Hosta

Botanical/Latin
   Hosta

Pronunciation
   hoss-ta

Common Name
   Plantain lily

Hardiness zone range
   3 - 9

General Comments
Magnificent, hardy, and easy to grow, Hostas continue to become enormously popular. The bold, handsome leaves make a dramatic contribution to any planting. The delightful, lily-like flowers come in shades of white, mauve and lilac, and are carried on strong stems above the foliage. Some are deliciously fragrant. The flowers appear in mid to late summer and are sometimes overshadowed by the magnificence of the foliage.

Uses
They are excellent when massed in bold, informal drifts, with the contrasting variegated, yellow, green, and blue types all merging harmoniously together. The large, broad leaved types can be used either as accent plants among the smaller compact ones, or placed with the tallest at the back or middle if they are in an island bed.

Established clumps create a dense canopy that makes great, low maintenance ground cover; they look equally good under trees, among shrubs, or naturalized with wild flowers and perennials. Superb near water features, they fit right in with pools, ponds, waterfalls, and streams.

They make great container plants for shady patios and decks, and the flowers can be cut and used as fresh flowers.

Light Preference
Performing best in shade, they will grow well in partial shade and some will even do well in sun, providing they have ample moisture and good soil conditions.

As a general rule, the sunnier the position, the more moisture is required. Flowering is often more pronounced in sunnier conditions, and the overall habit shorter and more compact. In shady conditions, the foliage is usually larger and more luxuriant.

Culture
Long lived and easy to grow, they prefer conditions that are cool and moist. They love plenty of humus at their roots, so it is a good idea to supplement the planting holes with extra organic matter (peat, manure, compost, etc.), and mulch after planting. This promotes strong, healthy clumps and helps to retain soil moisture.

The thick, fleshy clumps can be divided at almost any time of year; the best times are in autumn or early spring. They slowly develop into large, impressive clumps; it is worth leaving them undisturbed and only dividing occasionally.

Free from disease, slugs are their only enemy, so control with slug bait, diatomaceous earth, or "beer" traps is important (see Splendor Suggestions for details).

Background
Hostas are named after a doctor to the emperor of Austria, Nicolas Tomas Host (1761-1834). The first Hosta plants to reach western gardens came from China around 1790, but it was a physician with the Dutch East India Company, Dr. Phillip Franz von Siebold, that with opportunism and stealth, managed to acquire and send large consignments of plants (including several Hostas) from the closed and secretive Japan to Leyden in Holland. His first consignment was sent in 1829 and it consisted of 260 species. Despite the long journey and confiscation during the outbreak of war with Belgium, he managed to salvage at least one plant each of about eighty species, and this formed the basis of his first introductions and distribution throughout Europe and eventually America. They have been grown and revered in Japan for centuries. Land is valuable and space limited, so they are often grown as single specimens or in ornate containers, and newly discovered forms will change hands for considerable sums of money. It is only comparatively recently that they have become popular in the west. The fashion for natural style gardens and the need for "low maintenance" plants have helped fuel their popularity.

Splendor Suggestions
For a simple, effective, organic slug and snail trap, put a little beer in a shallow container and place near the plants. They are attracted to the beer, fall in, and drown. A larger lid or container placed loosely over the top will keep rain out. The contents of the container should be emptied and replenished frequently.

Companion Plants
The best companions for Hostas are other Hostas! They are absolutely magnificent when contrasted together. If you are looking for something different, try them with Dicentras (Bleeding Hearts), the flowering plumes of Astilbes, and the delicate, lacy foliage of ferns. The upright, arching foliage and colorful flowers of Hemerocallis (Daylilies) add color and structure during the summer months.