Host a Hosta!

Hostas are becoming really trendy again as funky foliage plants, and I am delighted as Hostas have always been one of my favourites. With their unique, heart shaped and pleated or grooved foliage and the variety of colours, some variegated, it is an invaluable landscaping plant.

In addition to their unparalleled aesthetic appeal, they are also very strong growers and if given the right treatment will make a great statement throughout the summer and even into autumn. This makes them a fine choice for adding to the garden design in a wide variety of locations. Originally from Japan, Korea and China, they have been hybridised to produce new improved varieties displaying better substance, colour and even fragrance.

Because the foliage is so fantastic, we often tend to forget that the flowers spikes, which are mostly fragrant and range from pure white to pink,  light mauve, lavender, blue and dark purple are truly gorgeous. They stand proud of the leaves and add a stunning statement to the foliage. In some varieties, the fragrance is most noticeable in the evening, so venture outside at dusk and take a sniff.

In larger gardens underplant shade trees en masse with the blue types or if you want them to make a brighter statement, use the lighter varieties such as the white-edged or creamy ones. They make excellent feature plants - mixed into a shady shrubbery, do well as borders, and are an outstanding statement in containers. When they die back in the winter you can plant some colourful pansies in the containers until they reappear.

Be aware that Hostas are not invincible. Although they are pretty resistant to most diseases and are really not very fussy once they are happily located, care must be taken just prior to the growing season to ensure that they survive the S&S attack. Yes,  you need to know that Hostas are a gourmet delicacy to slugs and snails, so it is essential to protect them either with some bait (Quash is not harmful to animals and birds) or else collect all your eggshells, bake them and then sprinkle them around the plants early in the spring as they develop. And if you make a habit of keeping the ground around them free of debris and weeds, the slugs won't have a place to hide. I have also heard that sheep dags spread around the base of the plants deter the slimy creatures.

Hostas are happiest in shade, but they also do well with about 6 hours of sun per day. The thicker, blue-leafed Hostas do better than others in dense shade, so choose these if you have to locate them in less light, in fact, they don't really like the hot afternoon sun as it tends to scorch them. The Hostas that enjoy a sunny spot are the light green, yellow or whiter leafed varieties - but they still need protection from the afternoon sun.

Because they die right back in the winter, Hostas are great for beds where you have spring bulbs and early blooming perennials which will fill the empty spaces where the Hostas lie dormant. Once the bulbs have done their blooming, the Hostas will rise again, Phoenix-like and their beauty will remain all summer long. Simple symbiosis and really clever design! And if the leaves do start to look a bit straggly, cut them down and new ones will grow.

They like loads of compost worked into the soil before planting and top dressings of compost once a year around the rhizome. Plant the rhizome with the crown at soil level. They enjoy mulch to keep them moist and prefer slightly acid, rich, free draining soil but they hate wet feet! Too much moisture (in soil that does not drain freely) will cause the rhizome to rot. 

If your Hosta doesn't do well in one spot then try another - they transplant very easily and you can also divide them and spread them around the garden in late winter. Dig under and around the roots, then prepare a hole bigger than the rhizomes, adding some compost and water to the hole before planting.

Hostas can successfully be grown in containers and a group of the same or of different varieties can make a really breathtaking display! Use a good soil mix, ensure that there is good drainage and choose a location that will not leave them to linger in the afternoon sun.

For best effect, mass plantings or drifts make the most dramatic statements. Use the larger varieties for background plantings, a dramatic feature or on the edge of a large pond and plant them spaced 1m apart. Medium sized plants are probably the best for mass planting in drifts and for feature plantings for small to medium gardens. They are also excellent for containers. The se1ection is vast and there are many good performers. Plant them spaced 50cm apart. Small plants are great for pathway and garden edgings or for a smaller pot story. Space them 20 - 30cm apart.

Hostas make a perfect addition to any landscape. Come and browse through our fairly extensive collection to find that special specimen that will transform your shady spaces. Take some home and Host a Hosta or two!

Happy Gardening

Lloyd and Harry