Hostas top many gardener's lists of shade-loving plants with their attractive leaves and summer flowers. They grow well in pots, are disease resistant and live for decades. Pair them with contrasting foliage plants such as ferns and heucheras to transform a gloomy corner of your garden into a lush, green retreat.
Hostas (plantain lilies) are primarily grown for their wonderful foliage, though they also produce pretty flowers in summer. There are many different varieties to choose from, with leaves in shades of green, blue, cream and acid yellow. Some of the variegated cultivars are particularly dramatic, with broad brushstrokes of colour that look as if they've been handpainted onto the leaves.
Hostas are herbaceous perennial plants. Although you may see "hosta bulbs" advertised, hostas do not grow from bulbs; you can buy them as bare-root plants or (more commonly) as container-grown plants. As long as you give them the right growing conditions, your hostas will come back year after year, adding colour, texture and structure to your garden.
Where to plant hostas
Hostas thrive when grown in moist soil in dappled, light or partial shade. While they're renowned for being shade tolerant, if hostas are planted in deep shade they will grow more slowly and may look leggy. Hosta 'Halcyon' is one of the best hostas for full shade, along with other blue hostas like Hosta 'Blue Angel' and 'Blue Mouse Ears'. Hostas with lighter leaves, such as Hosta 'Sum and Substance' and 'Guacamole' can tolerate more sun, but even these will struggle in very hot afternoon sun.
Hostas love fertile soil and aren't suitable for growing in very dry or chalky soils. The soil needs to be moist but not waterlogged. Many varieties grow well in pots, which can also be easier to defend against slugs and snails.
Small and medium-sized hostas are ideal for the front or middle section of borders, alongside astilbes, heucheras and ferns. Astrantias and wild garlic can be useful companions as they help deter slugs and snails. Giant hostas, like Hosta 'T-Rex', are useful to fill space in larger gardens, but they can also act as a statement plant in smaller spaces.
When to plant hostas
Spring and autumn are the best times of year to plant hostas. While you can plant hostas in summer, they will struggle to establish strong roots in hot, dry conditions. Avoid planting them in winter, when the plant is dormant and the ground may be frozen or waterlogged.
How to plant hostas
Hostas may start out small, but some can get very big. Check the mature spread of the hosta(s) you're planting and space them far enough apart that they have room to grow. If you want your hostas to overlap slightly or you think they're unlikely to grow to their full size (for example, if you're planting them in a very shaded bed), then you may want to plant them slightly closer together.
If necessary, dig in some organic matter to your planting area before you start to improve drainage. Dig a hole a little larger than the rootball of your hosta plant, then remove the plant from its pot and gently tease out some of the roots. Place your hosta in the hole and backfill the soil around it. Firm the soil gently and water it well.
When growing hostas in pots, choose a pot that's an appropriate size for the variety you're planting. Use a mix of peat-free multipurpose compost and peat-free compost with John Innes, and mix some slow-release fertiliser into the mix. Plant the hosta at the same depth as was in its growing pot, firm the compost and water it well.
How to care for hostas
For hostas to grow well, they need consistently moist soil. If they're planted in ideal conditions, you can just leave them to do their thing, but if your garden dries out during spring and summer, you will need to water new plants regularly. Hostas planted under large shrubs or trees may not get as much rainwater as they need during the summer months, due to the
Adding a thick layer of mulch after planting and refreshing this during the summer can help reduce watering needs and keep the soil moist. Hostas don't need regular feeding, but applying a slow-release fertiliser in spring can give them a boost for the growing season.
Hostas in containers need regular watering and feeding once a month with a liquid fertiliser. Make sure the water drains from the pot, so the compost doesn't get waterlogged.
Deadheading hosta flowers doesn't make the plant produce more blooms, but removing spent flowers means the plant will put its energy into growing roots and foliage rather than seeds.
Hostas are hardy in the UK, but they aren't evergreen plants. Their foliage dies back completely in autumn, and fresh growth emerges in spring.
When to divide hostas
Hostas form large clumps, which you can divide to create new plants. Even if you don't need more plants, it's best to divide plants every four or five years to keep them healthy. You can always give away any plants you don't need. Hostas in pots may need dividing more frequently if they start to outgrow their pots.
Dividing hostas is best done in early spring, when the first shoots emerge, or in autumn. Use a garden fork to lift the plant, and then cut the fibrous mass into two or more pieces, making sure each section has shoots and roots. Replant the divisions in the ground or in pots and water them well.
