Hosta
HOSTACEAE/LILIACEAE

Herbaceous Perennial

A genus of perennials grown mostly for their decorative foliage. Hostas are amongst the most impressive of foliage plants; from large statuesque specimens to more dwarf patio cultivars, there is a variety that will brighten any shaded spot in the garden. Adding to the beauty of leaves, which come in many colours, from golden and lime coloured, through to dark greens, greys and blues, plus many marked or margined with white or pale creams and yellows; there are flowers too, some of which are delightfully perfumed.  

There are hundreds of Hosta cultivars and many specialist nurseries devoted to breeding new forms and making these delightful plants available to the public. 
   

Varieties: -
Hosta. albomarginata

Hosta. 
'Blue Moon'

Form: A compact, slow-growing, clump-forming perennial
Fully Hardy:
Height: 5in (12cm)
Spread: 12in (30cm)
Foliage: Having rounded, to oval, greyish-green leaves, tapering to a point. 
Flowers: During mid-Summer, producing dense clusters of trumpet-shaped, mauve flowers.

 
Hosta.
'Blue Wedgwood'

Form: A slow-growing, clump-forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 12in (30cm)
Spread: 18in (45cm)
Foliage: Having wedge-shaped, deeply quilted, blue leaves.
Flowers: During Summer producing lavender flowers.

 
Hosta. 
'Brim Cup'

 		Form: A slow-growing, clump-forming perennial. 
Fully Hardy:
Height: 12in (30cm) 
Spread: 14-16in (35-40cm)
Foliage: Having erect, heart-shaped, slightly cupped and puckered, thick, dark-green leaves.
Flowers: During Summer, producing racemes of pale lavender-blue blooms.

 
Hosta. decorata

 

 Form: A stoloniferous perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 12in (30cm)
Spread: 18in (45cm)
Foliage: Having oval to rounded, dark-green leaves with white margins.
Flowers: During mid-Summer, producing dense racemes of trumpet-shaped, deep-violet, or occasionally white flowers. 

 
Hosta. decorata f. normalis

 

 Form: A stoloniferous perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 12in (30cm)
Spread: 18in (45cm)
Foliage: Having oval to rounded, plain-green leaves.
Flowers: During mid-Summer, producing dense racemes of trumpet-shaped, deep-violet, or occasionally white flowers. 

 

 
Hosta. fluctuans
'Sagae'

 

 Syn: Hosta. f. 'Variegated' & Hosta. 'Sagae'
Form: A vigorous, clump-forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 3ft (1m)
Spread: 3ft (1m)
Foliage: Having wavy, heart-shaped, olive-green, leaves, with creamy-white bold margins.
Flowers: During mid- to late-Summer, producing racemes of bell-shaped, off-white flowers.

 
Hosta. fluctuans 
'Variegated' 		See:  Hosta. fluctuans 'Sagae'

 

Hosta. fortunei

Form: A group of vigorous, clump-forming, hybrid Hostas
Fully Hardy:
Height: 2.5-3ft (75cm-1m)
Spread: 3ft (1m)
Foliage: Leaves are oval to heart-shaped

 

Hosta. fortunei
'Albopicta'

Form: A vigorous, clump-forming, hybrid Hosta
Fully Hardy:
Height: 2.5-3ft (75cm-1m)
Spread: 3ft (1m)
Foliage: Having broadly lance-shaped, pale-green leaves, with creamy-yellow centres, fading to dull-green from mid-Summer.
Flowers: In early Summer, producing racemes of trumpet-shaped, pale-violet blossoms.

 
Hosta. fortunei
'Aureomarginata'

Syn: Hosta. fortunei 'Yellow Edge'
Form: A vigorous, clump-forming, hybrid Hosta
Fully Hardy:
Height: 2.5-3ft (75cm-1m)
Spread: 3ft (1m)
Foliage: Having broadly-oval to heart-shaped, mid-green leaves with irregular creamy-yellow margins.
Flowers: In mid-Summer producing trumpet-shaped, violet flowers.

