Growing Hosta

Botanical Name:

Hosta

Life Cycle:

perennial

Planting Time:

spring or fall

Height:

2 inches to 4 feet

Exposure:

light to full shade

Soil:

rich, evenly moist soil

Hardiness:

generally hardy to zones 3-9

Bloom Time:

summer

Flower:

lavender, purple or white flowers on spikes; generally grown for foliage

Foliage:

blue, yellow, green, spotted, splashed or striped leaves

Propagation:

division

Suggested Use:

shade beds, borders, edging, and containers

Growing Hints:

Purchase plants in spring or fall and place in deep holes supplemented with nutrient compost to encourage roots to spread. Hostas take two to four years to reach their full size so make sure you give each plant enough room to spread. Certain varieties are known to grow at faster rates and tend to be less expensive. If division becomes necessary due to plants outgrowing their space, use a sharp spade or knife to cut off and relocate some of the small suckers around the plant's main clump.

Interesting Facts:

Slugs are common pests to Hostas and can munch large, unsightly holes in their leaves. Creating a barrier of coarsely crushed eggshells around the base of plants will make slugs think twice about crossing. Varieties with thick textured leaves also tend to have fewer problems with slugs.