Shade and hostas go together like, well, shade and hostas. Tomatoes and basil? Summer and watermelon?
Okay, so maybe I have a thing for hostas. You should, too, if you have shady spots in your yard. Hostas are so easy to care for that they can make even a newbie gardener or homeowner look like an old pro. A few minutes of playing around with different hosta varieties can create eye-catching displays to jazz up your space.
Hostas are available in many sizes, colors, and patterns. You can create an entire landscape display with nothing else but hostas. They range in size from only a few inches to some that reach five or six feet wide and almost as tall. Once you dive into this fascinating perennial foliage world, you may start wishing for more shady spots in your garden.
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There is a Hosta for Everyone
Hosta is both the common name of these plants and the genus name. Hostas are native to northeast Asia but have been cultivated here for generations.
Hostas are hardy perennials, and many variations in leaf shape, texture, and variegation patterns are possible. In fact, there are over 3000 registered varieties.
Hardy in USDA zones 3-9, the hosta is excellent for those of us who live in cold weather but is widely adapted to areas from Minnesota to Florida. I regularly ignore mine and give them pretty much zero maintenance. They come back every spring and make displays of cream and emerald all summer long.
Fortunately, there is an easy way to get more hostas for zero expense and create that lush, shady oasis worthy of a magazine photo shoot.
The Easy Way To Propagate hostas
Hostas do not seem to root well from vegetative cuttings. They can be rooted in water, but the success rate is usually low. Some growers save seeds in the fall and sow them in spring like other seeds, hoping for new varieties. If you have the space, that can be an rewarding hobby. Seeds can also be purchased online.
Fortunately, hostas can be propagated by splitting the root ball, also called root division. A hosta you buy may already have enough stems to try breaking into two plants. Hostas living happily in your garden for a few years should easily be ready to divide.
How to Propagate Hostas by Root Division
Propagating your hostas by division is easiest in spring when the spears of new hosta shoots are just a couple of inches tall. Splitting existing clumps at this time of year works well because there is no damage to existing leaves and stalks, and you can clearly see what to do and where to do it.
However, you don’t have to wait for next spring. Hostas are tough. They will tolerate a lot of abuse and can be divided at any time of year. Try to do it with enough time for the new divisions to become established before winter weather if you can.
To Divide Your Hostas
Hostas have a crown and root ball that can be split into multiple new plants. Follow these simple steps to get started. Don’t worry too much about breaking the root ball apart. The plant will forgive you.
- Use a garden spade to carefully dig around your hosta, loosening the soil and the roots. Gently lift the entire root ball free. You may find it helpful to bring your root clump to a clean surface where you can work at a comfortable height.
- Trim off any remaining brown and dead foliage. Getting the old stuff out of the way makes it easier to see what you are working with.
- Visually plan where to make your breaks. Ideally, when you are done dividing, there will be 2-3 shoots for each new hunk of roots.
- You can break apart the hosta root ball according to your division plan using your hands or cut them with a knife, shears, or even your garden spade. Take care not to break off the spears or stalks and leaves.
- Plant each divided root section in its new spot in your garden bed. Don’t bury the new plants too deeply. The root crown should be at the surface. A little compost will help them along.
- Give your new plants a nice watering-in. Mulch around them to keep the soil moisture even and prevent weeds.
Alternatively, if you want to take only one or two new root clumps from an existing large plant, use a soil knife to dig down and separate a portion of the roots while the plant is still in the ground. Lift that portion free and transplant it. Leave the rest of the mother plant undisturbed.
Tips For Growing A Happy Heap Of Hostas
Growing gorgeous hostas takes fertile soil, moisture, some shade, and not much else. That’s about it. Read on for tips on soil, sun, and pesky deer.
Sun, Soil, and FAQs
Sunlight
Hostas are sought after for their love of shade. Hostas thrive when other plants just won’t grow or even survive due to the shade. Dappled sunlight is about as much as they enjoy, and not too much of that.
Light shade is perfect. Hostas like to have good air circulation around them. Don’t crowd them too much with other, taller plants.
Soil and water
Hostas like fertile, moist, and well-drained soil. Think of the moist, rich, organic material found under a forest canopy. Moist doesn’t mean poorly drained. If you have heavy clay soil with poor drainage, you may need to amend the soil or create a raised berm to plant your hostas.
If growing hostas in a pot, make sure there is adequate drainage. Choose a large planter and fill it with excellent quality potting soil. Add some perlite and compost.
Mulching
Hostas love to be mulched, and the contrast between the mulch and the foliage can look sharp. Mulch with any natural mulch material, and reapply as it decomposes. It will keep your soil cool and moist, which the hostas like, and keep the weeds down.
Hosta FAQs
So, deer like hostas. A lot. It can be a problem if you have deer wandering around your yard every night. I have found that deer are more likely to nibble my hostas, hydrangeas, and everything else, in spring when there isn’t much else to eat.
Once the green flush of summer has arrived, there must be enough variety because I will seldom find new deer damage. I hope I didn’t tempt them with that statement.
Planting hostas with ferns can help–they don’t typically eat ferns. Strong-smelling plants like marigolds or herbs are also deer turnoffs. Marigolds also seem to repel rabbits, who also like to munch on hostas.
Chemical repellents can be purchased and have varying degrees of effectiveness and varied longevity. Some evidence suggests a diluted hot sauce or chili pepper spray may deter the deer and other herbivores. Most repellents need to be reapplied several times throughout the growing season.
Yes. Hostas will flower on a spike that protrudes above the plant. Most flowers are small and easy to miss, but some are fragrant and beautiful. Flower scapes usually only last about three weeks.
Hostas grow well in planters and can dress up your outdoor living space.
Absolutely, hostas can be grown in a container. If your patio or deck is in a shady location, some hostas in planters can be just what you need to add foliage and green color. When selecting a container, think of the mature size of the plant. Some hostas are only a few inches tall, and some are as large as a person.
Hostas are a fantastic choice to cover your shady areas with beautiful foliage. They need almost no maintenance and will come back year after year.
Learning to propagate them will help you to cover your shady spots with gorgeous hostas in short order, and also give you more hostas to trade with other gardeners or give as gifts.
Brenda Stirling
Deer are a nuisance in this area and they devour Hosta!! What can be done?