 
Hosta. fortunei 'Yellow Edge'  See: Hosta. fortunei 'Aureomarginata'

 
Hosta. 
'Fragrant Bouquet' 		Form: A clump-forming, hybrid Hosta
Fully Hardy:
Height: 18in (45cm)
Spread: 26in (65cm)
Foliage: Having oval to heart-shaped, slightly wavy, glossy, light-green leaves, with irregular, creamy-yellow, margins.
Flowers: During late-Summer producing racemes of funnel-shaped, fragrant, mauve-white blooms.

 
Hosta.
'Francee'

Form: A vigorous, clump-forming, perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 22in (55cm)
Spread: 3ft (1m)
Foliage: Having oval to heart-shaped, slightly cupped and puckered, olive-green leaves, and irregular white margins.
Flowers: In Summer, producing arching scapes, bearing funnel-shaped, lavender-blue flowers. (late emerging)

 
Hosta.
'Ginko Craig'

Form: A low-growing, clump-forming, perennial. 
Fully Hardy:
Height: 1ft (30cm)
Spread: 1ft (30cm)
Foliage: Having small, narrow, dark-green leaves, with white margins.
Flowers: During Summer, producing spikes of bell-shaped, deep-mauve blossoms.

 
Hosta.
'Gold Standard'

Form: A vigorous, clump-forming, perennial. 
Fully Hardy:
Height: 2.5-3ft (75cm-1m)
Spread: 3ft (1m)
Foliage: Having oval to heart-shaped, pale-green leaves, that turn to gold with dark-green margins from mid-Summer
Flowers: During mid-Summer producing racemes of trumpet-shaped. violet flowers

 
Hosta.
'Golden Prayers'

Form: An upright, clump-forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 6in (15cm)
Spread: 12in (30cm)
Foliage: Having cupped, oval to heart-shaped, golden-green leaves. 
Flowers: Producing white to pale lavender flowers

 
Hosta.
'Golden Tiara'

Form: A clump-forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 6in (15cm)
Spread: 12in (30cm)
Foliage: Having broadly heart-shaped dark-green leaves with greenish-yellow margins.
Flowers: During Summer producing tall spikes of lavender-purple flowers.

 
Hosta.
'Grand Tiara'

Form: A vigorous, mound-forming, perennial Hosta
Fully Hardy:
Height: 12in (30cm)
Spread: 20in (50cm)
Foliage: Having shield-shaped, greenish-yellow leaves, with a dark-green mid-section. 
Flowers: During Summer, producing spikes of bell-shaped, deep-purple flowers, each having internal lavender-blue stripes. Occasionally producing more than one flush of flowers through the season.

 
Hosta.
'Great Expectations'

Form: A clump-forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 22in (55cm)
Spread: 34in (90cm)
Foliage: Having large, heart-shaped, dark-green leaves, with broad green-tinted, creamy-yellow centres.
Flowers: During early-Summer, producing bell-shaped, greyish-white, blooms.

 
Hosta.
'Ground Master'

Form: A vigorous, stoloniferous, prostrate, perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 10in (25cm)
Spread: 22in (55cm)
Foliage: Having oval to lanceolate, matt olive-green leaves, with irregular, wavy, cream-white margins.  
Flowers: During Summer producing scapes (leafless stems arising from the roots) bearing funnel-shaped, purple flowers.

 
Hosta.
'Hadspen Blue'

Form: A slow-growing, clump-forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 12in (30cm)
Spread: 12in (30cm)
Foliage: Having smooth, heart-shaped, deep glaucous-blue leaves.
Flowers: During Summer producing short spikes of lavender-blue flowers.

 
Hosta.
'Halcyon'

Form: A robust, clump-forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 12in (30cm)
Spread: 3ft (1m)
Foliage: Having tapering, heart-shaped, greyish-blue leaves, which fade to muddy green in full sun. 
Flowers: During mid-Summer producing heavy clusters of trumpet-shaped, violet-mauve flowers.

