceae (asparagus) family, with a clumping habit and many cultivars and varieties. They are native to Asia and grow 1.5 to 2.5 feet tall. The genus name honors Nicolaus Thomas Host, a 19th century Austrian physician and botanist. 

Plant hostas in partial to deep shade and in moist soil rich in organic matter. Blue-leaved forms require deep shade, while green-leaved types will accept partial shade. Divide hostas in the early spring as leaves emerge from the ground.  

Most species of hosta are grown for their large, striking foliage rather than their flowers. Plant them in mass in perennial beds or naturalized areas, as a border or edging, or in pond, rock, or shade gardens. They are slightly salt tolerant.

Quick ID Hints:

  • Acaulescent herb with parallel-veined leaves
  • Petioles sheathing, sulcate, subpeltate
  • Inflorescence scapose raceme, leafy-bracteated
  • Corollas tubular abruptly bell-shaped apically

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Monitor for snails, slugs, and nematodes among the leaves. Deer enjoy the foliage. Leaf spot and crown rot rarely occur. Plants may become infected with the Hosta Virus X, tobacco rattle virus, or tomato ringspot virus. If any of these are detected, the plant should be removed and destroyed. Voles may destroy the plant by eating the roots. Hail storms may damage exposed leaves.

Additional Hosta Images at Juniper Level Botanic Garden including Hosta Blue Mouse Ears Sports

 

VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens. 

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscapes:
Collector’s Garden Fire Hydrant Garden Floating Garden Courtyard Garden Shade Garden Shaded Slope Birdbath Nook Border Garden- Pathway Asian Garden- Pathway Juniper Level Botanic Gardens: Front Shade Garden Coastal Entryway Garden Juniper Level Botanic Gardens: Part Sun-Part Shade Gardens Path Garden Four-Season Garden Cottage Style Foundation Planting Fairy Garden Shady Garden in Cabarrus County
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Blazing Saddles'
  • 'Blue Mammoth'
  • 'Blue Mouse Ears' Hosta 'Blue Mouse Ears'
    miniature version (up to 1 foot)
  • 'Blue Pillow'
    Longitudinal rows of 'Pillow' like indentations in the leaves
  • 'Blue Regal'
  • 'Bressingham Blue'
  • 'Cathedral Windows'
  • 'Cowlick'
  • 'Empress Wu'
  • 'Fire Island'
  • 'Francee'
  • 'Guacamole'
  • 'Halcyon' Form
    broad leaved with blueish foliage
  • 'Kiwi Full Monty'
  • 'Marbled White'
    Variegated pinnate leaves w/ lengthwise ridges
  • "Patriot"
  • 'Red Dragon'
    Reddish stems
  • 'Ripple Effect'
    wavy leaves
  • 'School Mouse'
  • 'Sun and Substance'
    Thick-textured, glossy heart shaped yellow leaves. Large size up to 60” wide. Fragrant white flowers
  • 'Super Nova'
  • 'Twist of Lime'
  • 'Wrinkle in Time'
'Blazing Saddles', 'Blue Mammoth', 'Blue Mouse Ears', 'Blue Pillow', 'Blue Regal', 'Bressingham Blue', 'Cathedral Windows', 'Cowlick', 'Empress Wu', 'Fire Island', 'Francee', 'Guacamole', 'Halcyon', 'Kiwi Full Monty', 'Marbled White', "Patriot", 'Red Dragon', 'Ripple Effect', 'School Mouse', 'Sun and Substance', 'Super Nova', 'Twist of Lime', 'Wrinkle in Time'
Tags:
#deciduous#fragrant flowers#lilac#white flowers#purple flowers#salt tolerant#shade garden#low maintenance#apvg#mass planting#lilac flowers#ncemgva2018#cpp#edging#summer flowers#deer browsing plant#rock garden#border planting#fantz#partial shade tolerant#HS302#apvg-p#heavy shade tolerant#perennial#vole damage#landscape plant sleuths course
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Blazing Saddles'
  • 'Blue Mammoth'
  • 'Blue Mouse Ears' Hosta 'Blue Mouse Ears'
    miniature version (up to 1 foot)
  • 'Blue Pillow'
    Longitudinal rows of 'Pillow' like indentations in the leaves
  • 'Blue Regal'
  • 'Bressingham Blue'
  • 'Cathedral Windows'
  • 'Cowlick'
  • 'Empress Wu'
  • 'Fire Island'
  • 'Francee'
  • 'Guacamole'
  • 'Halcyon' Form
    broad leaved with blueish foliage
  • 'Kiwi Full Monty'
  • 'Marbled White'
    Variegated pinnate leaves w/ lengthwise ridges
  • "Patriot"
  • 'Red Dragon'
    Reddish stems
  • 'Ripple Effect'
    wavy leaves
  • 'School Mouse'
  • 'Sun and Substance'
    Thick-textured, glossy heart shaped yellow leaves. Large size up to 60” wide. Fragrant white flowers
  • 'Super Nova'
  • 'Twist of Lime'
  • 'Wrinkle in Time'
'Blazing Saddles', 'Blue Mammoth', 'Blue Mouse Ears', 'Blue Pillow', 'Blue Regal', 'Bressingham Blue', 'Cathedral Windows', 'Cowlick', 'Empress Wu', 'Fire Island', 'Francee', 'Guacamole', 'Halcyon', 'Kiwi Full Monty', 'Marbled White', "Patriot", 'Red Dragon', 'Ripple Effect', 'School Mouse', 'Sun and Substance', 'Super Nova', 'Twist of Lime', 'Wrinkle in Time'
Tags:
#deciduous#fragrant flowers#lilac#white flowers#purple flowers#salt tolerant#shade garden#low maintenance#apvg#mass planting#lilac flowers#ncemgva2018#cpp#edging#summer flowers#deer browsing plant#rock garden#border planting#fantz#partial shade tolerant#HS302#apvg-p#heavy shade tolerant#perennial#vole damage#landscape plant sleuths course
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Hosta
    Family:
    Asparagaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Japan, China, hybrid origin
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    shade, slightly salt tolerant
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Perennial
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Coarse
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    3 feet-6 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Purple/Lavender
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Raceme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Description:
    Flowers are white or lilac. A scapose raceme bearing large leafy bracts and small bracts; leafy bracts often drying and persisting; inflorescence axis erect to spreading. Salverform-campanulate to funnelform; perianth tube narrow, abruptly flaring into a bell-shaped with 6 free lobes, white to anthocyanin pigmented.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Blue
    Cream/Tan
    Green
    Variegated
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Rosulate
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Oblong
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Large, in a basal rosette, sheathing, fleshy, ovate to elliptic to oblong, acute, attenuate, entire, parallel-veined, green to variegated to reddish-purple; petiole elongate, sulcate, sheathing.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Pond
    Landscape Theme:
    Rock Garden
    Shade Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Heavy Shade
    Salt