Brought to America in the late 1800’s from Japan, Korea and China ordinary-looking Hosta became an almost forgotten fixture in shade gardens. Fortunately, some nurseries recognized its enormous potential and the 1980’s and 1990’s saw an explosion of interest with breeders introducing improved varieties in a kaleidoscope of brightly hued colors as well as unique foliage shapes and textures. Lily-like flowers in lavender or white (some fragrant) appear late June to mid-August on stems that rise above the leaves. Hosta prefer moist, rich organic soil in bright dappled sunlight to shade, tolerating up to four hours of direct sunlight in the morning or mid-afternoon. Types with golden colors need at least 2 hours of direct sun to maintain the color.
Small
| Name | HxW | Leaf Color | Notes | Slug Resistant |
| Designer Genes | 12”x24” | Yellow-gold | Red stems and leaf tips in spring. Foliage will be lime green in shade | |
| Gemstone | 10”x24” | Blue | Sweet mound of powdery blue, wavy leaves. Ideal for edging | |
| Ginko Craig | 12”x20” | Green with white margin | Narrow leaves and low, dense form make this a great edging plant | |
| Heat Wave | 12”x24” | Gold with blue- green margin | Cupped, corrugated leaves mature to blue with a yellow bolt in the center | |
| Lakeside Paisley Print | 10”x30” | Green and creamy white | Wavy-edged leaves have striking, feathery looking central variegation | |
| Maui Buttercups | 10”x24” | Gold | Rounded, deeply cupped leaves have great texture. Violet flowers in July | X |
| Popcorn | 12”x24” | Creamy white with blue-green margin | New leaves emerge yellow, fading to creamy white. White flowers in July | |
| Praying Hands | 14”x24” | Green with gold margin | Tightly folded, upright leaves resemble hands in prayer! | |
| Rainforest Sunrise S | 10”x25” | Green and gold | Cupped, corrugated leaves with dramatic color contrast, especially if grown in morning sun | X |
| Stiletto | 12”x30” | Green with white margin | Long, skinny rippled leaves form a dense mound |
Medium
| Name | HxW | Leaf Color | Notes | Slug Resistant |
| Ann Kulpa | 20”x24” | Green with yellow to white center | Cupped, heart-shaped leaves. Slender central band of creamy yellow to white | |
| August Moon S | 20”x40” | Gold | Excellent older gold variety with broad golden leaves. Best in AM sun | |
| Aureomarginata S | 20”x40” | Green with yellow margin | An old but good variety with consistent yellow margins from leaf to leaf | |
| Blue Cadet | 15”x36” | Blue-green | Leaves become greener in summer, changing to an excellent yellow in fall | |
| Blue Ivory | 16”x30” | Blue with white margin | Wide, irregular creamy white margin brightens to white in summer | X |
| Blue Jay | 16”x30” | Blue | Heart-shaped leaves are thick and hold their intense blue color well | X |
| Dancing Queen | 18”x30” | Yellow | Wedge-shaped leaves with a wavy pie crust margin remain yellow all season | |
| Golden Prayers | 15”x30” | Gold | Upright leaves are held in a praying position. Near white flowers in Jun-Jul | |
| Emerald Tiara | 16”x35” | Gold with green margin | Forms a very dense mound of foliage. Color is best with at least 2 hours sun | |
| Fire Island | 15”x24” | Gold | Striking red leaf stems. Avoid hot sun, as leaves may bleach out | |
| First Frost | 15”x36” | Blue with yellow to white margin | Bright yellow margin fades to white in summer | X |
| Fragrant Blue F | 20”x48” | Blue | First blue hosta with fragrant flowers! Pale lavender flowers in early August | X |
| Francee S | 20”x48” | Green with white margin | Attractive variegation holds up well all season. Grows relatively quickly | X |
| Gold Standard | 22”x60” | Gold leaves with dark green margin | Forms a dense mound of bright foliage in a short period of time | |
| Golden Tiara | 15”x40” | Green with gold margin | Grows fast and has an excellent display of lavender flowers, even in shade | |
| Halcyon | 18”x40” | Blue-green | Thick, slightly wavy leaves and a good show of pale lavender flowers late July | X |
| Hudson Bay | 20”x36” | Blue-green and white | Very wide, irregular blue margin | X |
| Invincible S, F | 20”x48” | Green | Shiny dark green leaves and fragrant pale lavender flowers in August | |
| June S | 16”x30” | Gold with blue- green margin | Streaky margin. Best gold color with AM sun. Gold becomes lime green in shade | X |
| June Fever S | 16”x30” | Gold with blue- green margin | Like June in form, but gold color is more prominent and margin is much thinner | X |
| Love Pat | 20”x50” | Blue-green | Cupped, powdery blue leaves become blue-green in summer. White flowers | X |
| Orange Marmalade | 20”x36” | Gold with blue-green margin | New leaves emerge amber then turn creamy white with orange hues | |
| Patriot S | 15”x36” | Green with white margin | Improved form of Francee with wider, crisp white margins | |
| Prairie Sunset | 20”x50” | Yellow with green margin | Long leaves have a thin margin. Near white flowers | |
| Rhino Hide | 20”x30” | Blue-green and yellow | Ultra thick, cupped and heavily textured leaves are held upright by thick stems | X |
| So Sweet S, F | 22”x50” | Green with white margin | Fast growing, with a superior display of fragrant pale lavender flowers in Aug | X |
| Striptease | 20”x50” | Green and gold | Narrow leaves with a white “strip” between the leaf colors | |
