Hosta Hosta
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Hosta:
- Phonetic Spelling
- HOS-tah
- Description
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Hostas are herbaceous perennial plants in the Lily family. The family name was previously Agavaceae. They are native to Asia and grow to an average height of 1.5-2.5 feet tall. Their form is clumping or mount forming with short sometimes stoloniferous rhizomes. Plant Hostas in partial to full shade in soil rich in organic matter.
Most species of Hosta are grown for their large, striking foliage rather than their flowers. Blue leaved forms require shade, while green leaved types can take more sun. They blooming late summer to early fall with white to lilac tubular flowers. Divide Hostas in the early spring as leaves emerge from the ground.
Utilize them mass planted in perennial beds, under tall trees, pools, rock gardens, planters, edging, or naturalized areas. 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: Slugs and chewing insects are occasional pests. Leaf spot and rots are disease problems. These plants are frequently damaged (loved!) by deer
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:
- Wild Side- A Shady Garden Floating Garden Courtyard Garden Four-Season Garden Shaded Slope Juniper Level Botanic Gardens: Part Sun-Part Shade Gardens Garden "Bed" Wild Side- A Shady Garden Shaded Slope Four-Season Garden Garden Treasures Border Garden- Pathway Juniper Level Botanic Gardens: Front Shade Garden Cottage Style Foundation Planting Wild Side- A Shady Garden Border Garden- Pathway Juniper Level Botanic Gardens: Front Shade Garden Four-Season Garden Juniper Level Botanic Gardens: Part Sun-Part Shade Gardens Fire Hydrant Garden Shade Garden Asian Garden- Pathway Fairy Garden Birdbath Nook Collector’s Garden Path Garden Coastal Entryway Garden Border Garden- Pathway Juniper Level Botanic Gardens: Part Sun-Part Shade Gardens Shade Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Blue Mammoth'
- 'Bressingham Blue'
- 'Cathedral Windows'
- 'Cowlick'
- 'Empress Wu'
- 'Fire Island'
- 'Francee'
- 'Guacamole'
- 'Kiwi Full Monty'
- Marbled White
Variegated pinnate leaves w/ lengthwise ridges - "Patriot"
- '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'
miniature version (up to 1 foot)
broad leaved with blueish foliage - 'Blue Mammoth'
- 'Blue Mammoth', 'Blue Mouse Ears', 'Bressingham Blue', 'Cathedral Windows', 'Cowlick', 'Empress Wu', 'Fire Island', 'Francee', 'Guacamole', 'Halcyon', 'Kiwi Full Monty', Marbled White, "Patriot", 'Ripple Effect', 'School Mouse', Sun and Substance, 'Super Nova', 'Twist of Lime', 'Wrinkle in Time'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Blue Mammoth'
- 'Bressingham Blue'
- 'Cathedral Windows'
- 'Cowlick'
- 'Empress Wu'
- 'Fire Island'
- 'Francee'
- 'Guacamole'
- 'Kiwi Full Monty'
- Marbled White
Variegated pinnate leaves w/ lengthwise ridges - "Patriot"
- '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'
miniature version (up to 1 foot)
broad leaved with blueish foliage - 'Blue Mammoth'
- 'Blue Mammoth', 'Blue Mouse Ears', 'Bressingham Blue', 'Cathedral Windows', 'Cowlick', 'Empress Wu', 'Fire Island', 'Francee', 'Guacamole', 'Halcyon', 'Kiwi Full Monty', Marbled White, "Patriot", 'Ripple Effect', 'School Mouse', Sun and Substance, 'Super Nova', 'Twist of Lime', 'Wrinkle in Time'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Hosta
- Family:
- Liliaceae
- 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
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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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, 5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
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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.
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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.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Pond
- Landscape Theme:
- Rock Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heavy Shade
- Salt
