Hosta
Hosta is probably the most popular perennial plant in landscape design. It is adaptable to so many uses in the garden and landscape. It is ideal as a border and groundcover plant.
Hosta, with its many varieties of shades and foliage, makes it a perfect accent plant. It has a wide range of shades and sizes of leaves and offers much enjoyment and versatility to
the gardener. Hosta enjoys mostly shady environments, and thrives in soil conditions that are rich in organic material, compost and manure. They require adequate drainage and additional
watering in warm, dry weather and are well known as one of the hardier perennial groups. They are also resistant to insect pests and plant diseases.
The main source of aggravation gardeners find with Hosta, is the appearance of slugs and snails. Slugs and snail, which are ravenous creature that devour good sized pieces of foliage,
can leave large ragged holes. They begin feeding at the bottom of the plant and work their way up. Here are some great tips that ExperTrees suggests to combat this problem.
TIP:
The best way to prevent slugs or snails from destroying your Hosta, is to trap, remove and destroy the slugs every evening. There are commercial traps you can purchase at your local
garden center, but here are some cheap commercial and home remedies you can try.
- Hand pick and remove slugs.
- Place a shallow dish filled with beer near the Hosta - sink the dish into the soil, so the slugs and snails will have easier access to the beer. Beer is toxic to slugs and snails.
- Place grapefruit rind halves open side down in the soil around the Hosta. This is effective for up to 3 days.
- Spread crushed eggshells around the Hosta. Slugs and snails will not travel over the sharp shells.
- Spread horticultural sand around the Hosta in the spring to ward off young slugs and snails.
- Sprinkle handfuls of wood ashes around the base of the Hosta. This will act as a barrier that the slugs and snails cannot get over. (Wear gloves when you do this, as wood ashes
can be caustic) Also note that the stems and leaves of the Hosta do not like wood ashes, so take care not to get any on the plant. Wood ash also affects the soil pH and nutrient balance,
so use sparingly.
- Aluminum Sulphate in small doses (too much makes the soil acidic) worked into the soil around the Hosta, will repel the slugs and snails. Re-apply the dust after heavy rain.
- Soak ordinary dry dog food in water, just enough to make the dog food slightly squishy. Put small piles of this ‘bait’ directly on the ground around the Hosta. Slugs
and snails will cluster around the dog food, and they can be scooped up and removed. Surprisingly, this works better than the standard beer trick.
Here is a list of ExperTrees' favorite Hosta varieties. There are hundreds of others available.
Aphrodite |
60cm |
45cm |
Double white |
Sun or Shade |
Hyacinthian |
60cm |
45cm |
Violet |
Sun or Shade |
Obscura |
60cm |
45cm |
Purple White |
Sun or Partial Shade |
Choo Choo Train |
150cm |
60cm |
Lavender |
Partial Shade |
Black Hill |
90cm |
60cm |
Lavender |
Sun or Shade |
Elisabeth |
95cm |
65cm |
Lavender |
Sun or Shade |
Fountain |
120cm |
75cm |
White, Violet |
Partial Shade |
Iron Gate Delight |
50cm |
35cm |
Lavender |
Sun or Shade |
Joseph |
45cm |
30cm |
Lavender |
Sun or Shade |
Venticosa |
80cm |
50cm |
Purple |
Sun or Shade |
Honeybells |
