Hosta Hosta
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Hosta:
- Phonetic Spelling
- HOS-tah
- Description
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Most species of Hosta are grown for their large, striking foliage rather than their flowers, but Hosta plantaginea has large, white very fragrant flowers in late summer. Blue leaved forms require shade, while green leaved types can take more sun. These plants are frequently damaged (loved!) by deer and are slightly salt tolerant. Hosta spp. loves rich soils.
Propagation: Division early in spring as leaves emerge
Family name previously Agavaceae
Quick ID Hints:
- Acaulescent herb with parallel-veined leaves
- Petioles sheathing, sulcate, subpeltate
- Inflorescence scapose raceme, leafy-bracteated
- Corollas tubular abruptly bell-shaped apically
Perennial herbs 1.5-2.5' tall, clumping and mound-forming; rhizomes short, sometimes stoloniferous.
Numerous cultivars representing hybrida and various species; selections vary with foliage size and color, blooming time, floral color and degree of fragrance.
Blooming late summer to early fall; utilized in beds, under tall trees, pools, rock gardens, planters, edging, massing, naturalized areas; susceptible to leaf spotting, rots, slugs and chewing insects.
Full to partial shade; high organic content to soil
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:
- Four-Season Garden Shaded Slope Wild Side- A Shady Garden Courtyard Garden Floating Garden Garden "Bed" Wild Side- A Shady Garden Shaded Slope Border Garden- Pathway Shaded Slope Garden Treasures Four-Season Garden Wild Side- A Shady Garden Cottage Style Foundation Planting Border Garden- Pathway Four-Season Garden Border Garden- Pathway Shade Garden Asian Garden- Pathway Fairy Garden Birdbath Nook Collector’s Garden Path Garden Coastal Entryway Garden Shade Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Blue Mammoth'
- 'Bressingham Blue'
- 'Cowlick'
- 'Empress Wu'
- 'Fire Island'
- 'Francee'
- 'Guacamole'
- 'Kiwi Full Monty'
- "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'
miniature version (up to 1 foot)
broad leaved with blueish foliage - 'Blue Mammoth'
- 'Blue Mammoth', 'Blue Mouse Ears', 'Bressingham Blue', 'Cowlick', 'Empress Wu', 'Fire Island', 'Francee', 'Guacamole', 'Halcyon', 'Kiwi Full Monty', "Patriot", 'Ripple Effect', 'School Mouse', Sun and Substance, 'Super Nova', 'Twist of Lime'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Blue Mammoth'
- 'Bressingham Blue'
- 'Cowlick'
- 'Empress Wu'
- 'Fire Island'
- 'Francee'
- 'Guacamole'
- 'Kiwi Full Monty'
- "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'
miniature version (up to 1 foot)
broad leaved with blueish foliage - 'Blue Mammoth'
- 'Blue Mammoth', 'Blue Mouse Ears', 'Bressingham Blue', 'Cowlick', 'Empress Wu', 'Fire Island', 'Francee', 'Guacamole', 'Halcyon', 'Kiwi Full Monty', "Patriot", 'Ripple Effect', 'School Mouse', Sun and Substance, 'Super Nova', 'Twist of Lime'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Hosta
- Family:
- Liliaceae
- 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:
- Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- 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
- 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 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 Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Hosta 'Ripple Effect' has wavy leaves that are a lighter green in the middle with a darker green outlining the leaves. 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 Theme:
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heavy Shade
- Salt
