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Hostas are a genus of plants that belong to the family hostaceae. Hostas have many different forms and colors, but they all share in common their tall, clump-forming growth habit.
There are about 30 species of hosta with many more cultivars (cultivated varieties). If you’re looking for something to fill space in your garden or container without taking up too much room, then you should consider planting some beautiful Hosta flowers!
Whirlwind Hostas
The thick foliage of this plant makes it an attractive addition to any shade garden or woodland garden, and it’s a great choice for filling in garden beds. Whirlwind grows well in moist, fertile soil with partial shade to full shade.
It features long, arching leaves that typically grow to 12 inches in length.
Powder Blue Hostas
Grows 1-2 feet tall and has a spread of 18-24 inches. The lanceolate shaped blue leaves are up to 4″long with a white margin. Mid summer blooms at the top of the plant. Fall flowers are small and green.
This is a great plant that grows easily in average soils with moderate moisture, although it prefers some shade during the hot summer months. It has lovely blue color all season long, though its flowers tend to fade a bit through the summer months. This type of hosta can really brighten up your garden!
Green Giant Hostas
Forms lots of small plants from the side and grows about 24-36 inches tall.
This plant is a great choice for planting in containers or along walkways because it has a low growing habit. Its beautiful green foliage is perfect for adding some color in your yard, especially since its fall leaves are bright red!
White Swan Hostas
Features large, thick, white leaves with a slight blue edge. The leaves are shaped like a serrated sword. It grows about 12-18 inches tall and has a spread of 18 inch.
If you’re looking for unusual hosta that will really stand out in your landscape, then this is the plant for you! This type of hosta flower has beautiful white leaves and a unique, feathery appearance. It grows up to 18” tall and spreads about 3 feet wide.
This is a great plant for creating some privacy or to highlight your patio!
Burgundy Hostas
Features thick, dark green leaves that are slightly wavy around the edges. It usually reaches heights of 1 foot and spreads about 2 feet.
In autumn, leaves turn deep burgundy and attract many other houseplants. It thrives in partial shade and is tolerant of heat.
Autumn Joy Hostas
These hostas have broad, heavily textured, dark green leaves that are slightly wavy around the edges and mildew resistant! It reaches heights of 8-12″ tall and spreads about 18-24″ wide. Blooms in late summer.
This type of hosta flower is one of the most popular because of its beautiful silver edging around the leaves, which make it look like a piece of fine artwork in your garden! It will easily fill up an empty space with its low-maintenance growth habit and dark green color.
Fire Island Hostas
Features dark green leaves that are up to 6″ long and 2”wide. It grows about 1-1 ½ feet tall and 2-2 ½ feet wide. Cut foliage produces a unique firework display when crumpled before disposal.
This type of hosta flower is very similar to Autumn Joy, but it has a slightly different texture and darker color.
Golden Splendor Hostas
This type of hosta flower is one of the most popular because of its beautiful color and texture. The leaves are a dark forest green with slight variegation, which makes it look like a piece of fine artwork in your garden! It’s easy to grow and can be planted in shade or sun.
Angel Wings Hostas
Has a mound of large, handsome, glaucous (blue-green), orbicular (rounded) leaves with prominent veins that are up to 8” long and 3½” across. It grows about 2-3 feet tall and has a spread of 1-1 ½ feet. The plant has pale lavender flowers in summer and fall.
It is an outstanding variety that has a fine texture with attractive foliage that seems to float above the ground! It’s easy to grow, making it an ideal choice for beginners, or experienced gardeners looking for something new.
Zinger Zinger Hostas
Has large, dark green leaves that are slightly wavy around the edges. The leaves are up to 5” long and 4½” across with a pale lavender center. It grows about 2-3 feet tall and spreads about 1-1 ½ feet wide. Blooms in late summer.
This type of hosta flower has beautiful bright green leaves with a shimmering gold center. It’s hardy and easy to grow, making it one of the more popular hostas!
Halcyon Hostas
Has leaves that are up to 5” long and 2½” wide. It grows about 1-1 ½ feet tall and spreads about 2 ½ feet wide. Blooms in late summer.
This type of hosta flower has beautiful bright green leaves with a silver shimmering center. It’s a great choice for you if you’re looking for something new to plant in your yard.
Hosta oculata 'Blaze of Glory'
Hosta oculata 'Blaze of Glory' is a new variety with burgundy leaves edged in green. The leaves are wide at the base and arch outward as they grow up the stem. The overall effect is one that resembles fire or fireworks!
They seem to be happy in sun to part shade. At the end of summer, they are covered with a moderate amount of burgundy flowers and also self seed freely.
Hosta 'Blaze of Glory' was introduced by Susan Nelson. It's hardiness is listed as zones 4-9.
Hosta maidenii - Cat Eye Plant
Cat Eye Plant gets it's name from the burgundy oval leaves surrounded by a leaf that sometimes forms a complete ring around them. The effect is very much like that of an eye or some sort of 'cat eye' shape. It is not unusual to see multiple eyes on one plant!
They seem to prefer shade, but do fine in probably part sun to full shade. The flowers are small and white, and bloom on top of the foliage in July.
August Moon Hosta
Hosta 'August Moon' is a beautiful variety with large green leaves that are slightly ruffled. They have burgundy edges and in the center of each leaf there is a bright silver ring.
The flowers on this variety bloom in late summer to early fall, but are not easily seen because they hide behind the foliage as it grows larger over the season. It is hardy in zones 4-8, and seems to prefer sun for best growth.
