A number of plants compliment hostas nicely depending on the environment or climate you have in your garden or yard. Some of the most popular options include ferns, bleeding hearts, coralbells, tortuosa or Japanese maple trees, astilbes, bugleweed, lamium, heuchera, ligularia, Tiarella, and primroses.
Hosta plants prefer a shady environment, so plants that thrive in partial sun to full shade are ideal. Varieties that spread quickly such as ferns and lamium can provide full coverage for hostas and other plants provide accent colors or heights.
When planning a garden bed with hostas, consider creating a color palette of whites, blues, pinks, purples, and yellows, or create bold and dramatic contrast with warm colors such as red, orange, and yellow.
Hostas also benefit from companion plants that add extra nutrients to the soil, such as Siberian bugloss, canadian anemone, creeping phlox, Solomon’s seal, and dicentra. Whatever combinations you choose, happy planning!.
What do hostas look good with?
Hostas pair beautifully with a variety of perennials, shrubs, and trees that provide foliage and colorful blooms to create a striking and vibrant garden display. Foliage plants with chartreuse or yellow hues such as Hellebores, Japanese Forest Grass, Bergenia and Lamium provide great textural and color contrast against the Hostas, while adding depth and interest to the garden.
To add height and fullness to the planting, ornamental grasses like Miscanthus, Pennisetum and Calamagrostis are great additions. For late summer and fall color, include coreopsis, Rudbeckia, Aster and Sedum, which all blend nicely with the Hostas.
Lilies, Bleeding Hearts, and Astilbes are popular choices to bring vibrant flowers to the garden with the tall Hostas. Finally, occasionally adding a small evergreen tree or shrub like a hydrangea, Weigela, or Variegated Euonymus, softens the garden and helps to frame the planting.
What grows well next to hosta?
Hostas are shade-loving plants, so some of the best plants to grow next to them would also be shade-loving plants. These might include astilbe, foamflower (Tiarella), heuchera, European wild ginger (Asarum europaeum), pulmonaria, ferns (especially Japanese painted ferns and other varieties of woodland ferns), brunnera, lamium, Japanese forest grass, and creeping phlox.
It’s also nice to introduce some color with coral bells or begonias. You can mix and match foliage colors and shapes, and textures to make lovely combinations. Many of the plants above provide wonderful cut flowers too.
Hostas and other plants are often found growing in natural woodland settings, so replicating that effect can look stunning in your garden.
Where should you not plant hostas?
Hostas are a shade-loving plant and can thrive in almost any location as long as they receive enough moisture and soil that is rich in organic matter. However, there are a few places that one should not plant hostas due to their growing requirements and their severity to certain diseases.
First, plants should not be planted in direct sunlight. While some varieties of hosta can tolerate a few hours of sun, the leaves will burn and turn brown when exposed to too much direct sunlight.
Second, hostas should generally not be planted near Black Walnut trees. The soil around walnut trees contain a substance called juglone which is toxic to many plants, including hostas.
Third, hostas should not be planted in areas susceptible to very heavy rains and standing water. While hostas love moisture, they can develop root rot or other fungal diseases in conditions that are too wet.
Finally, hostas should not be planted in soil that is poorly drained. While they can tolerate some sogginess, they cannot tolerate constantly wet soil which will contribute to rot and other diseases.
Overall, given the right conditions, hostas can be a beautiful and low-maintenance addition to any shady garden.
How many hostas should I plant together?
When it comes to deciding how many hostas to plant together, it really depends on the variety and size of the plants you are using. Generally speaking, it is best to start with two to three plants and then add more if desired.
If you are using small varieties, you may be able to fit four or more in a single area. Hostas tend to look nice in clusters, so you may choose to scatter multiple plants around an area in order to create a fuller look.
Regardless of the number of plants you choose, allow for adequate space between plants when planting, usually 4-6 inches between the center of plants. Additionally, if you decide to opt for more than three plants, make sure to plan ahead to ensure that when the hostas become established, they have enough room to spread out.
What can you plant in front of ferns?
You can plant a variety of plants in front of ferns! Depending on the space and preferences, some of the best options include annuals such as violas, pansies, and petunias; easy-to-care-for perennials such as sedum, lungwort, and coreopsis; and evergreen shrubs like boxwood and smooth hydrangea.
When choosing plants to put in front of ferns, make sure they have similar soil and light requirements to avoid overwhelming the area with too much care and maintenance. When done right, you can create a lush, aesthetically pleasing landscape!.
How do you use hostas in a garden design?
