Planting and Cultural Care For Hostas Hostas are very hardy, adaptable and easy to grow plants that are principally known for their foliage. They come in a range of sizes from dwarf to giant, colors from solids of greens, blues and Bolds or variegations of mixed colors of edge or center. Flowers bloom from June thru September. The following are recommended conditions for optimum growth: Soil: Rich, slightly acid, well draining soil. We recommend mixing Sea Soil in with the existing soil to add nutrients when first planting. Fertilization: A fertilizer high in nitrogen will be beneficial and give greater splendor to the foliage. Water: Hostas need regular watering especially during dry spells and in the summer. Propagation: Hostas can be left undisturbed indefinitely except when grown in containers (Hostas are excellent container plants). If division is necessary or desired, divide in the spring just as the plant is emerging from the ground so the new foliage is not damaged. It will not harm the plants to divide them at other times of the year but may leave the foliage in a distressed state. Location: Hostas do best in shade or semi‐shade but it must be remembered that these are shade tolerant, not shade loving plants. The “blues” will take the most shade while the variegated and green varieties are happier with at least a part day’s sun. As a general rule, the gold and yellow colored varieties get their best coloring when given slightly more sun. How to Plant: Dig a hole twice as wide and as deep as the pot. Carefully remove the Hosta from the pot and pace in the hole and cover with soil to the same level as it was in the pot. Water thoroughly. When to plant: In the Pacific Northwest, Hostas can be planted any time the soil is workable, whether the plant is growing or in its dormant stage. Spacing: A good rule of thumb is to space plants 12‐20” apart for smaller leaved varieties and 24‐
36” apart for medium and large leaved Hostas. Diseases and Pests: Hostas are usually disease‐free and the only pests are slugs and snails. There are several slug and snail products on the market to keep them under control. Along with these products there are other natural and non‐chemical methods, which are available but usually require more diligence. Slug resistant varieties: Some varieties are more resistant than others. Name New Abiqua Drinking Gourd Size (Height x Spread) Characteristics 24” x 42” Intense blue leaves. Lilac flowers. New Albomarginata 18” x 36” Albopicta 24” x 40” American Halo 24” x 50” Atlantis 32” x 54” Bright green and white variegated leaves. Sun tolerant. Lilac Flowers. Center of leaves is chartreuse in spring turning a dark green in summer. Dark green leaves with bright yellow margin. Aureomarginata 24” x 48" Avocado 24” x 50" Barbara Ann 20” x 48" Dark blue leaves with white margins.
26” x 48" Round cup shaped blue foliage. 16” x 32" Dense yellow leaves, oval shaped ideal as small groundcover. 32” x 48” Big heart‐shaped blue green leaves and tall white flowers in summer. Birchwood Parky's Gold Blue Angel Blue Boy 14” x 30” Blue Cadet 16” x 28” Blue Flame 18” x 24” Blue Ivory Blue Mammoth Blue Mouse Ears 16” x 30” New Blue Shadows New Blue Wedgewood Pale lavender flowers stand out against bluish‐gray foliage. Round, blue leaves form a tight mound. Powdery blue, heart shaped leaves with wavy yellow margins. Medium sized leaves with blue center and creamy white margins. Purple flowers in summer. 36" x 48” Huge powdery blue leaves. Can grow up to 5’ across. 6” x 12" Small round gray‐green leaves; must have for collectors and rock gardens.
14” x 36” 18” x 30” Large, bright green leaves. Fragrant flowers. Dark green leaves, with yellow border, one of the most common hostas. Large yellow leaves with large green margins. 20” x 32" Green leaves with wavy gold margins.
August Moon Big Daddy Exposure Thick, round leaves variegated blue and green. Bright blue‐green leaves. Great for container plantings. Name Bressingham Blue Bright Lights Size (Height x Spread) Characteristics 24" x 42" Pale lavender flowers. Easy to care for. 20” x 36” Bright Star 14” x 24” Calypso 10' x 14" Captain Kirk 20” x 32” Carnival 18” x 40” Center of Attention 14” x 20” Christmas Tree 24” x 42” Clifford’s Forest Fire 24” x 36” Color Glory 30" x 48" Dream Queen Earth Angel Elegans 16" x 24” 36” x 48" 28” x 60” Empress Wu 48” x 68” Fire and Ice 20" x 30" Fire Island First Frost 14” x 32” Flavocircinalis Fragrant Blue Fragrant Bouquet 16" x 36" Sport of 'Halcyon', intense color 18" x 48" Blue green leaf with a yellow margin.
20” x 36" Golden leaves have streaked blue‐
green margins. Bright yellow leaves with green center. White flowers. Pure white‐creamy yellow with bright kelly green margin. Large bright yellow leaves with a deep green margin. Purple Flowers. Oval, green leaves surrounded by a creamy yellow border. Purple flower.
Deep green leaves with a yellow center that fades to white as the season progresses. Lavender colored flowers. Large blue‐green leaves with yellow margins. Purple flowers. Wavy edged chartreuse leaves darkened by blue veining with broad creamy‐gold margins. White flowers.
White, cream, gold, chartreuse, green and blue green. Large bluish‐green with a creamy white center. White flowers. Large blue leaves with a thin yellow margin. Hosta of the Year 2009. Large blue/gray leaves, earlier blooming, can grow much larger than the stated size. One of the largest Hostas. Huge green leaves can measure to be over 1.5’ wide and long. Small twisting white leaves with dark green margin. Bright yellow leaves will brighten up the darkest corners of the garden. 22” x 36” Large blue‐green leaves. Easy to care for and dependable. Chartreuse‐green leaves with a white margin. Exposure Name Size (Height x Spread) Fragrant Dream 26” x 36” Francee 22" x 48" Frances Williams 28” x 52" Garden Meadows George Smith 18" x 36" 28" x 36" Ginkgo Craig 14” x 28" Gold Standard 22” x 48" Golden Tiara 14" x 32" Gray Cole 30" x 36" Great Expectations Guacamole 22“ x 36" 20” x 26" Guardian Angel 24” x 36” Hadspen Blue 18” x 36” Halcyon 18” x 36" Hanky Panky 12" x 30" Hippodrome 18” x 36” Honeybells 24” x 42” Hyacinthia 20” x 30” New Independence 18” x 24” Island Charm 10” x 16” Ivory Coast 20” x 24” Characteristics Leaves have a dark green center surrounded by a light yellow border.
