Hostas are hardy perennials that are especially perfect for a shady garden. Reliable and very easy to grow, hostas are long-lived—and may even outlive the gardener!
What’s neat about hostas is that there are so many sizes, heights, textures, and colors. Plus, they work in many kinds of gardens (patio, border, container, rock).
Though mainly known for their attractive foliage, the plants also produce lovely flowers during the summer in fragrant pink, lavender, or white. Hummingbirds love the flowers.
Note: Slugs, snails, deer, and rabbits like hostas almost as much as people do. Keep this in mind if you have deer regularly wandering into your garden.
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Hostas
I have three hosta plants in my garden but the last year they grew too big and I don't have too much space. Is it possible to remove some leaves and how can I do it?
late spring freeze
We had a freeze after the large leaf hosta I love came out,now the leaves are turning yellow/ brown. What should I do? - Zone 6
Freeze damage?
Show the plants some love—tough love—and leave them alone. As fairly hardy perennials they should survive; the brief spring chill was a shock and they suffered a set back. When the weather warms they should get back into their growth cycle. When they appear to be back to normal you could gently trim off some of the most faded foliage or just leave them alone.
hostas
I planted two hostas plants last summer, 2019. they have not come back up. what do I do?
are the hostas hiding?
Well, is this when they are due to come up? You give no clue to your location, and we can tell you that hostas are still in hiding in many parts of New England. Check the variety/type, if you know, and Google it or ask the folks/nursery from whom you bought it about its timing. If it does not appear at all, it could be that slugs got it … but don’t give up on it yet.
hosta growth problem cont.
they are badly twisted and a lot of the eyes are missing so the plant is very irregular. I am I zone five. What do you suggest?
irregular hosta
Hard to know exactly from your description, but if the eyes are missing more or less from the center, it could be crown rot. Not pretty but not unusual; in fact, natural. Hostas put on growth on the outside of their clump each year and dead growth accumulates in the center. Dig up the crown, roots and all, and cut out or cut away from the dead center. (This amounts to dividing the plant.) You can replant each smaller plant—or give away a few.
Hosta growth problem
Two years ago these med. size hostas looked great. Starting last year there seemed to be some die out and the leaves and stems were twisted and disfigured. This year as they are just starting to come out of the ground
hosta growth prob
See above for your answer, Coyne
Hosta for Miami
I enjoy reading Farmer's Almanac even though there is barely a mention concerning growing for zone 9+. Can I grow a Hosta in Miami city? I have a huge shady area and don't know what to plant. Thank you
Zone 9+
Hello, Miami! Thank you for your enthusiasm for the Almanac! Many plants, most hostas included, require a winter dormancy period. For most hostas, that minimum 30 days at temps below 43°F. (The need is genetic, so specific to the species.) A few species have lower requirements; these include Hosta clausa, Hosta gracillima, Hosta kikutii, Hosta longipes, Hosta montana (southern forms), Hosta nakaiana, Hosta plantaginea, Hosta rupifraga, Hosta sieboldii,Hosta ventricosa, Hosta venusta, and Hosta yingeri (thanks to plantdelights.com). However, these may fail to thrive and eventually deteriorate.
Your best bet is to visit a nursery in the area and ask them for recommendations. They would be most familiar with the conditions and so knowledgable about the options.
Hostas turning brown, am I overwatering them ?
I have beautiful Hostas but lately they are turning brown and it looks like something is eating them. Please help.
Hostas Turning Brown
It’s hard to say for sure what the root issue is without knowing where you’re growing. Hostas naturally die back with the arrival of cooler temperatures in the fall, so you could be seeing that. Unless you live in a dry area, hostas don’t normally need extra water once they’re established, so if you are already getting regular rain, you may be overwatering. Especially at this time of year, when hostas aren’t actively growing, they can be susceptible to too much water. Luckily, they’re hardy and don’t have trouble bouncing back in the spring!
Hosta replant
I recently got a lot of hosta plants that my friend was digging up. We planted them today 9/27,should we cut them back or is there anything we should do special?
Hosta Replant
Hostas are extremely hearty. You do not need to cut them back until the frost kills off the leaves in a few weeks. If the transplantation left them looking bedraggled you can cut them back and they will survive but it will be better for them to keep their leaves for longer.
not cutting hosts back
We don't have time cut our hostas back in the fall. Will it compromise their health by skipping this part of their care?
Not cutting hostas back
They will be more prone to rot/disease but odds are they will be ok. If you wait until the leaves are SUPER dead from the frost they just pull right off of the plant, no need to even cut them.
Slugs
How do I get rid of slugs that are eating my Hostas's?
Slugs on hostas
Slugs do love hostas. See our Slug page on how to get rid of slugs: https://www.almanac.com/pest/slugs
Hosta's
There are tunnels going to my hosta. The roots are being eaten and the leaves are left. The leaves drop into the hole. One day the plant is standing the next it is flat on the ground.
This morning I just found a pile of leaves moved from the plant and no roots are left. Help! This season I am losing all my hosta.
Hosta Pest
It sounds like you’re dealing with a rodent pest of some sort; probably a groundhog. See our groundhog pest page for advice on repelling them from your garden.
Hostas
I live in Florida, zone 9. Will hostas grow here?
zone 9?
We suggest that they will in the chart that opens this article. However, not all of them will. It would be best to contact your local cooperative extension service to see if and which in your particular area would do best. Here’s a link to find the service nearest you: https://www.almanac.com/content/cooperative-extension-services
Hostas
I'm wondering why my green and white hostas are now having leaves that are all green and are not like the original plant that I purchased. Am I doing something wrong?
Hostas
I am moving into a new home and it has several hostas, but they are laying flat on the ground as if an animal has been laying on them. However, there are no animals in the area that big. So what's going on and what do I do with them. It's definitely fall here.
hostas on the ground
Did you have a freeze or a chill? Hostas are perennials but they are not evergreens, so they will “give up,” so to speak at some point in the fall as they prepare to enter dormancy. Without knowing more, it sounds like you need do nothing.
Hosta planting
Can you plant hosta seeds in ground in fall as long as you water them? Will they come up in the Spring?
when to start hosta seeds
Seed-starting time for hostas as well as other plants is February or March. About two weeks before you want to start/plant them (we suggest in peat pots or the like), put them into a bowl of water and soak them, in the refrigerator for about two weeks. Here’s some guidance on seed starting: https://www.almanac.com/content/starting-seeds-indoors
Bear in mind that germination is typically low (you need a lot of seeds to get a few plants) and slow (it could be two weeks to two months or more before you see growth). Good luck with this—and remember you can always divide hostas to increase your collection (it doesn’t take as long to get a plant).
about hosta
I like the idea you share about bare root division in hosta. I personally promote root division rather than seed propagation. The way you present your ideas are appreciable in simple and easy to understand.