| Tidewater | 20”x48” | Blue-green | Long, arching leaves held by stiff stems create a fountain-like effect | |
| Whirlwind | 18”x36’ | Green and cream | Wavy and twisted leaves. White center variegation gradually turns green | |
| Wide Brim | 18”x45” | Blue-green with yellow to white margin | Fast growth rate and striking foliage colors |
Large
| Name | HxW | Leaf Color | Notes | Slug Resistant |
| Big Daddy | 24”x60” | Blue-green | Thick, heavily corrugated leaves. Dense clusters of near-white flowers in June | X |
| Brother Stefan | 24”x40” | Green and gold with dark green margin | Award-winner with stunning variegation. Give this beauty time to develop | X |
| Captain Kirk S | 24”x42” | Gold with blue- green margin | A relative of Gold Standard with wider blue margins and thicker leaves | X |
| Christmas Tree | 24”x54” | Green with cream margin | Leaf margin emerges yellow. Cupped, round leaves have a great crinkly texture | X |
| Dream Queen | 24”x48” | Blue-green and yellow | A smaller Great Expectations with bolder colors and more sun tolerance | X |
| Elegans | 24”x60” | Blue-green | The “blue” standard! Thick, heavily corrugated leaves and dense clusters of near-white flowers in late June | X |
| Fire and Ice | 24”x48” | White with green margin | The colors of Patriot in reverse! Leaves have heavy substance | |
| Frances Williams | 24”x60” | Blue-green leaves with gold margin | Popular, regal specimen | |
| Great Expectations | 28”x60” | Blue-green and yellow | Huge, broad, heavily corrugated leaves. Slow to establish – keep moist and feed | X |
| Guacamole F | 24”x54” | Green-yellow with dark green margin | Fast growing. Large, fragrant white flowers and gorgeous chartreuse leaves | |
| Liberty | 24”x48” | Blue-green with yellow to creamy white margin | New leaves have very wide yellow margins, becoming whiter as the centers become greener | |
| Night Before Christmas | 24”x60” | Green and white | Sharp color contrast between dark green margin and white center, even in shade | |
| Olive Bailey Langdon | 30”x60” | Blue-green leaves with gold margin | Heavier leaves are less likely to sunburn than Frances Williams | |
| Plantaginea grandiflora F | 24”x60” | Green, shiny | Huge white, intensely fragrant, truly nocturnal flowers | |
| Royal Standard S, F | 24”x60” | Green | Smaller, darker foliage and more flowers than H. plantaginea | |
| Stained Glass F | 24”x54” | Gold | Bright gold color all season. Prominent veining creates stained glass effect | X |
| Sun Power S | 28”x70” | Gold | Wavy leaves become brighter gold in direct sun | X |
Giant
| Name | HxW | Leaf Color | Notes | Slug Resistant |
| Blue Angel | 32”x72” | Blue | Elegant giant hosta. Will hold blue color best in full shade. White flowers in July | X |
| Earth Angel | 32”x60” | Blue-green with creamy white margin | Leaves emerge blue with yellow margin, turning blue-green and white in summer. Pale lavender flowers in July | |
| Empress Wu | 48”x72” | Green with bluish cast | Colossal hosta with waxy, corrugated leaves | X |
| Key West | 36”x72” | Gold | Slightly wavy leaves form a graceful mound | |
| Krossa Regal | 32”x72” | Blue | Classic vase-shaped hosta is a great specimen or background plant. Lavender flowers in Aug on 3-6’ stems - no pods! | X |
| Regal Splendor | 32”x72” | Blue-green with creamy white margin | Impressive variegated vase-shaped form similar to Krossa Regal. Lavender flowers in Aug on 5’ stems | X |
| Sagae | 34”x72” | Blue-green with creamy white margin | Vase-shaped form. Pale lavender flowers on 4’ stems in July | X |
| Sum and Substance S | 36”x72” | Gold-green | Legendary giant hosta with immense gold to gold-green leaves | X |
| Victory | 36”x72” | Green with creamy white margin | Forms a huge mound of thick, wavy-edged leaves. White flowers on 7’ stems | X |
Mini
| Name | HxW | Leaf Color | Notes | Slug Resistant |
| Blue Mouse Ears | 6”x10” | Blue-green | Thick, almost rubbery, rounded leaves. Violet flowers with lavender stripes | X |
| Church Mouse | 8”x12” | Blue-green | Leaves are distinctly wavy with a lighter green margin. Lavender June flowers | X |
| Curly Fries | 6”x16” | Green | Narrow leaves have a fun wiggly look | |
| Dew Drop | 6”x8’ | Green with white margin | Leaves emerge chartreuse, changing to green. Lavender flowers mid-summer | |
| Frosted Mouse Ears | 6”x12” | Blue-green and cream | Thick, rounded leaves emerge with a wide yellow margin, turning cream | |
| Mighty Mouse | 6”x20” | Blue-green with cream margin | Thick, rounded leaves. Lavender flowers on short stems in June | X |
| Pandora’s Box | 4”x6” | Blue-green and white | So cute and colorful with its wavy leaves and bright white variegation! Great accent in containers | |
| School Mouse | 6”x12” | Blue-green with creamy yellow margin | Wavy leaves twist to and fro. The creamy margin brightens to yellow in summer. Lavender flowers in June |
HOSTA CARE
The main nemesis of hosta is the common garden slug, but preventative measures such as morning watering and applying a deterrent, such as Sluggo®, can be effective. In terms of nutrition, a low nitrogen 5-10-5 or 10-10-10 fertilizer applied in mid to late April can provide additional fertility to foster quicker growth. High nitrogen fertilizers can produce tremendous growth but may make the plants more susceptible to fungal or bacterial rot. Cut back and remove dead leaves in fall.
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