How to grow hostas from seed
You can grow hostas using seeds collected from your plants, but they won't resemble the parent plant. Most likely, the leaves will be plain green, even if the parent plant was a variegated cultivar.
If you want to try growing hostas from seed, collect your seeds in autumn and store them somewhere cool over winter. The simplest method is to just sow your seeds in small pots of compost in spring and pot on any seedlings that come up. To improve germination, you can start the seeds earlier, in February. Place them between two layers of damp paper towel, seal inside a plastic bag or tub, and leave them in a warm place for a couple of weeks.
When the seeds germinate, carefully move them into individual modules or a seed tray. Keep the compost moist and the seedlings in a light place. Once the seedlings have developed roots, you can transplant them into small pots and grow them on.
Common problems
As many gardeners have learned, slugs and snails can decimate hostas. Plants are most vulnerable in spring, when fresh shoots are emerging, but attacks on more mature plants can cause unsightly damage to the foliage. No hostas are slug-proof, but cultivars with thick, waxy leaves such as Hosta 'Halcyon' and Hosta 'Sum and Substance' are more resistant.
Follow these tips to protect your hostas from slug damage:
-
Keep your plants well watered: While it might be tempting to let the soil dry out to discourage slugs and snails, stressed plants are weaker and will struggle to recover from attacks.
-
Make your garden a haven for wildlife: Birds, frogs and hedgehogs all munch on slugs and can help keep the slug population under control.
-
Buy larger plants: More mature plants are less likely to be decimated, so if your budget allows, opt for a hosta in a three-liter pot rather than a small plant.
-
Grow hostas in pots: Hostas in containers are easier to keep safe from slugs. Wrap a thick layer of copper tape around the pot to discourage slugs from climbing up it.
-
Water plants in the morning: The soil will dry out during the day, discouraging slugs and snails from prowling at night.
-
Go on a slug patrol: When your hostas are particularly vulnerable, you may want to head out with a torch after dark and physically remove any slugs or snails you find. Relocate them to your compost heap or an area of sacrificial plants.
-
Nemaslug is a biological control that kills slugs but is unlikely to kill snails.
Hostas are disease resistant, but deer and rabbits also like to feed on them. If your hosta has scorched or brown leaves, this is most likely due to dry soil or too much sun.
Our favourite hosta varieties
Hosta 'T-Rex' is a giant of the Hosta family, with huge ribbed leaves that grow up to 30 centimetres long and wide. A good option for filling space in large woodland gardens or as a statement plant in smaller, tropical-style gardens. It can spread up to two metres, so give it plenty of space.
At the opposite end of the scale, Hosta 'Blue Mouse Ears' is a diminutive hosta with small, thick blue-green leaves. Plant it in shaded rockeries, pots or along the edge of garden paths.
Hosta 'Patriot' is a popular, variegated, medium-sized hosta. Its deep green leaves have irregular cream margins that light up shady borders, along with lavender-blue flowers in summer.
Hosta 'Great Expectations' has stunning patterned leaves that look like they were hand painted by an artist in shades of yellow and green. This large hosta is slow growing, but worth the wait.
Hosta 'Raspberry Sundae' is a beautiful variety with deep burgundy-red stems and green-edged leaves with white centres. It's a compact hosta, making it ideal for growing in pots or near the front of garden beds.
FAQ
Do hostas die back in winter?
Hostas are herbaceous perennials that are dormant in winter. The foliage dies back in autumn, and new growth emerges in spring. Plant hostas alongside evergreen shrubs, evergreen ferns and heucheras to make sure your beds aren't left bare during the winter.
Are hostas poisonous to dogs?
According to the ASPCA, hostas contain saponins, which are toxic to dogs and cats. If your pet experiences vomiting, diarrhoea or seems unlike themselves and you suspect they may have eaten part of your hosta plant, call your vet immediately for advice.
When should you split hostas?
Divide hostas in early spring or autumn. Lift the entire plant and use a sharp spade or knife to divide it in two. You can divide larger plants into multiple sections, as long as each division has shoots and roots. Replant the divisions immediately and water them well.
Do hostas flower?
Most gardeners grow hostas for their foliage, but hostas also produce spikes of flowers in summer. Hosta flowers are usually white, lavender or purple. Some varieties of hosta, including Hosta 'Guacamole', Hosta 'Fragrant Blue' and Hosta 'Royal Standard', have scented flowers.
Do hostas like shade?
Hostas prefer light or partial shade. Most will survive in deep shade, but plants may grow slower and produce fewer flowers.