 
Hosta.
'Honeybells'

Form: A clump-forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 3ft (1m)
Spread: 2ft (60cm)
Foliage: Having light-green, narrowly shield-shaped, leaves, with wavy edges.
Flowers: During late-Summer producing fragrant, pale-lavender blooms.

 
Hosta. hypoleuca
 [White Backed Hosta] 		Form: A clump-forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 18in (45cm)
Spread: 3ft (1m)
Foliage: Having broadly oval leaves, with widely spaced veining, and pale-green above with a white underside.
Flowers: During late-Summer, producing drooping racemes of trumpet-shaped, soft-violet flowers with mauve flecked, pale-green bracts.

 
Hosta.
'Kabitan'

Syn: Hosta. sieboldii 'Kabitan'
Form: A stoloniferous, clump-forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 12in (30cm)
Spread: 24in (60cm)
Foliage: Having glossy, lanceolate, yellowish leaves, with dark-green, wavy margins.
Flowers: During early-Summer producing short racemes of small, trumpet-shaped, pale-violet blossoms.

 
Hosta. kikutii Form: A clump-forming perennial
Fully Hardy:
Height: 16in (40cm)
Spread: 24in (60cm)
Foliage: Having deeply-veined, oval to lance-shaped, dark-green leaves.
Flowers: During mid-Summer producing racemes of bell-shaped, almost white flowers tightly bunched at the top of arching flower stems.

 
Hosta. kikutii 
var caput-avis 		Form: A clump-forming perennial
Fully Hardy:
Height: Less than 16in (40cm)
Spread: 24in (60cm)
Foliage: Having deeply-veined, oval to lance-shaped, dark-green leaves.
Flowers: During mid-Summer producing racemes of bell-shaped, almost white flowers tightly bunched at the top of arching flower stems. Unopened blooms resemble a birds-head.

 
Hosta. kikutii
'Kifukurin' 		Form: A clump-forming perennial
Fully Hardy:
Height: 16in (40cm)
Spread: 24in (60cm)
Foliage: Having large, deeply-veined, oval to lance-shaped, dark-green leaves, with a cream margin.
Flowers: During mid-Summer producing racemes of bell-shaped, almost white flowers tightly bunched at the top of arching flower stems.

 
Hosta.
'Krossa Regal'

Form: A clump-forming perennial
Fully Hardy:
Height: 3ft (1m)
Spread: 3ft (1m)
Foliage: Having deeply ribbed, shield-shaped, bluish-green leaves.
Flowers: During Summer, producing tall spikes of pale-lilac blooms.

 
Hosta. lancifolia Form: A clump-forming perennial
Fully Hardy:
Height: 18in (45cm)
Spread: 30in (75cm)
Foliage: Having narrow lance-shaped, glossy, mid-green leaves. 
Flowers: From late-Summer to early-Autumn, producing racemes of trumpet-shaped, deep-violet blossoms.

 
Hosta.
'Love Pat'

Form: A vigorous, clump-forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 24in (60cm)
Spread: 24in (60cm)
Foliage: Having rounded, deeply-puckered, glaucous blue leaves.
Flowers: During Summer producing racemes of pale-lilac flowers.

 
Hosta. montana Form: A vigorous clump-forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 42in (1.1m)
Spread: 36in (1m)
Foliage: Having oval, veined, deep-green leaves.
Flowers: During mid-Summer producing racemes of trumpet-shaped, pale violet blooms.

 
Hosta. montana
'Aureomarginata'

Form: A vigorous clump-forming perennial. Always the first Hosta to appear in Spring.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 42in (1.1m)
Spread: 36in (1m)
Foliage: Having oval, veined, deep-green leaves, with golden-yellow margins.
Flowers: During mid-Summer producing racemes of trumpet-shaped, pale violet blooms.