Green rounded leaves with a nice white margin, fast growing. Leaves blue/green with yellow margin, number one favorite for many years. Slug resistant, sun tolerant Golden lime leaf with a blue‐green margin. Leaves green, white margin, popular edger Hosta, low and neat. Golden heart shaped leaves, green margin. Green rounded leaves, gold margin, fast growing Exposure Large cupped, corrugated foliage. Leaves bright yellow in spring, turns white later on. Fast growing rate, colors intensify with more light and during growing season. Fragrant flowers. Bright yellow leaves with dark green margins. Large blue‐green leaves. Light purple flower. Blue leaves, requires time to develop mature shape. Sport of 'Striptease', fast growing, sun tolerant Dark blue edges encase bright yellow center, A sun tolerant Hosta with very fragrant lavender flowers. Heart shaped gray‐green leaves with fine margins of white. Beautifully variegated green and white leaves. Almost white center surrounded by pale green edges. Pale purple flower in early summer. Gray‐green leaves with yellow edges. Lavender flowers in early summer. Name Size (Height x Spread) Characteristics Jade Scepter 16" x 30" Green ovate leaves, mound like habit
June 12” x 32" Key Lime Pie 22" x 48" Kiwi Full Monty 22” x 46” 34” x 54” Lakeside Cupcake 5" x 12” Thick, heavily corrugated foliage 40” x 32” Sport of ‘Sagae’. Slug resistant. Liberty Love Pat 26” x 36” Slug resistant with heavily textured blue foliage. Loyalist 18” x 24” White leaves with dark green margins.
Maple Leaf 24” x 30” Maui Buttercups Mediovariegata Minute Man 18” x 24” 14” x 30” 24" x 36" Morning Light 18” x 32" Mr.Big 32” x 60” New Night Before Christmas 26” x 36” Paradise Expectations 30” x 36” 24” x 42" Paul Revere 16" x 48" Pearl Lake 16” x 36" Patriot Pizzazz 20” x 36” Blue green with gold center, turns creamy white in bright light, heavy leafs. Green leaves with a wide yellow edge, heavily ruffled leaves, held horizontally, vigorous grower. Dark blue leaves with lime green center. Wavy green leaves. Vase like habit. Purple flowers. Krosse Regal Exposure Large blue leaves with narrow yellow margins. Beautiful large, yellow leaves. Can handle full sun. Deep green, light green, variegated white, very popular for edging. Dark green leaves with a white margin. Pale lavender flower. Leaves have a golden yellow center and green margins, heavy. Huge blue‐green leaves. Large pure white flowers in summer. Leaves are green with a white center. Very hardy. Large heart‐shaped pale‐blue leaves with a yellow margin. Dark green heart‐shaped leaves, snow white margins. Creamy white leaf with a dark green margin. Large blue‐green leaves. Compact and dense form. Blue‐green leaves with a wavy yellow edge. Pure white flowers. Size (Height x Spread) Name Popcorn 12” x 24” Praying Hands Rainforest Sunrise Regal Splendor Revolution Rootin Tootin Royal Standard Sagae 14" x 20” 8” x 18” 30” x 48” Dark green leaves with creamy center.
16" x 22" Green margin with a white center. 32” x 56” Sharmon 24” x 36” Silver Shadow 16" x 30" Sitting Pretty 6” x 8” Sleeping Star 12” x 18” So Sweet 20” x 42" Stained Glass 16” x 42" Stiletto 8” x 16" Striptease 28" x 42" Sunpower 30” x 56" Touch of Class T‐Rex 12” x 20" 30" x 68" True Blue 28” x 30" 20” x 36” Vulcan 20” x 32” Twilight A slower growing Hosta with thick, cupped foliage. Deep green leaves, unusual, upright and narrow. Emerges a solid light green and has slug resistant foliage. Blue/green leaves, white margined, extremely elegant plant. 20” x 24” 26” x 42" Characteristics Green leaves, extremely durable, withstands drought, good all round landscape Hosta. Blue‐green leaves with white, streaky center. Purple flowers. Yellow leaves with green margins and green veins. White margin with a green center. Glossy yellow leaves with bright green margins. White leaves with bright green centers. Dwarf, compact, variegated green and yellow Brilliant Gold with green edging. Very sun tolerant. Fragrant flowers. Green, white margined leaves, small edger or rockery plant. Chartreuse leaf with a dark green margin. Yellow leaves, semi vase shaped. Sun tolerant. Intense blue leaves with a yellow streak in the center. Lavender flowers. Gigantic green leaves. White flowers.
Large blue‐gray leaves. Purple flowers. Gold and green variegated leaves. Purple flowers. A bright white and green variegation. Light purple flowers. Exposure Size (Height x Spread) Name New Whirlwind 20” x 36” Characteristics Leaves are dark green with yellow center. Sun tolerant. Green heart shaped leaves, wide yellow/creamy margin. Wide Brim 18" x 36" Wolverine 18” x 32" Dense foliage, good growth rate. 20” x 42" Bright gold, textured heart‐shaped leaves, good for shady areas of the garden, leaves seem to glow in the evening. Zounds Exposure