Plant guide: hostas
A gorgeous foliage plant for shady conditions, the leaves of a happy hosta will brighten up a dark and damp corner of the garden.
Grown more for their broad leaves than their flowers, hostas have long been a popular plant with gardeners, and there is a huge range of varieties available of different colours and sizes, from the lime green leaved Hosta ‘Gold Standard’ to the tiny and almost deep blue Hosta ‘Blue Mouse Ears.’
Glorious though they are, hostas are well-known as a favourite feeding plant for slugs and snails, so we tend to recommend them for gardens that are relatively free of molluscs.
Botanical name: Hosta spp.
Plant type: Herbaceous perennial. Hostas die back over the winter months, going dormant below the soil ready to appear again in Spring.
(For more info on plant types, see our guide Plant types explained)
Hosta ‘Sieboldiana’ has stunning large leaves
Hostas are well-known for being irresistible to snails, making them best for gardens with few molluscs
Hosta fortunei ‘Francee’ is one of many hostas with white margins at the edges of the leaves
Growing conditions:
Hostas do well in shady conditions, with moist but well-drained soil. Most hostas prefer full shade, though some can cope with higher levels of sun – the bluer leaved varieties tend to do better with more light. They do well in containers (which can also be an easier way to prevent slug and snail damage) but don’t enjoy drying out, so make sure to keep pot-grown plants well watered.
If growing in very sandy or very clay-heavy soils, dig through plenty of well-rotted organic matter before planting to help improve water retention / drainage.
It’s worth noting that slugs and snails really, really love hostas! It is possible to try and use protection (such as copper rings, crushed eggshells or sharp gravel) but we have found that hostas growing in the ground in areas with lots of slugs and snails always tend to get eaten in the end! This is a plant that is probably best saved for areas without too many slugs and snails, or grown in pots with plenty of copper tape around the rim, and positioned somewhere that the leaves won’t arch into a wall, or the ground, which could provide an easy access path away from the copper… (Take a look at our guide to protecting plants from slugs and snails for more info.)
How to plant:
Hostas can be planted throughout the year, any time that the ground isn’t waterlogged or frozen. They are easy to find as container grown plants in nurseries and garden centres. To plant in the garden, dig a hole as deep as the pot and twice as wide. Gently squeeze the sides of the plastic pot to release, and place the plant into the hole, backfilling and firming in place. Water well. See our guide to planting out container grown plants for more detailed information.
Care:
Once established, hostas are a low-maintenance plant that don’t need much care. Water well for the first growing season, and subsequently in any especially dry spells. Hostas don’t like to dry out, so any in pots will need to be consistently checked and watered. The main care need of the plant is monitoring for any slugs and snails – it is almost impossible to find hostas without some slightly chewed leaves, but try to remove any chewers as soon as you find holes.
Hostas flower in the summer months, though are generally grown for their leaves rather than their flowers. Cut back flower spikes once the flowers have gone over, to prevent the plant putting energy into developing the seed head. See our guide to deadheading for more info.
Grow with:
Hostas are the perfect shady plant companion, and go well with ferns, which tend to enjoy similar conditions, and whose more frilly leaves pair extremely well with the broad leaves of a hosta.
The array of green leaf colours can act as the perfect to contrast to bright shade-loving flowers as well, such as astilbes or bleeding hearts (dicentra).
Uses:
Hosta leaves work really well in cut flower arrangements, and last a long time in the vase. The leaves are best used when they are in fresh growth, so typically around April to June. Cut the leaf close to the base, where it emerges from the soil, and plunge immediately into ice cold water to help it last as long as possible. Don’t cut more than a few leaves from each plant at any time, to make sure the main plant continues to grow well too.
Favourite varieties:
‘Mouse ears’ is a sweet, small, blue-leaved variety, that is supposed to be relatively resistant to slugs and snails.
Hosta ‘Sieboldiana’ (see above left) is a giant hosta growing to about 1m, with large, deep blue leaves, with thick veining.
Related articles:
Five favourite: shade loving plants