 
Hosta.
'Moonlight'

Form: A clump-forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 20in (50cm)
Spread: 28in (70cm)
Foliage: Having lanceolate, mid-green leaves with greenish-yellow centres and narrow white margins. 
Flowers: 

 
Hosta. nigrescens
 		Form: A vigorous, clump-forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 28in (70cm)
Spread: 26in (65cm)
Foliage: Having shield-shaped, concave, puckered, glaucous grey-green leaves.
Flowers: During late-Summer producing racemes of funnel-shaped, dove-grey to white flowers on stems of more than 4ft (1.2m)

 
Hosta.
'Paxton's Original' 		See: Hosta. sieboldii 

 
Hosta.
'Pearl Lake' 		Form: A vigorous, clump-forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 14-16in (35-40cm)
Spread: 3ft (1m)
Foliage: Having heart-shaped, glaucous, grey-green leaves.
Flowers: During Summer producing racemes of bell-shaped, opalescent, lavender-blue blooms.

 
Hosta.
'Piedmont Gold'

Form: A slow-growing, clump-forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 24in (60cm)
Spread: 30in (75cm)
Foliage: Having elongated, concave, heavily ribbed, heart-shaped yellowish-green leaves. 
Flowers: During Summer producing racemes of white flowers.

 
Hosta. plantaginea
 [August Lily]

Form: A loose, clump-forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 24in (60cm)
Spread: 48in (1.2m)
Foliage: Having lance-shaped, glossy, mid-green leaves.
Flowers: During late-Summer and early-Autumn producing tall stems bearing fragrant trumpet-shaped white flowers, which open during the evening.

 
Hosta. plantaginea
'Grandiflora' 		Syn: Hosta. plantaginea var japonica
Form: A loose, clump-forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 24in (60cm)
Spread: 48in (1.2m)
Foliage: Having lance-shaped, glossy, mid-green leaves.
Flowers: During late-Summer and early-Autumn producing tall stems bearing fragrant, long, trumpet-shaped white flowers, which open during the evening.

 
Hosta. plantaginea var japonica See: Hosta. plantaginea 'Grandiflora'

 
Hosta. rectifolia Form: An upright, clump-forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 36in (1m)
Spread: 30in (75cm)
Foliage: Having oval to lance-shaped, dark-green leaves.
Flowers: During mid- to late-Summer producing racemes of large, trumpet-shaped, violet blooms.

 
Hosta.
'Regal Splendor'

Form: A clump-forming perennial
Fully Hardy:
Height: 36in (1m)
Spread: 36in (1m)
Foliage: Having arching, lanceolate,  greyish-blue leaves, with irregular white or pale-yellow margins. 
Flowers: During Summer producing tall spikes of lilac blossoms.

 
Hosta.
'Royal Standard'

Form: An upright, clump-forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 24in (60cm)
Spread: 48in (1.2m)
Foliage: Having glossy, narrowly shield-shaped, pale-green leaves.
Flowers: During Summer producing pure white slightly fragrant trumpet-shaped blooms, which open in the evening.

 
Hosta.
'Sagae' 		See: Hosta. fluctuans 'Sagae' 

 
Hosta.
'Shade Fanfare'

Form: A vigorous, clump-forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 18in (45cm)
Spread: 30in (75cm)
Foliage: Having elongated, heart-shaped, pale-green leaves with creamy-white margins. 
Flowers: During Summer producing an abundance of lavender blooms

 
Hosta. sieboldiana

Form: A robust, clump-forming perennial
Fully Hardy:
Height: Growing to 36in (1m) or more
Spread: 5ft (1.5m)
Foliage: Having large concave, heart-shaped, greyish-green leaves 
Flowers: During early-Summer producing racemes of trumpet-shaped, pale-lilac flowers.

 
Hosta. sieboldiana
var elegans

Form: A robust, clump-forming perennial
Fully Hardy:
Height: Growing to 36in (1m) or more
Spread: 5ft (1.5m)
Foliage: Having very large concave, heart-shaped, greyish-green leaves 
Flowers: During early-Summer producing racemes of trumpet-shaped, pale-lilac flowers.

