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Light –Hostas tolerate dense shade, but prefer partial shade or filtered light. Yellow and gold colored hostas need 2-3 hours of sunlight to achieve their color.  Blue Hostas evoke their coloring from a coating on the leaf which wears away when not protected from the direct sun or heavy rain.  Blues do best under tree canopies.

Soil – Hostas do well in a variety of soils, but prefer well-drained, loamy soil high in organic matter.  They favor slightly acidic conditions and benefit from the incorporation of peat moss or composted manure in the soil.  If hostas are planted under a tree, the soil must be drenched each watering to a 18” depth.

Planting
When – Bare root plants should be planted in early spring as soon as the ground can be worked. Potted hostas may be planted throughout the growing season, although the best time is in spring after the danger of frost has passed.  Be aware that if the ground is too cool and wet, hosta crowns may rot.  Mature plants or large divisions may be moved as long as the root systems are not severely disturbed.  Do not move hostas after mid-September.

How – Prepare for planting by working hummus into a 9” radius around the hole.  The hole should be about 1½ times as large as the spread of the roots. For bare root plants, remove from the package immediately, trim damaged roots,  and soak overnight.  Make a cone of soil in the hole’s center and spread the roots out over the cone.  Cover the roots with soil until the growing 

points are just below the soil level.  Water thoroughly and fertilize with a starter solution (read  and carefully follow the starter fertilizer directions). Potted plants should also be soaked in their container and left to drain overnight. Remove them carefully from the pot and plant so the soil from the pot is level with the ground soil.  Water thoroughly and fertilize with a starter solution.

Spacing –Large hostas should be spaced 24-36” apart.  Small and medium hostas should be 12-20” apart.

Care
Watering –Hostas do well without any special watering effort.  If large, lush plants without sun scorch are desired, hostas should be kept moist throughout the growing season with extra effort during spring growth, at times of intense summer heat, and prior to fall dormancy.  They may be watered overhead, but the foliage is more attractive if soaker hoses are used.

Mulch –The base of the plant may be surrounded with organic mulch in late spring.  Leave some room between the base of the plant and the start of the mulch. Shredded bark is appealing, and along with pine needles, deters slugs.

Fertilizer –Hostas should be fertilized at least twice a year.  Once in the spring when the first leaves are unfurling and again just prior to flowering.  Due to the short spring cycle in Minnesota, expensive slow release fertilizers are of little advantage.  Sprinkle 10-10-10 fertilizer granules around the base of the plant taking care not to get any in the crown and water thoroughly. 

Weeding – Pull weeds within the crown by hand.  Mulching around the base of the plant may help keep weeds down.

Deadheading – Trim off flower stalks when spent or if unattractive.  Remove any yellow or brown leaves.

Winter Protection – In Minnesota where winters can be severe, winter protection prevents frost heaving which damages plant roots and can kill the plant. Wait until the ground is frozen to cover with a layer of whole leaves, straw, or pine needles.  Remove the mulch in early spring to prevent rot.

Dividing – Hostas do not have to be divided; however, dividing will improve a plant whose center lacks fullness. The best time to divide hostas is in the spring as new growth emerges. To divide, dig up the plant, cut out its center, slice the outer

 portion of the plant into sections containing at least three shoots, and replant the new divisions immediately as you would a new plant. 

Problems
Recommendations for pesticides change constantly.  To keep up with recommendations, obtain current information from the University of Minnesota Extension Service.

Insects –Most damage to hostas is caused by slugs (and snails) hiding during the day and chewing holes in the leaves at night.  Start pest control early in the season.  Slugs require cool, moist, dark conditions so use drip irrigation and avoid watering late in the day to reduce moist evening conditions.  Reduce their hiding places by removing weeds, dead vegetation, rocks, and other debris.  Providing one hiding place for slugs, such as a board away from the plants, allows you pick up the board during the day and remove slugs.  A shallow pan containing beer or a mixture of yeast and water will attract slugs.  Unable to crawl out of the container, the slugs will drown.  Baits with metaldehyde containing compounds are also used to kill slugs; however, metaldehyde is toxic and should not be applied near vegetables or in areas used by children or pets.  Baits prepared with iron phosphate are less toxic.

Diseases – Until recently, hostas have not been prone to many diseases. Unfortunately that has changed; there are now two viruses to be aware of when purchasing hostas.  The symptoms of plants infected with Tobacco Rattle Virus (TRV) include dark and light green mottling on the leaves and brown necrotic spots.  TRV is transmitted by a microscopic creature in the soil and is very difficult to control.  The best defense is prevention.  Carefully check all hostas for symptoms when making a purchase.  Do not purchase plants showing any signs of TRV.  A more recent virus discovered in the mid-1990s by University of Minnesota researchers is Hosta Virus X (HVX).  The symptoms also include dark green spots and mottling with a streaking between veins that looks like bleeding ink.  A bigger issue with HVX is not all infected plants will display symptoms.  If some plants in a group are infected, it is likely they are all infected.  Do not purchase hostas from a source that has any infected plants.  Many nurseries are beginning to test for HVX.  The virus is transferred from one plant to another through infected sap.  If a hosta begins to show symptoms, remove it from your garden and destroy it.  Then wash your gardening tools and wait 1-2 weeks before planting anything in the same spot.

