Hosta Hosta
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Hosta:
- Phonetic Spelling
- HOS-tah
- Description
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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. Use them mass planted 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.
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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- 'Blazing Saddles'
- 'Blue Mammoth'
- 'Blue Pillow'
Longitudinal rows of 'Pillow' like indentations in the leaves - 'Blue Regal'
- 'Bressingham Blue'
- 'Cathedral Windows'
- 'Cowlick'
- 'Empress Wu'
- 'Fire Island'
- 'Francee'
- 'Guacamole'
- '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'
miniature version (up to 1 foot)
broad leaved with blueish foliage - 'Blazing Saddles'
- '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:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Blazing Saddles'
- 'Blue Mammoth'
- 'Blue Pillow'
Longitudinal rows of 'Pillow' like indentations in the leaves - 'Blue Regal'
- 'Bressingham Blue'
- 'Cathedral Windows'
- 'Cowlick'
- 'Empress Wu'
- 'Fire Island'
- 'Francee'
- 'Guacamole'
- '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'
miniature version (up to 1 foot)
broad leaved with blueish foliage - 'Blazing Saddles'
- '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:
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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.
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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, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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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