120cm |
65cm |
Whitish, fragrant |
Sun or Shade |
Tatoo |
45cm |
30cm |
Lavender |
Sun or Shade |
Royal Standard |
95cm |
45cm |
White, fragrant |
Sun or Shade |
Slim Polly |
30cm |
20cm |
Purple |
Partial Shade |
Candy Hearts |
70cm |
40cm |
Whitish |
Sun or Shade |
Permanent Wave |
75cm |
40cm |
Lavender |
Sun or Shade |
Purple Dwarf |
50cm |
20cm |
Purple |
Partial Shade |
Invincible |
60cm |
30cm |
Whitish, fragrant |
Sun or Shade |
Hirao Supreme |
120cm |
60cm |
Lavender |
Sun or Shade |
Pineapple Poll |
60cm |
45cm |
Lavender |
Sun or Shade |
|
Abiqua Moonbeam |
75cm |
65cm |
White |
Sun or Shade |
Big Daddy |
90cm |
60cm |
White |
Sun or Shade |
Big Mama |
120cm |
90cm |
White |
Sun or Shade |
Blue Angel |
120cm |
90cm |
White |
Sun or Shade |
Blue Moon |
25cm |
20cm |
White |
Sun or Shade |
Blue Sheer |
70cm |
60cm |
White |
Sun or Partial Shade |
Blue Splendor |
60cm |
40cm |
White |
Sun or Shade |
Blue Umbrellas |
120cm |
90cm |
Whitish |
Sun or Shade |
Camelot |
60cm |
40cm |
Lavender |
Sun or Shade |
Elegans |
100cm |
80cm |
White |
Sun or Shade |
Elvis Lives |
60cm |
40cm |
Whitish |
Sun or Shade |
Guardian Angel |
120cm |
80cm |
Whitish |
Sun or Partial Shade |
Halycon |
95cm |
50cm |
Whitish |
Sun or Shade |
Krossa Regal |
75cm |
70cm |
Lavender |
Sun or Shade |
|
Day Break |
90cm |
55cm |
Lavender |
Part day Sun |
Doubloons |
100cm |
50cm |
Lavender |
Part day Sun |
Fried Bananas |
90cm |
60cm |
White |
Sun or Shade |
Gold Regal |
60cm |
50cm |
Lavender |
Part day Sun |
Golden Anniversary |
90cm |
50cm |
Lavender |
Part day Sun |
Golden Sunburst |
110cm |
50cm |
Whitish |
Part day Sun |
Great American Expectations |
90cm |
60cm |
White |
Light Shade |
Harvest Glow |
50cm |
45cm |
Whitish |
Part day Sun |
Heartache |
80cm |
45cm |
Purple |
Sun or Partial Shade |
Hottsy Tottsy |
90cm |
60cm |
Lavender |
Sun or Shade |
Jimmy Crack Corn |
100cm |
50cm |
White |
Part day Sun |
King Tut |
65cm |
30cm |
White |
Part day Sun |
Lemon Lime |
45cm |
30cm |
Purple |
Part day Sun |
Midas Touch |
70cm |
45cm |
White |
Sun or Shade |
Richland Gold |
90cm |
60cm |
Lilac |
Part day Sun |
Sea Fire |
120cm |
45cm |
Lavender |
Part day Sun |
Squash Casserole |
100cm |
55cm |
Purple |
Full Sun |
Sum And Substance |
150cm |
75cm |
White |
Part day Sun |
Sun Power |
90cm |
60cm |
Lavender |
Bright Light |
Tattoo |
45cm |
30cm |
Lavender |
Partial Shade |
Zounds |
75cm |
40cm |
White |
Sun |
|
Aristocrat |
75cm |
40cm |
Lavender |
Sun or Shade |
Carol |
90cm |
50cm |
Lavender |
Partial Shade |
Christmas Tree |
90cm |
50cm |
Lavender |
Sun or Shade |
Citation |
75cm |
45cm |
Whitish |
Sun or Partial Shade |
Crown Jewel |
20cm |
10cm |
Lavender |
Light Shade |
Crusader |
75cm |
40cm |
Lavender |
Sun or Shade |
Dark Star |
60cm |
40cm |
Lavender |
Shade or Partial Shade |
Dust Devil |
120cm |
60cm |
Lavender |
Sun or Shade |
Fair Maiden |
90cm |
60cm |
Lavender |
Sun or Shade |
Francee |
90cm |
60cm |
Lavender |
Sun or Shade |
Frosted Jade |
90cm |
65cm |
White |
Light Shade |
Hearts Content |
80cm |
50cm |
Lavender |
Sun or Partial Shade |
Moonlight |
90cm |
50cm |
Lavender |
Part day Sun |
Mountain Snow |
150cm |
70cm |
White |
Partial Shade |
Northern Exposure |
90cm |
45cm |
White |
Partial Shade |
Northern Halo |
90cm |
45cm |
White |
Partial Shade |
Patriot (Hosta of the Year 1997) |
90cm |
60cm |
Lavender |
Sun or Shade |
Peace |
