By Shawna L. Krautheim
Hostas are one of the most popular shade-loving plants available on today’s market. Low maintenance and easy to grow, they can almost be planted and forgotten, making them ideal for the gardener who doesn’t have much time. Additionally, they are a hardy little plant, which makes them ideal not only for the infrequent gardener, but also the inexperienced one.There is a hosta for everyone: The foliage of hostas varies greatly, depending on what variety you choose. The leaves may be round, oval, heart, strap, or lance-shaped, and can bear either a smooth or a rippled texture. Leaves come in a wide spectrum of shades, ranging from yellow and greens to beautiful blue gray, and variegated varieties are also available.
Blues take a little extra care. While the blue shades are a popular favorite, it is important to note that if a blue hosta is put in an area where it receives a lot of direct sun, it will cause the foliage to turn green. Additionally, the blue coloration can come off by excess water and rubbing, so it is not a good idea to "wash" potted blue hostas.
Sporting names such as "Sum and Substance," "Great Expectations" and "Sagae," the lavender and white flowers of the hosta are also appealing, especially when planted together, in large groups. While the green shades blend with other companion plants well, yellow hosta are ideal for places you wish to draw attention to and will considerably brighten dark areas in your garden. If blue-green is your hosta of choice, the Halcyon variety sports the brightest color and tends to hold its shade longer than the other blues.
The hardy hosta thrives in zones 3-8 (which covers lower Canada and most of the United States), and does best in soil that is moist, well-draining, and fertilized. In Northern climates, hostas do enjoy some morning sun for best growth results. Also, if slugs are a common problem in your area, it is a good idea to practice pest control - they can prove troublesome for hostas, save for the blue-gray foliage plants, which appear to be more slug-resistant.
Whether you are looking for ground cover or an eye-catching erect plant, there is a hosta to suit your needs. Depending on your preference, they can brighten a dark or shady garden, or they can provide a complimenting backdrop for brighter blooms. Additionally, dwarf varieties and hosta that grow less than 12 inches in height make great ground cover and borders, growing so thick that they can also help to choke out weeds and make even less work for you. A beautiful addition to any home, no garden is complete without the hardy hosta. Why not try some today?
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