Hosta Information

Hostas are native to China, Korea and Japan. Their broad range of color, leaf type and size make them one of the most versatile landscape plants. Their ruggedness not only ensures success for the novice gardener, but also is a must for the low maintenance landscapes in vogue today.

Hosta foliage is green, blue, gold or white, with and without variegation. Leaf shapes range from narrow and strap-like to nearly round, and can be heavily textured or smooth and glossy. Mature clumps can be as small as a fist, or dramatic mounds three feet high and five feet across. Although grown for their foliage, Hosta produce flowers from deep purple to pure white, some of which are fragrant.

They can be used as a ground cover or in mass plantings; the foliage adds a unique sense of coolness and serenity to the garden. They thrive is varying degrees of shade, and are effective where growing grass is difficult. Hostas are also excellent plants for container growing.

When you are purchasing your hostas, make sure they are healthy plants with strong stems, good root systems, and good color in the leaves. They are a rugged perennial, and one that you can enjoy for years to come.

Hostas are very hardy plants, but as with other perennials they can occasionally be attacked by insects, nematodes or virus. When you are purchasing hostas, you may see leaf spots or water soaked areas on leaves. This may be a symptom of Hosta Virus X or Tobacco Rattle Virus. You can find further information on this in the PDF "Look for Viruses Before Purchasing Hostas This Year".

Nematodes can also infect hostas. Nematodes are very small worm like critters that eat the tissue between the veins in a Hosta leaf. The symptoms may include brown areas on the leaf and small exit holes. You can read further information on this pest in the PDF AHS Nematode Policy.