Hostas are hardy perennials that are especially perfect for a garden that doesn’t get too much sun. Reliable and very easy to grow, hostas are long-lived—and may even outlive the gardener! Here’s how to grow hostas in your garden.
About Hostas
What’s neat about hostas is that there are so many sizes, heights, textures, and colors to work with! They fit into so many different kinds of gardens (patio, border, container, rock, shade) and are cold-hardy, too.
Most varieties tend to have a spread and height of between 1 and 3 feet, but larger or smaller varieties are readily available. Leaf colors include variegated white, lime green, and blue-green, to name just a few. The texture and shape of hosta leaves are also diverse, ranging from smooth and narrow to ridged and heart-shaped.
Though mainly known for their attractive foliage, the plants also produce lovely flowers from early summer to early fall in pink, lavender, light blue, or white. Hummingbirds and other pollinators love the flowers, and the flowers may even be fragrant, depending on variety.
Note: Slugs, snails, rabbits, and especially deer like hostas almost as much as people do. Keep this in mind if you have deer regularly wandering into your garden, as they will readily graze a hosta patch down to just stems.
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I am confused. Last year I
I am confused. Last year I took hosta blooms and seeds from the blooms(black) and planted them in the garden. This Spring many plants came up and flowered. I read that you can't grow Hosta from seed. What did I do wrong or right? I live in Eastern PA.
Thanks!!
Along with deer and rabbits,
Along with deer and rabbits, chickens love hostas! My girls are the shoots and it took 2 years but now my hosta bed they could get to is totally gone! Occasionally while they're free-ranging they sneaked out to the front of the house and find the hosta bed out there but luckily I catch them before they've done much damage!
hosta
I divided and transplanted many hostas last year. They came up fine, are starting to bud, a lot of the leaves, especially the under-leaves are yellowing/dying. Not too much water, they are planted under pine trees, is this a problem?
Thank you
Seed
I just finished my pergola and want to plant hostas under there. Is early July to late to sow seed and grow under the pergola. I live in south Ga so frost is late in our area.
planting hostas
Hostas do not grow from seed. You need to buy hostas as dormant, bare-root divisions or potted plants. Visitt your local nursery and describe your conditions (direct sun, shade, etc.) and ask which best fit your space. Then see above for care tips.
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?
too big
You want to divide the plants, not just pull out leaves. Per above, if you wish to divide a hosta for a neater appearance, it’s best to do so in early spring once the ‘eyes’ or growing tips start to emerge from the ground. use the spade of a shovel on the outer edge, then push the spade into the center of the plant. Dig and lift the clump – which is actually a fresh new plant. Leave as much of the root attached as possible to each crown or plant. Transplant a hosta to a new site. Plant the new hostas at the same soil level as they were previously. Water well until established.
Of course, if you have no place to plant it, consider giving it to a friend or neighbor, or ask a community garden if it would be useful as a border plant. It would be a shame to simply discard 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?
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