Shade gardening can be a real challenge. Fortunately hostas make it easy. In my own garden, I have over a hundred and fifty different named varieties of hosta. On this page, I'd like to share with you my love of hostas.Why hostas?
Many different sizes
Many different variegations
My hosta garden
Hostas on the web
Hosta care
Why Hostas? Hostas are perennials prized for many reasons:
- They are easy to grow
- They grow in shady places
- They have beautiful foliage
- They come in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors
- They are long-lived
- They require little or no special care
Hostas come in lot's of sizes:
Small 'Uzo No Mai'
1" x 3"
(Jpeg file size: 20K)Medium 'Blue Wedgewood'
15" x 22"
(Jpeg file size: 63K)Large 'Sum and Substance'
3' x 4'
(Jpeg file size: 164K)
Hostas come in many different variegations:
Green Edge Fortunei 'Albo Picta'
(Gif file size: 32K)White Edge 'Patriot'
(Jpeg file size: 71K)Gold Edge 'Wide Brim'
(Jpeg file size: 69K)
The following small photos link to large photos of my hosta garden:
Linda's Hostas (PC tif 353K) Linda's Hostas (MacIntosh tiff 353K)
The following site has a list of lots more photos of Hosta:
Hosta care
The experts will generally tell you that hostas require moist soil with good aeration. When you prepare your planting hole, I recommend you add compost, peat moss, or any other organic additive that will increase aeration and moisture retention. Dig a hole that is two-feet in diameter and one foot deep. Although I grow hosta's successfully in very dry shade, I do prepare the soil well, and water occasionally during very dry sells.
Hostas are extremely hardy, and even without special site preparation, they will probably do fine. However, good site preparation, and adequate water will help your hostas flourish, and will also go a long way toward helping your hostas weather those hot, dry summer days.
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linda AT stokesbury.org © Copyright 2003 Linda Brennan, all rights reserved. Updated June 27, 2010 |
