Monroe County Master Gardener Association

The Hosta, known as plantain lily, is certainly a common workhorse in the garden. At one time it was just a simple green leaf plant. Not so today… they offer a wide range in color and texture. Hybridized and mutated, they are now green, blue green, yellow green, almost white, or in a form of variegated foliage. Although COLOR is its basic interest, there’s more offered from this plant. There are a wide variety of leaf shapes, textures and sizes.

Let’s start with size. The smallest I have in my garden is Mouse Ears. A compact mini Hosta. As you can see in the photo below, its foliage is not much larger than that of a common begonia. I incorporate them here and there, in an island berm located in the front yard. Since they are small, it’s best to give them some space so that they don’t get lost amidst other plants.

Now, here is the largest hosta in my garden. A blue green with a textural patterned leaf. This hosta known as ‘Elegans’ makes a huge impact in this corner by my patio. Although it’s a large hosta, there are some available even larger.

Hosta makes a great filler plant. It can add some beauty while it takes up necessary space in a bed. Easy to grow in most soils, it’s a great contrast against blooming plants or in a rock garden. This photo shows two variegated hosta. The one in the background was transplanted from another area. It offers a medium green color with wavy white margins. In comparing it with photos on the internet, it might be ‘Undulata Albomarginata’. The foreground shows ‘Gold Standard’ that I purchase locally. It has a heart shaped leaf that is a golden green with a blue green edge. This photo was taken in the first year of planting. It since has grown quite large and fills the area above the apron of the deck.

Although separate they are a great plant, placing them along other plants adds additional texture. Below are hosta and ostrich fern near my pond. The second photo is hosta and daylily foliage popping through.

Here is the same hosta named ‘Stained Glass’ grows well as you can see in this photo taken later in the season. Hosta are very winter-hardy and typically excels in a shady garden spot.
I enjoy using it in cut flower arrangements for accent. This foliage is such a great match for the tulip in this arrangement and a beautiful contrast with the purple allium and pink bleeding heart.

In the photo below is a hydrangea and ‘Stained Glass’ after a rain. A great interpretation of stained glass when wet.
Below is ‘Elegans’, again, after that rain. It’s interesting how differently the two take on water. What a contrast from the shine of glass to a beaded beauty.
Here’s another, when wet this forms a teardrop.
Yellow greens are always a favorite in my garden. This hosta helps make a striking background for my Itoh peony called ‘Kopper Kettle’.
I often add hosta in vertical gardens. At the top you can see two. I’m sure the one you notice immediately, however in the upper left corner is a newer addition called ‘Curly Fries’ I have a few of these in the garden .

‘Curly Fries’ offers a blade shaped foliage with a ruffled edge. The color tends to very from green to yellow green.

Another wavy edged is ‘Chartreuse Wiggles’ which is currently on order. Sorry no photo yet, but check it out online.
Don’t hesitate to use them in containers. They are so winter-hardy. The Hosta is planted here along with a Heuchrea and Euphorbia .

Here are a few more photos to share with you. One thing to notice is that in most all of these, you will notice that either stone or much is used around them. This helps with the slugs that love to eat the foliage. Although an occational rabbit will damage them, or you may find a deer or two that eat a meal of fresh hosta leaves. While the suject of eating hosta is open…did you know that these are great grilled in their early spring form. Who knew? Thinking on trying this after hearing it from a presentation at Growing Great Gardens in Taylor, Mi.