Hostas: A host of ideas for your garden
Finding a groundcover for the shade might not get an easier than the hosta. Originating in the Orient, hostas were first discovered growing wild in Japan, China and Korea, with Japanese roots dating as far back as the eighth century. It was not until the late 1700’s that these Asian beauties could make it to Europe, two of the first being Hosta plantaginea and H. ventricosa. Both of these age-old varieties made their first introduction to North America in the early 1800’s and are still beautifying American gardens today.
Named after the Austrian botanist Nicolaus Thomas Host, hostas have become increasingly popular perennials not only across the country, but the south as well. There are currently close to 4,000 varieties of hostas available in the United States, many of which perform exceptionally well in southern regions.
Hostas in the Garden
Hostas are herbaceous perennials (plants with non-woody stems that die back in the winter and return in the spring) that thrive in cool, moist soil and shaded areas. Hostas, mostly grown for their attractive foliage, range from twelve to twenty-four inches in height, as their rich leaves form a dense, low-mounding clump of blue-green, emerald, chartreuse-gold or creamy-white with green. With the vast assortment of hostas to choose from today, they vary not only in color and texture, but in shape and size as well. Varieties like ‘Elegans’ and ‘August Moon’ have broad, oval-shaped leaves, while cultivars like ‘Royal Standard’ and ‘Ginko Craig’ have more pointed, lance-like leaves. Still other varieties like ‘Francee’ and ‘Patriot’ retain full, heart-shaped leaves throughout the growing season.
For optimum coloration and expanse of foliage, plant hostas in a spot that you know will receive direct morning sunlight or at least several hours of filtered light; areas of overly dense shade could result in jaded foliage color or even crown rot. To go along with their moderately lit, damp environment, provide hostas also with sufficient organic matter, such as peat moss or decomposed leaves and mulch. Remember to fertilize them each spring as well with a slow-release, all-purpose fertilizer in order to enhance new growth and to retain the strong, vibrant hues of their foliage.
Landscape Values
Hostas can be used as groundcovers, natural borders or accent plants in nearly any shade garden. Amazingly versatile perennials, hostas perform best in woodland settings, brilliantly adding color, texture and occasionally even fragrance to areas where few other plants will thrive. Hostas are not only relatively pest and disease-free perennials, but they are also low maintenance plants that promise a long life span. In order to be most effective with your hosta plantings, group them together in masses of color, whether it is a sea of green ‘Royal Standards,’ a mass of powdery, grey-blue ‘Blue Angels,’ or a glimmering isle of ‘Golden Tiaras.’ Make sure also to integrate variegated cultivars among solid varieties to add further interest to the shaded setting; incorporating the gold or variegated cultivars will help to brighten dark areas, while making them appear somewhat larger as well.
Although hostas are primarily noted for their striking foliage, they can also be glorified for their alluring blossoms. Hostas bloom from early to late summer, depending upon which varieties you select. Their dainty, tubular florets slightly resemble hyacinths as the white, lilac or blue flowers form graceful clusters atop tall, slender stalks. Some hosta varieties, such as ‘Royal Standard’ and ‘Honeybells,’ produce lightly scented flowers for you to enjoy. Both of these varieties bloom in late July and August, and prefer a little extra direct sunlight in order to emit stronger fragrance.
Because hostas completely die back in the winter, you’ll want to combine them with evergreens and other plants that offer seasonal color. Camellia japonicas and Mahonia bealei for instance, are excellent backdrops for hostas since they provide lush, evergreen color along with eye-catching blossoms during the late winter and early spring when the hostas have not yet broken dormancy. Consider also planting these herbaceous perennials amid ‘Boston Sword,’ ‘Southern Wood’ or ‘Japanese Painted’ ferns; the broad, thick leaves of the hostas add charisma to the willowy stems of the ferns.
Propagating Hostas
The best time to plant, transplant or divide hostas is either after they emerge in the spring or after they bloom in the late summer and early fall. Keep in mind that while hosta division will increase your plant numbers, frequent division will as a result impede their spread. Using a clean, sharp tool, you can divide hostas in two ways:
1. Cut into the plant and slice away a section of a clump, making sure to include roots, while leaving a portion of the original plant in tact. 2. Lift the entire plant, including roots, from the ground and divide the clump into separate plants.
Whichever method you prefer, remember to keep the plant and roots moist. Dig a hole slightly shallower than the root ball, and almost twice the width. Then place the hosta in the hole, leaving the crown just above the soil surface. Add soil as needed, but take care not to bury the crown or tamp the fill soil. Once you’ve got the hosta properly planted, water the soil thoroughly to remove any air pockets that may remain. You might also want to note that at least one growing season must pass before you see any active aboveground growth on your newly planted hostas; encourage better root growth by lightly fertilizing with a slow-release feed containing a high proportion of phosphorous. ✦
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