Perennial
Hosta
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flowers | Flowers in July | Flowers in August | ||||||||||
| Plant | Plant in March | Plant in April | Plant in September | Plant in October | ||||||||
| Looks good | Looks good in May | Looks good in June | Looks good in July | Looks good in August | Looks good in September |
Overview
Hostas are clump-forming foliage plants from East Asia, with leaves ranging from thumbnail-sized to wider than a dinner plate and coloured blue-grey, lime, deep green or edged in cream. Lilac or white trumpet flowers appear on stalks in mid to late summer. Thick, waxy-leaved types such as Hosta 'Sum and Substance' and the blue 'Halcyon' and H. sieboldiana 'Elegans' resist slugs far better than thin-leaved kinds.
Where to grow hosta
Give hostas shade or part shade and soil that holds moisture; heavy clay enriched with organic matter is ideal. Blue-leaved varieties keep their colour best in shade, while yellow and gold forms often need a little morning sun to brighten. Pots are a good option where slugs are rampant, as they are easier to protect.
Planting
Plant in early spring just as the shoots appear, or in early autumn. Dig in plenty of compost, set the crown at soil level and water thoroughly. Allow room for the final spread, which can exceed a metre for big types.
Care through the year
Spring
Start slug and snail control before the spears unfurl, as damage done now lasts all season. Mulch with leaf mould or compost.
Summer
Water in dry weather, especially plants in pots, and remove flower stalks once they fade if you prefer a neat look.
Autumn
Leaves yellow and collapse after the first frosts; clear them away to remove slug hiding places.
Winter
Plants are fully dormant. Top up mulch and check pots are not sitting in water.
Pruning
No pruning in the usual sense. Simply cut spent flower stems at the base and remove yellowing or damaged leaves as needed.
Propagation
Divide clumps in spring as the shoots emerge, or in early autumn. Large, old clumps may need a sharp spade or even a bread knife to split; each piece needs several buds and roots.
Common problems
Slugs and snails are the main enemy. Try beer traps, night-time torch patrols, a gravel or wool-pellet mulch, and copper tape around pots before reaching for anything else. Vine weevil grubs attack roots in containers. Hosta virus X causes mottled, distorted leaves; destroy affected plants and do not divide them.
Guides to the problems most likely to affect hosta:
Something else wrong? Diagnose it by symptom.
Month-by-month reminders
Jobs for this plant come round in March, April, September and October. Each month page lists everything else worth doing in the garden at the same time.
Related plants
Sources
Botanical names follow Kew's Plants of the World Online; growing attributes were checked against the references below. Text is our own. See our editorial policy.