Additional Information
For more information, refer to the University of Minnesota Extension Service Consumer Horticulture webpage at http://www.extension.umn.edu/ConsumerHort/

Sources
Hostas may be purchased at local garden centers and nurseries or through mail order sources. Local sources may supply plants more adapted to local growing conditions, however, mail order sources may offer more variety. 

Thank you to the individuals and businesses who have contributed to the Hosta Garden by donating plant materials, time, or funding.  This is informational only and does not represent an endorsement by the University of Minnesota.

  

Hosta Variety	Size—Description
Albopicta	Medium-large pointed leaves with attractive light green centers and a definite dark green margin in spring, turns all green by later summer.
Aspen Gold	Medium - An outstanding golden hosta with supped leaves.
August Moon	Large—Golden—yellow leaves with some crinkling.  Vigorous.
Big Daddy	Large—Very blue round puckered leaves with heavy substance.
Blue Vision	Large—Very blue leaves of heavy substance.  One of the best of the blue varieties.
Fortunei Albo-Picta	Medium-light yellow-green centered leaves with dark green margins.  Turns all green.  Formerly Fortunei Viridis Marginata
Fortunei Aureo Marginata	Medium-One of the fastest growing of the gold margined heart shaped hostas.
Fragrant Bouquet	Medium-Broad apple-green leaves with nice wavy, yellow margins.
Francee	Medium-Neat green leaves with bright white margins.
Frances Williams	Large-Crinkled blue-green leaves with showy golden borders.  Long time favorite!
Frosted Jade	Large—Bold white borders on veined dark green leaves. Outstanding!
Ginko Craig	Small—Choice border plants of dark green lance shaped leaves with very white margins.
Gold Edger	Small to medium-Bold border plants with rounded leaves of heavy substance.
Gold Standard	Medium—Very showy, light gold, rounded leaves with green margins.  Outstanding!
Golden Scepter	Small—Rounded leaves of light gold.  Very showy plant all summer.
Golden Tlara	Small—Rounded green leaves with bright yellow edges.  Forms nice compact clump.
Great Expectations	Medium—Wide margins of blue and green around showy,  creamy-yellow centers.  Very choice!
Green Gold	Medium—Dark green heart shaped leaves with light gold margins.
Green Velveteen	Large—Satiny green leaves form a broad mound.
H. Lancifolia	Medium—Narrow green leaves, lavender flowers in late summer and sun tolerance.
Halcyon	Medium to large—Ovate, very blue ribbed leaves.  Forms an outstanding clump.
Honey Bells	Large—Light green leaves quickly form large mounds with fragrant lilac-white flowers.
Indiana Knight	Medium to large.
Krossa Regal	Large—Powdery blue-gray leaves on tall vase-shaped clumps.
Montana Aureo Marginata	Large—Hugh shiny green wedges are bordered with yellow margins.  Outstanding tall clump.
Nakaiana	Small—Small green hearts make a very compact mound with many deep lavender flowers.
Plantaginea	Large—Fragrant large white flowers on tall shiny green clumps.  Blooms in August.
Plantaginea Aphrodite	Large—Fragrant double white flowers borne above a tall mound of shiny green leaves.
Royal Standard	Large—Shiny green leaves and fragrant, light lavender-white flowers.
Sagae	Extra large-Frosted, blue green leaves with wide, creamy, gold margins.  The base shaped clump of broad, heavy variegated leaves is very outstanding.
Sieboldiana Elegans	Large—Showy broad blue leaves make a magnificent clump.  Great large blue!
Silver Edged H. sieboldi	Small.
Snow Flakes	Large—Noted for profuse show of pure white flowers mid summer.
Snow White	Small.
Sugar and Cream	Large—Light green wavy “Honeybells” leaves with silvery-white margins and fragrant, very light lavender flowers.
Sum and Substance	Giant—Huge satiny greenish-gold saucers of heavy substance.  Outstanding!
Undulata	Medium-Light green and white centered leaves quickly form attractive clumps.  Old favorite!
Undulata Albo Marginata	Medium—Wavy dark green leaves with white margins.  Forms nice clumps quickly.
Undulata ‘erromena’	Medium—Glossy dark green.  Slightly wavy edge.  Great grower.
Ventricosa Auremarginata	Medium—Outstanding dark green leaf with wide creamy-white margins.  Forms beautiful clumps.  Dark purple flowers.
Wide Brim	Medium—Choice creamy-white margined hosta.  Good substance and a nice contrast between the margins and dark green centers.