A Variety of Hosta
A remarkable tolerance for shade and cold, resistance to insects and incomparable beauty and variety make these perennials simply irresistible. Rippled, smooth, ruffled or ribbed, leaves range in size from petite (three-quarters-inch long) to giant (22 inches long). Foliage colors include bright yellows, cool blues, and just about every shade of green imaginable. Foliage edged in white, streaked with gold, or striped in contrasting tones of emerald and cream provide ample opportunity for designing one-of-a-kind beds and borders. According to the American Hosta Society, there are more than 30 hosta hybridizers at work in the United States alone. Cultivars with showier, fragrant blossoms have been cropping up in nurseries, expanding the palette still further. Old as well as new cultivars bloom with white or lavender flowers in late summer, just when a splash of color is needed most.
Site selection: While hostas tolerate a range of soils in USDA Zones 3 to 10, slightly acidic soil, amended with organic matter, produces the most vigorous growth. At least two and a half hours of morning sun are needed for the richest coloration; yellows need more sun, blues less.
Planting: Plant rhizomes anytime, with large-leaved specimens no closer than two feet apart. If possible, mulch the first winter with pine needles or boughs to prevent heaving.
Care: Young hostas need two seasons or more to mature, and require regular watering during dry spells. Before spring growth appears, put down a ring of a balanced, slow-release fertilizer around the crown of the plant (never allow fertilizers to touch plant ‘eyes’). While some gardeners divide their hostas every five years or so, it is not essential.
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