Hostas
The lush, subtly-colored foliage of hostas makes them a welcome addition to any shade garden. Hostas, also known as plantain lilies, are ideally suited to dense to light shade around trees and shrubs and along walkways. They are late bloomers, with flower stalks of lilylike white to lilac blooms that appear from July to October. The slender to heart-shaped leaves grow in a basal rosette, and, depending on the species, the clumps may attain a height of 21/2 feet and sometimes measure up to 40 inches across. The leaves may be bright or dark green, have a powdery blue cast, or be silvery white. Plants with white or yellow variegated leaves are very popular.
These perennials are hardy outdoors to Zone 3. They prefer rich, well-drained soil that is kept evenly moist, Crown rot can be a problem in soggy soils. Establish new plantings in the spring with nursery plants or young divisions. Set plants 2 to 3 feet apart. When growing hostas from seed, expect to wait at least three years for sizeable plants to develop. Hostess almost never require division, and may last 30 years or more in one spot. To propagate, divide only young plants up to three years of age, as older plants develop a tough crown that is hard to separate, and even more difficult to establish.
Snails and slugs love to feast on hostas; protect the plants with baits available at your nursery.
The most popular hostas include H. sieboldiana, Blue-Leaf Plantain Lily; H. decorates, Blunt-Leaf Plantain Lily; H. fortunei, Tall-Cluster Plantain Lily; H. undulates, Wavy-Leaf Plantain Lily; and H. ventricosa, Blue Plantain Lily.
