Hostas are such a versatile piece of the American garden scene. They grow in nearly all locations, tolerate shade exceptionally well, and provide both lush foliage and elegant, stalked flowers. There's no single, classic hosta: these beauties are anything but a monolith! Hostas come in marbled, striped, or variegated varieties, in every shape, and in every shade of green. With the right pairings and varieties, your hosta plants will stand out and grab attention.
How to grow hostas
Most hostas prefer locations with dappled or afternoon shade, and some can handle full shade. Most hostas can actually withstand full sun, but they'll need additional waterings to do so. Hostas don't mind moist soil, but they don't thrive in clay-heavy or overly thick material. If your garden contains a great deal of clay, soften your soil with amendments before planting. Hostas are fairly thirsty plants, and can withstand wet conditions. They should be watered frequently in hot weather.
Where can you use hostas?
We often think of hostas as the backdrop to our gardens: the back plant in the row, the bright greenery that allows our ornamentals to pop, or just a plant covers up some undecorated soil. But, hostas really can steal the show!
Use these plants as ground cover by planting a large clump of big-leaved hostas, such as Delta Dawn. Or, you can use smaller hostas to decorate fence rows, the edges of buildings, or the border of a driveway. Miniature hostas, like Minnie Mouse, can be used to edge small beds and borders. Hostas certainly don't mind humidity or mist, so they are a great choice for plantings around ponds and fountains.
For a varied look, don't be afraid to mix varieties of hostas. Try planting hostas of different sizes, shapes, and colors. Most hosta plants have similar nutritional requirements, and a mixture of hosta species can give a lively, lush look to your garden.
Companion Plants for Hostas
Hostas are perfect for shade gardens, lending a tropical touch to otherwise sparse spaces in the yard. When choosing companion plants, look for others that like bright morning sun and cool afternoon shade, just like your hostas. Astilbe, ferns, geraniums, and shady-friendly bulbs are great companions for hostas. Two of our favorites: bleeding hearts and heuchera.
Bleeding heart (dicentra) plants provide delicate flowers and elegant, arching branches -- the perfect contrast to bold, shiny, or variegated hosta plants. They also bloom early in the spring, allowing your hostas' flowers to steal the show later in summer.
Heuchera, or coral bells, are grown for their foliage, which can add red, purple, or silver touches to your shade garden. Take a bright bouquet of flowers and flip that idea on its head: Pair red or purple heuchera with marbled or striped hosta varieties for a garden full of lush, colorful leaves and light-colored flowers.
Learn more from our expert gardeners about how to plant, grow, and care for hostas.