60cm |
30cm |
Lavender |
Light Shade |
Pilgrim |
30cm |
20cm |
Lavender |
Light Shade |
Pizzazz |
45cm |
30cm |
Lavender |
Light Shade |
Regal Splendor |
90cm |
90cm |
Lavender |
Sun or Shade |
Showboat |
60cm |
40cm |
Lavender |
Partial Shade |
Silver Crown |
60cm |
45cm |
Lavender |
Sun or Shade |
Snow Cap |
90cm |
60cm |
Purple / White |
Sun or Shade |
So Sweet (Hosta of the Year 1996) |
30cm |
20cm |
Whitish, fragrant |
Sun or Shade |
Sugar and Cream |
120cm |
65cm |
Whitish |
Sun or Shade |
Tambourine |
130cm |
50cm |
Pale Purple |
Sun or Shade |
Torchlight |
80cm |
65cm |
Lavender |
Sun or Partial Shade |
Undulata Albomarginata |
90cm |
85cm |
Light Purple |
Sun or Shade |
Yellow Splash Rim |
100cm |
45cm |
Lavender |
Sun or Shade |
Zager White Edge |
75cm |
50cm |
Lavender |
Sun or Shade |
|
Abba Dabba Doo |
90cm |
60cm |
Lavender |
Sun or Partial Shade |
Aurora Borealis |
110cm |
60cm |
White |
Part day Sun |
Brim Cup |
40cm |
30cm |
Lavender |
Part Shade |
Carnival |
90cm |
40cm |
Lavender |
Light Shade |
El Capitan |
100cm |
60cm |
Lavender |
Light Shade |
Frances Williams |
120cm |
60cm |
White |
Partial Shade |
Fragrant Bouquet (Hosta of the Year 1998) |
60cm |
45cm |
White, fragrant |
Sun or Shade |
Golden Tiara |
55cm |
35cm |
Purple |
Bright Light |
Grand Tiara |
60cm |
35cm |
Purple |
Sun or Partial Shade |
Joker |
60cm |
45cm |
Violet |
Sun or Shade |
Lady Isobel Barnett |
120cm |
60cm |
Lavender |
Sun or Partial Shade |
H Montana 'Aureomerginata' |
100cm |
60cm |
Whitish |
Part Shade |
Olive Betty Langon |
100cm |
80cm |
White |
Shade |
Sagae (Hosta of the Year 2000) |
65cm |
50cm |
Whitish |
Partial Shade |
Showboat |
60cm |
60cm |
Lavender |
Sun or Partial Shade |
Stenantha Variegated Fool's Gold |
90cm |
60cm |
Lavender |
Sun or Shade |
Sum It Up |
90cm |
75cm |
Lavender |
Sun or Partial Shade |
Summer Breeze |
120cm |
60cm |
Lavender |
Sun or Partial Shade |
Tattoo |
45cm |
30cm |
Lavender |
Part day Sun |
Twilight |
60cm |
50cm |
Purple |
Sun or Shade |
Wide Brim |
90cm |
55cm |
White |
Sun or Partial Shade |
Yellow River |
120cm |
60cm |
White |
Sun or Partial Shade |
Wolverine |
90cm |
40cm |
Lavender |
Sun or Partial Shade |
Zippity Do Dah |
50cm |
40cm |
Lavender |
Sun Tolerant |
|
Blue Shadow |
60cm |
40cm |
White |
Light Shade |
Bright Light |
60cm |
35cm |
White |
Light Shade |
Color Glory |
120cm |
60cm |
White |
Sun or Partial Shade |
Fire and Ice |
45cm |
35cm |
Lavender |
Sun or Partial Shade |
Flame Stitch |
70cm |
45cm |
Purple |
Sun or Partial Shade |
Gold Standard |
90cm |
50cm |
Lavender |
Part day Sun |
Golden Pavilion |
90cm |
45cm |
Whitish |
Partial Shade |
Great Expectations |
85cm |
55cm |
Whitish |
Light Shade |
Guacomole (Hosta of the Year 2002) |
60cm |
40cm |
White, fragrant |
Sun |
Hoosier Harmony |
100cm |
60cm |
White fragrant |
Sun or Shade |
Innis Wood |
100cm |
50cm |
Lavender |
Sun or Shade |
June (Hosta of the Year 2001) |
50cm |
25cm |
Lavender |
Bright Light |
Middle Ridge |
70cm |
40cm |
Lavender |
Sun or Shade |
Midwest Magic |
100cm |
60cm |
Whitish |
Sun or Partial Shade |
Morning Light |
60cm |
45cm |
Lilac |
Sun or Partial Shade |
Paul's Glory (Hosta of the Year 1999) |
65cm |
45cm |
Whitish |
Part day Sun |
September Sun |
90cm |
60cm |
White |
Sun |
Striptease |
90cm |
50cm |
Pale Violet |
Part day Sun |
Whirlwind |
90cm |
45cm |
Lavender |
Sun or Shade |
|