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Hosta Plants
Hosta Plants. Hostas (*Hosta spp. and cultivars*) decorate low-light gardens throughout U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 9. Although known as shade-loving perennials, a few varieties can tolerate more sun than others. The plants come in a variety of colors, sizes and even shapes, so most homeowners can find hostas to...
Hostas (Hosta spp. and cultivars) decorate low-light gardens throughout U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 9. Although known as shade-loving perennials, a few varieties can tolerate more sun than others. The plants come in a variety of colors, sizes and even shapes, so most homeowners can find hostas to complement their flowerbeds and homes. The genus Hosta contains approximately 70 species and hundreds of cultivars.
General Appearance
Homeowners treasure hostas for their large leaves and bushy appearance -- they fill sometimes hard-to-plant shady areas. Many hostas have large, spade-like or somewhat heart-shaped foliage. Hostas shoot up tall stalks with delicate pink, white or lavender flowers during summer, although many homeowners choose to remove them.
Life Cycle
Hostas grow on rhizomes, a thick underground stem that the roots grow from. It may take a couple of years for the plants to reach full size, because the rhizomes develop slowly. The plants begin to shoot up leaf stalks in spring that uncurl into the larger, heart-shaped leaves.
Because hostas can grow very large, many homeowners divide their plants once they're mature. Division involves digging up the plant and carefully separating the roots into different clumps.
Color Selections
Homeowners can choose from a seemingly endless list of hosta varieties in many different colors. Solid-colored hostas may have deep green, bright green, gold, blue, blue-green or blue-gray foliage. Other varieties are variegated, meaning they have stripes or other patterns. Variegation comes in white, cream, yellow, gold or various shades of green. Although hostas often do best in shady locations with some sun, those with gold-colored leaves require some direct sun to produce the best color.
"Blue Angel" (Hosta "Blue Angel"), which grows in USDA zones 3 through 8, has deep blue, textured foliage, while "Patriot" (Hosta "Patriot"), which grows in zones 3 through 9, has deep green leaves with bright white variegation.
Size Selections
Hostas range from just a few inches tall to 4 feet tall. "Sagae" (Hosta "Sagae") is considered a giant hosta, reaching over 28 inches tall by 54 inches wide. "Blue Mouse Ears" (Hosta "Blue Mouse Ears") produces blue, velvety clumping foliage that reaches up to 8 inches tall. "Empress Wu" (Hosta "Empress Wu") can reach up to 4 feet tall and 6 feet wide; Gentle Giant (Hosta "Gentle Giant") can reach up to 46 inches tall. These varieties are hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9.