Hosta fortunei 'Crested Cream' - Crested Hosta
Crested Hostas have large creamy white leaves with a light green center line wrapped with burgundy edges. They are very thick and heavy and grow best at the base of other hostas in shaded areas.
In late summer, they produce burgundy flowers that are also very attractive. This variety is hardy in zones 3-8 and can tolerate sun to shade equally well.
Hosta 'Krossa Regal' - Royal Standard
Royal Standard has beautiful maroon stripes down each leaf and can grow quite large. The leaves are large and the whole plant is thick and robust.
They bloom in mid summer with white flowers that are held high above the foliage for best viewing. They do well in full sun to part shade, but seem to prefer some shade. This variety is hardy in zones 4-8, and is an excellent hosta for late summer interest.
Hosta 'Blue Diamond'
This is a very showy variety with deep blue leaves in a fan or arrowhead shape. They are thick and healthy, and in late summer the plant is covered with white flowers. The foliage is rounded at the bottom of each leaf to make it look like a cobalt blue diamond lying on its side! It is hardy in zones 4-9.
'Frances Williams' Hosta
'Frances Williams' has small, medium green leaves with a burgundy edge. In late summer they are covered in white flowers that appear high above the rest of the foliage. This variety is hardy in zones 4-8 and does well in part sun to shade for best growth.
Hosta 'June' - June Leaf
Hosta 'June' has large, dark green leaves that are slightly thick. They have a burgundy edge and grow best in shaded areas of the garden for best growth.
In late summer, they flower with white flowers that bloom above the rest of the foliage to be seen easily. This hosta is hardy in zones 5-9 and prefers some shade.
Hosta nigrescens
This variety is very striking with almost black leaves edged in burgundy and maroon stripes running down each leaf. It's flowers are tiny white dots spread about the foliage, which grows best in part sun to shade. Hosta 'Nigrescens' is hardy in zones 3-8.
Alligator Alley Hosta
Alligator Alley has huge burgundy leaves with a deep green center line. These large leaves are attractive but may be short lived if planted in direct sun because they burn easily. They grow well in shaded areas for best growth and do not produce flowers, making them good for shade gardens.
Hosta 'Elegans' - Elegance Hosta
Hosta 'Elegans' is a beautiful variety with cream colored flowers and burgundy leaves that have a purple tinge to them. They are hardy in zones 4-8, grow best in shade, and do not have much foliage growth until mid summer. Once the plants start growing, they grow large quickly!
Hybrid Hosta 'Harmony' - Harmony Hosta
'Harmony' is a hybrid that has big, dark green leaves with burgundy edges and large, creamy white flowers later in the season. As you can see, this hosta is a very good choice for any garden because of its bold foliage and beautiful flowers. It is also a very vigorous grower.
FAQS
What is the best way to care for my Hostas?
Hostas are very hardy plants that require little care. They prefer some shade and well drained soil, but will also grow in full sun to part shade equally well. They do not need fertilizer of any kind, but enjoy a good watering at least once a week.
Take care never to let water sit next to the crown because they are very sensitive to root rot, especially in moist climates.
How can I keep my Hostas from getting leggy?
There are a variety of reasons that your plant would get leggy, but the best way to prevent this is to make sure that you are watering well and feeding it a granular fertilizer (high in nitrogen) every three months during the growing season.
You should also try to keep your hosta out of direct sunlight and be careful not to let water collect around the crown. Also, if the plant is in a container, make sure that it has proper drainage.
Hostas can last for a very long time without any care and will add beautiful foliage to your garden for years to come!
How do I get rid of borers on my Hosta?
There are several different types of borers that can attack hostas, but the best way to get rid of them is by hand picking. If you come across a worm that looks like it might be a borer at the base of one of your plants, cut around it in three or four places with scissors and remove all the little pieces from the soil as well as surrounding area.
Do not leave them to hatch because they will eventually eat your plant from the inside out!
What can I do about my Hosta leaves with white spores on them?
You probably have leaf spot. This is a fungus that thrives in warm, humid environments so it's best to try and keep your hosta in moist, but well drained soil.
As a preventative measure, you can spray your plant with water a few times per week to help keep the humidity down around it and try not to over water. If you catch leaf spot early, it is easily treatable by removing the infected foliage that has spots on them and taking up to one inch of surrounding leaves as well.
If you hostas have been infected by leaf spot, then they will be best treated with a fungicide. Be sure to follow the directions on the package for proper use!
How do I get rid of yellowing leaves?
There are a variety of reasons that your plant would become yellow and a variety of treatments too. In some cases, the color change is a good thing! When yellowing occurs in the center of the plant, it is best to leave it because this means that your hosta may be preparing for an early summer bloom.
Your Hosta will start sending up green shoots and flowers from around its center stalk once you see this color change. Then, you'll have another chance to enjoy its beautiful blooms.
If the yellowing occurs along the edges of your plant or in between new growth, it is probably best to try and treat it.
What kind of fertilizer should I use on my Hosta?
A granular all-purpose fertilizer containing high levels of nitrogen can be sprinkled around your hosta in late spring every three months. Slow release fertilizers are best, because they will feed your plant for a longer period of time. This will give it the opportunity to grow larger without becoming leggy and can help prevent leaf spot too!
Conclusion
There are many ways to plant your Hostas and a variety of choices on what type of fertilizer you would like to use on them too. The most important thing is that you enjoy the natural beauty that they add to your property! Hostas are fun, easy plants to grow and will bring an element of surprise and delight every time you look at them!
