Hosta
Hosta
Hosta is grown for its foliage rather than flowers, giving the garden structure and color all season long.
Mature size, hardiness zones, sun and the trait tags were checked against named botanical sources for this plant. The bloom months and water need on this page were not.
Growing Hosta
Plant it in full shade. It prefers moderate water. It is hardy in USDA zones 3–9. Expect it to reach about 2 ft tall and 3 ft wide at maturity, in roughly 3 years.
When to plant Hosta
Plant Hosta in early spring as soon as the soil is workable, or in early fall at least six weeks before your first frost, so roots establish in cool weather. For the middle of its hardy zones 3 to 9 range, spring means March to May and fall means August or September.
Month-by-month timing for your zone is on the planting calendar: for the middle of its range, start with zone 6 in March.
Comes in 15 varieties
Same plant, same care - pick the variety you are growing.
Good to know about Hosta
Curated from university extensions, botanic gardens and other primary sources, with the source named on every note.
Safety
Toxic to dogs, cats and horses. All parts contain saponins; eating it causes vomiting, diarrhea and depression (lethargy). per ASPCA and NC State
Worth knowing
A blue hosta's color is a waxy bloom, not pigment. Strong sun melts it off and scorches the leaf, so give blue-leaved types the deepest shade. per NC State and University of Illinois
How Hosta Virus X spreads
Sources seem to disagree, but HVX has no insect vector: it moves by sap on tools and infected stock. Clean tools and buy healthy plants. per Wisconsin and Iowa State
Deer and rabbits love hostas
One of the most deer-preferred plants, not deer-resistant. Rutgers puts hosta in its worst browse category. Fence or repel from the first spring shoots. per Rutgers and NC State
Slugs are the top pest
Slugs and snails chew large, ragged holes and leave a shiny slime trail. They surge in wet, rainy spells. Water in the morning to fight them. per Wisconsin and Iowa State
Divide, never shear
A hosta is a foliage mound you divide, not a plant you shear. Lift and split the clump in early spring every 3 to 5 years. per NC State
Grown for its foliage
Hostas are grown for leaf color, not bloom. There are five color classes: green, blue, gold, and two variegated patterns (light center, or light margin). per NC State
What pairs well with Hosta
Good companions share its growing conditions and add something it lacks: an earlier or later bloom, a lower carpet in front, or structure through winter.
Rhododendron
Takes part shade to full shade and moderate water; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; taller at 5.9 ft, for the layer behind it.
Northern Sea Oats
Takes part shade to full shade and moderate water; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; taller at 3.3 ft, for the layer behind it.
Camellia
Takes part shade to full shade and moderate water; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; taller at 6.6 ft, for the layer behind it.
Christmas Fern
Shares full shade and moderate water; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
Hellebore
Takes part shade to full shade and moderate water; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
Bugleweed
Takes part shade to full shade and moderate water; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; lower at 6 in, for the front of the border; a vigorous spreader, so give it room or an edging.
Pachysandra
Shares full shade and moderate water; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; lower at 8 in, for the front of the border; a vigorous spreader, so give it room or an edging.
Autumn Fern
Takes part shade to full shade and moderate water; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
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