hostas plants
Hosta happiness is easy to attain with these bright, low-maintenance plants. That out-of-the-way spot in your yard will thank you for adding a little color.
Hostas love shade. Not cold, dark, murky shade, but a nice spot on the northeast corner of the house or in a small wood, someplace that gets dappled light all day long. In general, the more green on the leaf, the less sun it requires; the more yellow or white, the more sun it requires.
These low maintenance perennials grow from two inches high to three feet high and spread from one to five feet around, so there’s plenty to choose from when designing your hosta bed.
Hosta flowers are, for the most part, not really interesting as flowers go. Now, don’t get mad – some certainly are heartbreakingly pretty, but that’s not why most hosta people grow these pretty plants. Flowers may be white, blue or deep purple, and some are wonderfully fragrant. They won’t draw crowds of ooohing admirers, but they are pretty nice.
The foliage, on the other hand, is spectacular. Delicate gold, bright yellow, sharp green, deep green – all these gorgeous shades are found in hostas. The variegated varieties are especially interesting when nestled in an otherwise shady spot. A splash of color in a dull area will make you smile.
Plant large clumps of hostas for the most impact. Buy several from the greenhouse, or put divided transplants in a group. Each new transplant should have three or four buds with the roots attached. Vary the species throughout the area using small-sized hostas in the front and larger sizes at the back, and varying the foliage colors at will.
You can go hog-crazy with hostas if you like, because there is much to be known and much argument in hosta circles about light, mulch, water, dividing, and so on. If you are just a regular person who wants some lovely, low-maintenance plants to brighten dark corners, don’t worry about all that stuff. Plant hostas and you’ll be happy.
For more on hostas, check my Author Profile for additional articles on Mulch and Water, and Dividing and Transplanting. Thanks for stopping by!
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Spring Hill Hosta Lovers Mixed Variety Plants – Set of 5
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White Feather Hosta – UNBELIEVABLE!-NEW!-RARE! – Potted $14.99 Best Seller This Hosta is quite unique in color. As it appears the leaves are completely white. With maturity, streaks of green begin to appear and lavender flowers rise from the top. Unequaled for their beautiful foliage, low care, and many landscape uses. Hosta provide bright color in the shade with handsome, broad, ribbed foliage in many colors. Very showy from early spring until late fall. E… |
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Persian Shield Plant – Strobilanthes -Iridescent purple $7.99 Persian Shield is among the most sought after foliage prizes among plants lovers worldwide. The main attraction is the unique shimmering iridescent purple color, highly metallic and always a stunning contrast in any garden setting. Plus the leaves are 100% purple underneath. You can use Persian Shield in pots indoors as well. Persian Shield is hardy in zones 9-11 outdoors, but can be enjoyed as a… |
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Mixed Hybrid Hosta 20 Seeds – Shade Lover $3.99 20 mixed Hybrid Hosta seeds. These seeds are fresh and are from a mixture of stunning hostas in all colors including blues, greens, chartreuse, and variegated. They come from over 100 different named hostas. Hostas are very easy to grow and require very little care after established. They are one of the best shade plants. Some of these hostas can cost over $25.00 at garden centers. Here is your ch… |
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The New Encyclopedia of Hostas $29.85 The lush, sculptural hosta is loved by gardeners for its ability to both combine well with other plants and project a strong presence when planted alone. The New Encyclopedia of Hostas—the second edition of Diana Grenfell and Michael Shadrack’s classic work—provides growth and cultivation information for seven hundred cultivated hostas. Detailed, easy-to-read descriptions include growing tips,… |
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Timber Press Pocket Guide to Hostas (Timber Press Pocket Guides) $12.19 Boasting diverse leaf shape, size, color, and texture, it is no wonder that hostas continue to reign as the most popular perennial plants in North America. Not only are they the supreme plant for shade, but they also can be used in the landscape either as striking specimen plantings or as accommodating companion plants. Few pests bother them, and little maintenance is required, making hostas even … |