 
Hosta. sieboldiana
'Frances Williams'

Form: A robust, clump-forming perennial
Fully Hardy:
Height: Growing to 36in (1m) or more
Spread: 5ft (1.5m)
Foliage: Having concave, heart-shaped, greyish-green leaves, with greenish-yellow margins. 
Flowers: During early-Summer producing racemes of trumpet-shaped, pale-lilac flowers.

 
Hosta. sieboldii

Syn: Hosta. albomarginata & Hosta. 'Paxton's Original'
Form: A vigorous, clump-forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 18in (45cm)
Spread: 24in (60cm)
Foliage: Having narrow, lanceolate, pale green leaves, with narrow white margins.
Flowers: During late-Summer producing racemes of trumpet-shaped, pale lilac blossoms.

 
Hosta. sieboldii
'Kabitan' 		See: Hosta. 'Kabitan' 

 
Hosta.
'Snowden'

Form: A clump-forming perennial
Fully Hardy:
Height: 36in (1m)
Spread: 36in (1m)
Foliage: Having elongated, shield-shaped, blue-green leaves.
Flowers: During Summer producing dainty stems of green tinged white flowers.

 
Hosta.
'Sum and Substance'

Form: A vigorous clump-forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 36in (1m)
Spread: 36in (1m)
Foliage: Having large heart-shaped, golden-green leaves.
Flowers: During mid-Summer, producing tall spikes of lavender blossoms.

 
Hosta.
'Summer Music' 		Form: A slow-growing, clump-forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 12in (30cm)
Spread: 16in (40cm)
Foliage: Having skewed, oval to shield-shaped, white leaves with a green margin.
Flowers: During Summer producing racemes of pale lavender flowers.

 
Hosta.
'Tall Boy'

Form: A clump-forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 24in (60cm)
Spread: 24in (60cm)
Foliage: Having large lanceolate mid-green leaves, tapering to a point.
Flowers: During Summer producing 48in (1.2m) stems, bearing an abundance of rich lilac blooms.

 
Hosta. tardiflora

Form: A slow-growing clump-forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 12in (30cm)
Spread: 30in (75cm)
Foliage: Having glossy, narrow, lance-shaped, mid-green leaves.
Flowers: During late-Summer to early-Autumn producing dense racemes of trumpet-shaped lilac flowers.

 
Hosta.
'Thomas Hogg' 		See: Hosta. undulata var albomarginata 

 
Hosta. tokudama

Form: A very slow-growing, clump-forming perennial. 
Fully Hardy:
Height: 18in (45cm)
Spread: 30in (75cm)
Foliage: Having puckered, concave, shield-shaped, dark blue-green leaves. 
Flowers: During mid-Summer producing racemes of pale greyish-lilac, trumpet-shaped, blooms. 

 
Hosta. tokudama
'Aureonebulosa'

Syn: Hosta. tokudama 'Variegata'
Form: A very slow-growing, clump-forming perennial. 
Fully Hardy:
Height: 18in (45cm)
Spread: 30in (75cm)
Foliage: Having puckered, concave, shield-shaped, dark-green leaves, heavily marked with irregular greenish-yellow patches. 
Flowers: During mid-Summer producing racemes of pale greyish-lilac, trumpet-shaped, blooms. 
Hosta. tokudama
'Flavocircinalis' 		Form: A very slow-growing, clump-forming perennial. Often mistaken for a juvenile 'Frances Williams'
Fully Hardy:
Height: 18in (45cm)
Spread: 30in (75cm)
Foliage: Having concave, heart-shaped, greyish-green leaves, with greenish-yellow margins. 
Flowers: During early-Summer producing racemes of trumpet-shaped, pale-lilac flowers.

