Description
Hosta – Plantain Lily –
There are about 70 species of mostly clump forming, occasionally rhizomatous or stoloniferous perennials, in this genus. They occur from sunbaked cliffs, rocky stream sides, woodland, and alpine meadows in China, Korea, Japan, and Eastern Russia. Numerous hybrids have also been developed, mainly in the USA. Hostas are grown primarily for their bold foliage, produced in dense mounds of overlapping, ovate to heart shaped or lance shaped leaves. The leaves may be green, yellow, gray-blue, or variegated, and are often glaucous. One sided racemes of bell, trumpet or spider shaped flowers, to 1 1/4″ long, are borne on usually leafless sometimes leafy stems, mainly in summer. They are followed by oblong, green, later brown seed capsules. Plant height given in the description below refer to the mounds of foliage, flower stems heights, are given separately.
Hostas may be grown as accent plants or as ground covers under deep-rooted deciduous tree, in a mixed or herbaceous border, or near water, hostas are excellent for a rock garden, a peat bed, or containers.
Grow in fertile, moist but well drained, neutral soil. Hostas are shade tolerant and grow best win full morning sun in Northern climates, and filtered shade in South North America. Chinese species require full sun to bloom properly. Hostas will tolerate drought, although a summer mulch to retain moisture is usually beneficial. Feed regularly during the growing season. Divide in late summer to early spring. Most hosta are hardy to Zones 3-9.
Prone to slugs and snails, vine weevil, viruses, and nematodes.
H. ‘Fortunei’ – This vigorous, clump forming perennial grows 18-22″ tall and 32-36″ wide. It produces ovate, pointed, matte, dark green leaves, 8-12″ long. In mid summer atop of leafy stems it carries funnel shaped lavender flowers, on stems 32″ long.
‘F. Albomarginata’ – has large, dull, mid to deep green leaves, to 12″ long, the irregular creamy-yellow edges turning white with age. The amount of variegation may vary from year to year
‘F. Albopicta’ – H. ‘Aureomaculata’ – produces narrowly heart shaped, thin, creamy yellow leaves, 8-10″ long, irregularly edged dark green, fading slowly to dull mid green
‘F. Aureomarginata’ – H. ‘Obscura Marginata’ – has ovate to heart shaped, leathery, distinctly veined, deep olive green leaves, 8-10″ long, with irregularly edge yellow. The flowers are borne freely on stems 34″ long, in summer. Tolerates sun or partial shade.
‘F. Gloriosa’ – is slow growing to 18″ tall and 24″ wide, and produces narrowly elliptic, cupped, slightly puckered, glossy, dark olive-green leaves, 6″ long, with regular, very narrow white edges. In summer, it bears lavender-blue flowers.
‘F. Hyancinthina’ – H. ‘Hyacinthina’ – grows 24″ tall and 36″ wide and produces ovate to heart shaped, wavy, slightly puckered, thick, glaucous, gray green leaves, finely edged white and blue-gray beneath. In summer, violet flowers, are borne freely on slightly arching, glaucous stems, 36″ long.
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