ThatHostaPlace

That Hosta Place

By: Michelle and Jacqueline Maybury

HOSTA PAGE

The Hosta Lily is well known for the beauty of the leaves. The common name for Hosta, a fleshy rooted cousin in the Lily family, is Plantian Lily. The Hosta is a perennial native of China and Japan. It is widely planted here in the nation's Sunbelt for its beautiful foliage.

Hostas grow best in shady areas under thick trees. Some varieties will also grow well in dappled sun or in an area with few hours of morning sun on the east or north side of a house. Some of the lower growing varieties are used as ground cover, which totally substitute for turf grasses in areas of deep shade.

Hostas thrive in moist, well drained soil which is slightly acidic. Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss can be mixed with the soil to create this condition in your planting area.

Hostas should be spaced 3 to 4 feet apart, depending on the variety and the density of the foliage. Some larger varieties may need even more space, as the leaves can get enormous in size. As you plant individual plants, dig a hole in the bed twice the width and the same depth as the container it is growing in. Remove the Hosta from the container, and gently break apart the roots at the bottom. Set the plant in the hole, fill in the soil as needed. Water thoroughly. When planting single, bare root Hostas, dig a hole in the bed adequate for the roots. Don't plant Hostas too deep, as planting any variety too deep can kill the plant. The soil should be just above where the root ends and the leaves start.

Even though Hostas bloom in the early summer, they should generally be treated as a foliage plant. Foliage plants require a well balanced fertilizer. Fertilize Hostas once a year in early summer to encourage new leaf growth and bring out the best of their potential beauty.

All Hosta varieties go dormant in the winter. They collapse to almost nothing after a few cold nights. When spring rolls around again, new leaves grow from the roots and the Hosta quickly returns to its full leafy splendor.