 
Hosta. tokudama
'Variegata' 		See: Hosta. tokudama 'Aureonebulosa'


Hosta. undulata
var albomarginata

Syn: Hosta. 'Thomas Hogg'
Form: A clump-forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 22in (55cm)
Spread: 24in (60cm)
Foliage: Having oval to lanceolate, pale-green leaves, with near white margins.
Flowers: During early- to mid-Summer producing racemes of trumpet-shaped, pale-mauve flowers.

 
Hosta. undulata
var erromena 		Form: A robust, clump-forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 18in (45cm)
Spread: 24in (60cm)
Foliage: Having elongated, shield-shaped, mid-green leaves.
Flowers: During Summer producing trumpet-shaped, pale-mauve blossoms.

 
Hosta. undulata
var univittata
 		Form: A vigorous clump-forming perennial
Fully Hardy:
Height: 22in (55cm)
Spread: 24in (60cm)
Foliage: Having oval to lanceolate, pale-green leaves, with near white centres.
Flowers: During early- to mid-Summer producing racemes of trumpet-shaped, pale-mauve flowers.

 
Hosta. ventricosa

Form: A clump-forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 28in (70cm)
Spread: 36in (1m)
Foliage: Having elongated, shield-shaped, mid-green leaves, with wavy edges. 
Flowers: During late-Summer producing racemes of bell-shaped, deep purple blossoms.

 
Hosta. ventricosa
'Variegata'

Form: A clump-forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 28in (70cm)
Spread: 36in (1m)
Foliage: Having elongated, shield-shaped, mid-green leaves, with wavy edges and cream to yellow-green margins. 
Flowers: During late-Summer producing racemes of bell-shaped, deep purple blossoms.
Hosta. venusta

Form: A vigorous, clump-forming perennial. 
Fully Hardy:
Height: 12in (30cm)
Spread: 12in (30cm)
Foliage: Having lanceolate, mid-green leaves.
Flowers: During mid-Summer, producing an abundance of trumpet-shaped, purple flowers held on erect stems.

 
Hosta. 
'Veronica Lake' 		Form: A vigorous clump-forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 14-16in (35-40cm)
Spread: 36in (1m)
Foliage: Having heart-shaped, glaucous, grey-green leaves, with cream margins.
Flowers: During Summer producing racemes of bell-shaped, opalescent, lavender-blue blooms.

 
Hosta. 
'Wide Brim'

Form: A vigorous, clump-forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 30in (75cm)
Spread: 30in (75cm)
Foliage: Having heavily puckered, elongated, shield-shaped, darkish-green, leaves with a creamy-white to yellow margin.
Flowers: During Summer producing white or pale lavender flowers.

 
Hosta. 
'Yellow River'

Form: A clump-forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 22in (55cm)
Spread: 36in (1m)
Foliage: Having tapering lanceolate, dark-green leaves with irregular greenish-yellow margins.
Flowers: During early-Summer producing funnel-shaped, pale lavender-blue flowers on leafless stems (scapes).  

 
Hosta. 
'Zounds'

Form: A slow-growing, clump-forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 36in (1m)
Spread: 36in (1m)
Foliage: Having large bright-gold,  puckered, shield-shaped leaves.
Flowers: During early-Summer producing white or pale-lavender flowers.

 

 

Cultivation: -

Hosta should be grown in moist but well-drained soil, which is fertile and contains a high proportion of organic material. They enjoy shelter from cold and drying winds, and much prefer a position that is fully or partially shaded, although a few cultivars will tolerate full sun. Provide Hosta with the conditions they enjoy and they will reward you with clumps of fresh-looking attractive leaves that will provide a foil to many other herbaceous plants.

Mulching plants from Spring onwards is highly beneficial, conserving moisture, and adding to the organic content of the soil.

 

Propagation: -

Hosta can be divided at almost any time of year, although Spring is accepted to be the best time to do so. 

 

Fully Hardy

Pests & Diseases: -

One of the biggest enemies of Hosta are slugs and snails, who will cheerfully feast on the foliage and chew holes in the leaves and leave a mess of silvery trails over these attractive plants.

 

 

This page was last updated on 12/03/2005

 

 

 
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