10 of Our Favorite Showstopping Hosta Varieties

Forget the wallflower varieties—these 10 stars take center stage

With K of differenthostavarieties on the market and young ones popping up each year , the dazzlers sometimes get drop off among the duds . But every now and then , I come across a hosta so spectacular that it literary stops me in my track .

If you ’ve yet to jump on the crazy - over - hostas bandwagon , these 10 eye - catching cultivars might just change your mind . Each is a standout in its own right . And they come in all form , sizes , and colors . Despite their differences , however , they all have one thing in mutual : Not one of these hostas will fade into the shadows .

Expert growing guide for healthy hostas

Hostas , which mostly thrive in geographical zone 3 to 9 , are about as easygoing as they come , but that does n’t mean that they are altogether without standard . If you want lust happy works follow these rule of thumb :

Give them morning light

It ’s a myth that hostas are shade have it off ; they are merelyshadetolerant . Most Funka prefer three to four minute of morning beam , while some need up to six . forfend , however , harsh afternoon sun , which will cause leaves to fade in coloration and dark-brown around the edges .

Dig a million-dollar hole

I usually dig a maw doubly as wide as the container and then mixcompostinto the excavated soil before spreading it around the flora .

Work miracles with compost

A seam with good water retentivity is key . Hostas thrive in highly organic , moist , well - run out soil . cadaver soilenhanced with compost works amazingly well due to its water - holding capacity . flaxen soil need the most help because it leaches moisture quickly . To rectify that office , simply add more constituent matter ; I depone by well - decay horsemanure , but humus or household compost influence , too . A slight 1- to 2 - column inch - deep layer of mulch will also help keep roots moist .

Hydrate

you may’twaterhostas too often , assuming there ’s proper drainage . Regularly give them a good dawning soak , endeavour for at least 1 inch of pee per workweek .

Let them grow

recent summer is the best clip todividehostas . you’re able to break miniature to intermediate - sizing hostas every four to five years . But I avoid dividing my large and giant genus Hosta because they take up to six years to regain their domineering size . The only meter hostas need dividing is when they begin showing signs of decline due to source competition .

Favorite Types of Hostas

‘Blue Mouse Ears’

Size:8 inches tall and 18 inches across-the-board

shadiness margin : Partial spook

Slug repellent

lilliputian , gristly leafage in a flabby shade of blue make the award - winning ‘ Blue Mouse Ears ’ easy to have it away . humble grow and perfectly symmetric , this adorableminiature hostablooms profusely in midsummer , sending up stems that heyday at just 1 foot tall .

‘Climax’

Size:2 feet tall and 4 feet all-encompassing

‘ coming ’ requires some patience , but it is well deserving the wait . On average , this cultivar aim four year to become an care grabber . Asvariegatedhostas mature , the showy rim on their leaf widen ; the amber edge of a young ‘ culmination ’ is only 1/4 column inch blockheaded , but after a few years , this sharpness amplify to 1 in .

‘White Christmas’

Size:15 inches tall and 35 inches wide

Shade tolerance : Bright partial tone

I once made the mistake of planting a ‘ White Christmas ’ hosta in full shade , and it shriveled up soon after . Because only the green dower of a leaf can photosynthesize , blank - foliation hostas require more sunlight than light-green varieties . ‘ White Christmas ’ favor a six - hour - long everyday dose of morning ray and will slowly get light-green as summertime progresses .

‘Striptease’

Size:20 inches tall and 45 in wide

A unique leafage pattern sets this hosta apart . describe for the peeking white strip on its parting , ‘ Striptease ’ is a dissipated grower with a sturdy material body and lavender flower . This hosta endure wake better than most , making it an excellent choice for nurseryman in USDA Hardiness Zone 9 .

‘Dawn’s Early Light’

Size:20 inches tall and 3 human foot broad

Hosta are just like people : the older they get , the more they crumple . ‘ Dawn ’s Early Light ’ is no exclusion . Mature plants have intemperately puckered leaves , which egress a glorious yellowness in former spring and gradually become lime green later on in the time of year .

‘Dick Ward’

Size:18 inches tall and 40 inch wide

The once - elusive ‘ Dick Ward ’ has n’t always been so affordable . Hosta partisan used to pay top dollar for this prize - winning works . The knifelike contrast of its puckered atomic number 79 center and dark greenish edges provides a spectacular show in tardy summer . For intense color , situate ‘ Dick Ward ’ in a speckle that gets four to six hours of good morning sun .

‘First Frost’

Size:14 inches tall and 35 inches wide

This just might be my pet hosta because it never lacks brilliancy . ‘ First Frost ’ emerge in other bounce with laconic golden edges that evanesce to a snow-white white soon after the first of July . With its sturdy chassis and blighter resistance , this knockout makes a dependable centrepiece in a seam and even holds up to fall ’s first couple of frosts .

‘Orange Marmalade’

Size:19 inch tall and 45 in wide

A relatively young hosta that ’s quickly clear popularity , ‘ Orange Marmalade ’ emerges in spring with vivid yellow foliage trimmed in dark-skinned jet . As the leaf mature , their sum take on a subtle Orange River tone . To keep the dramatic color move until capitulation , give this sunlight - tolerant hosta four to six minute of morning shaft day by day .

‘Praying Hands’

Size:16 inches marvellous and 2 infantry wide

Named “ Hosta of the Year ” in 2011 by theAmerican Hosta Grower ’s Association , ‘ Praying Hands ’ sports one - of - a - kind twisted leaves with skinny emollient - colored lip . This Funka ’s vertical shape means that the works works exceptionally well incontainersor plant in beds with miniature hostas at its feet .

‘Deep Blue Sea’

Size:15 inch tall and 34 column inch wide

Shade tolerance : Full to partial tad

‘ Deep Blue Sea ’ is the live item at my nursery in late summertime , chiefly because it ’s the only profane hosta that is still puritanical . Many puritanical Funka turn green as the maturate time of year progresses because the wax coating creditworthy for their blue colour don off . But ‘ Deep Blue Sea ’ stays dismal all time of year thanks to those glorious profoundly crumple , cupped leaves .

— John O’Brien is the owner of O’Brien Nurserymen , which sell more than 1,100 hosta varieties , in Granby , Connecticut .

Photos , except where mark : good manners of Kathie Sisson

all right Gardening Recommended Products

Gilmore Rubber Hose Washer 10pk

Fine horticulture invite a deputation for items purchased through links on this site , include Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs .

plant in a Post - Wild existence : Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes

The Nature of Oaks : The Rich Ecology of Our Most Essential Native Trees

Get our tardy tips , how - to articles , and instructional videos institutionalize to your inbox .

Signing you up …

A Hosta Lover’s Garden

Hosta Collectors in Michigan

10 Amazing Hostas

Our Favorite Varieties of Cucumbers

Join Fine Gardening for a gratis engaging live webinar featuring Dr. Janna Beckerman , a renowned plant pathologist as well as professor emerita at Purdue University and the ornamentals technical manager …

When I spotted a particular gumption dollar cactus ( Astrophytum asterias ) at the Philadelphia Flower Show a few calendar month ago , I live I was in trouble . With a delightful color form …

When we only prioritize plant we desire over plants our landscape needs , each time of year is replete with a never - ending list of chore : pruning , pinching , watering , treating , improve , and fertilizing , with …

best hostas

Photo: Tose/dreamstime.com

Video

Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat

You must be deliberate when you enter the backyard of garden designer Jeff Epping — not because you ’re likely to trip on something , but because you might be dive - bombed by a pair …