Hostas are a popular choice for garden designs due to their attractive foliage and low maintenance. They come in a variety of sizes, colors, and textures, making them a versatile addition to any garden.
Hostas can be used as a ground cover in shady areas, as a focal point in mixed borders, as a backdrop for vibrant flowering plants, or as a focal point among evergreens. They can be combined with other ornamental plants, like ferns and shrubs, to create an interesting texture and depth in your garden.
Hostas also make a great choice for edging along patios, paths, and driveways, providing a neat, uniform look that adds to the overall aesthetic. When planting hostas, remember to select varieties suited to your climate, spacing plants at least 12 to 18 inches apart, and giving them a spot with plenty of sun, water and rich, well-drained soil.
By properly caring for your hostas, you can look forward to years of pleasing foliage and low maintenance beauty in your garden.
Do hostas make good ground cover?
Yes, hostas make great ground covers. They grow well in partial sun to full shade, making them ideal for adding color around trees, along a foundation, in front of a border, under a shade tree and more.
Hostas are a low-maintenance plant that grows quickly, fills in quickly and looks great. The broad, thick leaves will spread out, providing attractive patches of green throughout the landscape. The foliage also helps to add texture and variety to the landscape.
Many hostas will bloom in the summer, adding interesting blooms of purple or white. Hostas are highly drought-tolerant and can survive through most soil types and moisture levels. They’re also fairly pest-resistant, so you don’t have to worry about root rot or bugs eating your plant.
Hostas are relatively easy to care for and can be divided every few years to keep them looking their best. With proper care, they can bring level of beauty and convenience to your garden.
Should I put mulch around my hostas?
Yes, you should put mulch around your hostas. Mulch helps protect the plants from extreme temperatures and provides an even balance of moisture in the soil. It will also help prevent weeds, conserve moisture, and help keep the soil at an ideal temperature level.
Additionally, mulch can help keep the hostas looking attractive by providing aesthetics and cover for those pesky weeds. It should be applied in a 2 to 3-inch layer covering the entire soil surface surrounding the hosta.
Be sure to use an organic, natural mulch like bark, wood chips, or pine straw, as these materials are biodegradable and contain nutrients that will be beneficial to your plants. Be sure to spread the mulch evenly and keep it from mounding around the plants’ stems so that it does not smother them.
Reapply mulch regularly to ensure that your hostas are getting the most protection possible.
How far away from the house should you plant hostas?
When planting hostas it is important to consider how far away from the house or other structures you should plant them. Generally, it is best to plant hostas about four to six feet away from the house.
This will give them enough room to thrive and spread out without being too close to the house and preventing other plants, shrubs or trees from becoming overcrowded. Hostas can also be planted closer together in a bed, as long as they are spaced far enough away from anything that could cast a shadow and prevent full sun exposure.
It is also important to consider the type of hosta you are planting, as some varieties grow larger than others. Larger varieties may require more space to spread out. Additionally, if you intend on putting a border around the hosta, such as a rock garden, you will need to plant the hosta farther away from the house.
This will help to keep the hosta in healthy condition and also help prevent damage to the house’s foundation.
Will hostas spread?
Yes, hostas can definitely spread over time. They reproduce through rhizomes, which are underground stems that spread horizontally. This means that over time, the plant can create large clumps that can be quite impressive.
To control the spread of the plants, you must periodically divide them by removing excess rhizomes. This will help keep the area from becoming overrun by hostas. And when you separate them, you can even create additional plants from the rhizomes you removed.
How far apart do you plant bare root hostas?
When growing hostas from bare root, it is recommended to plant them 12″-18″ apart, so that when they are fully developed, the plants have adequate room to spread. It is important to consider the mature size of the hosta when determining the distance between them as overcrowding will limit their growth.
When planting hostas, it is important to create a hole large enough for the entire root system. The hole should be two to three times as wide as the roots, and you should also ensure that they are planted at the same depth at which they were grown in their nursery pot.
Excess soil should be added around the roots and firmly pressed down. You should also add a mulch or rock layer on top to help regulate soil temperatures and retain moisture.
Can hostas get too big?
Yes, hostas can get too big for a particular space. They typically range in size from a few inches to more than four feet wide and up to four feet tall. Depending on the variety and the conditions in which it is grown, the plant may need to be divided or trimmed to control its size and shape.
Additionally, the roots of the plant can spread through the soil and come up in unexpected places. It is important to keep an eye on the plant’s growth and keep it properly trimmed and divided as needed.