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Hostas for Light Shade or Morning Sun
Hosta
Hosta
Growing Conditions
Sun exposure: light shade (4 to 5 hours of sunlight a day)
Soil: performs best in average to fertile, well-drained soil, but are tolerant of a wide
range of conditions. Avoid
sites that are extremely wet
or excessively dry.
Traits
Special Care Instructions
None, hostas are a care-free, low maintenance plant.
Flowering Time
May through August, depending on the variety.
Characteristics, Uses, and Fun Facts
Hostas are tough, long-lived plants which grow despite neglect. They are perfect for the beginning gardener. But, for those of us that love plants, Hostas respond wonderfully to amended soils and high fertility, rewarding the attentive gardener profusely. Though not commonly used as such, hostas are a wonderful nectar source for hummingbirds.
How large will a particular hosta will get? The size and growth rate of hostas greatly depends on sunlight, soil type, moisture, and fertility. The best benchmark to use on how large a hosta will grow is to observe other hostas in the area and note their size categories.
Varieties
Soil: performs best in average to fertile, well-drained soil, but are tolerant of a wide
range of conditions. Avoid
sites that are extremely wet
or excessively dry.
Traits
Special Care Instructions
None, hostas are a care-free, low maintenance plant.
Flowering Time
May through August, depending on the variety.
Characteristics, Uses, and Fun Facts
Hostas are tough, long-lived plants which grow despite neglect. They are perfect for the beginning gardener. But, for those of us that love plants, Hostas respond wonderfully to amended soils and high fertility, rewarding the attentive gardener profusely. Though not commonly used as such, hostas are a wonderful nectar source for hummingbirds.
How large will a particular hosta will get? The size and growth rate of hostas greatly depends on sunlight, soil type, moisture, and fertility. The best benchmark to use on how large a hosta will grow is to observe other hostas in the area and note their size categories.
Varieties
Attracts Hummingbirds
Good Cut Flower & Foliage
Christmas Tree Medium, 18" tall
| • | Puckered, blue-green leaves with cream edges. |
| • | A fast growing hosta that matures early. |
| • | Great for massing in the landscape. |
| • | Dense lavender flowers in summer. |
Fire Island Small, 12-14" tall
| • | Bright yellow foliage with red petioles, and wavy leaf margins. |
| • | New leaves glow neon yellow in early spring. |
| • | Lavender flowers in summer. |
| • |
Francee Medium, 16-20" tall
| • | Bright green leaves with a narrow white margin. |
| • | This is a great hosta that grows rapidly a makes a very dense and leafy clump in the landscape. |
| • | Tolerates a surprising amount of sun. |
| • | Lavender flowers in summer. |
Margarita Gold Medium, 18-22" tall
| • | Heavily puckered, thick substanced, bright gold foliage with an irregular green edge. |
| • | A Smith's Gardens selection from Hosta 'August Moon'. |
| • | A vigorous growing, mid-sized hosta. |
| • | Lavender flowers in July. |
| • | A vigorous growing hosta with large, wedge shaped, shiny, dark green leaves with a bright white center. |
| • | Forms a large cascading mound of foliage that is very eye-catching. |
| • | Lavender flowers in summer. |
| • |
Night Before Christmas Medium, 16-22" tall
| • | Heart-shaped leaves with golden yellow centers and irregular, 1" wide, dark green margins. |
| • | Light lavender flowers on 24" stems in mid-summer. |
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| • |
Old Glory Small, 14" tall
| • | Substantial foliage emerges green but quickly develops a yellow center with a hint of orange surrounded by a green margin. |
| • | Orange coloring is most noticeable when paired with other yellow hostas like Dawn's Early Light. |
| • | Pale lavender flowers in summer. |
| • |
Orange Marmalade Medium, 18" tall
| • | Huge leaves that vary in color from pale green to chartreuse to gold depending on the amount of shade it is grown in. |
| • | Big and bold with good sun tolerance. |
| • | Pale lavender flowers in summer. |
| • |
Sum and Substance Giant, 36" tall
| • | A small hosta that shines in the garden! |
| • | Glowing yellow leaves are edged in green and held on red stems. |
| • | Pale lavender flowers in summer. |
| • |
Paradise Island Small, 14" tall
| • | Incredibly bright yellow leaves with rich green margins. The color intensifies as the season progresses. |
| • | An outstanding sport of Hosta 'Guacamole'. |
| • | A fantastic hosta for use as either a specimen or mass planting. |
| • | Fragrant white flowers in July and August. |
Stained Glass Large, 24" tall
Dawn's Early Light Large, 26" tall
| • | Glowing, lemon yellow new growth, puckered, heart shaped leaves. |
| • | Grown in full shade it will turn chartreuse-green, therefore, light shade or dappled sunlight will provide the best coloration. |
| • | Light lavender flowers in summer. |
| • |
Hosta sizing:
Mini: <6" tall Medium: 16-22" tall
Very Small: 7-10" tall Large: 23-28" tall
Small: 11-15" tall Giant: >28" tall
Mini: <6" tall Medium: 16-22" tall
Very Small: 7-10" tall Large: 23-28" tall
Small: 11-15" tall Giant: >28" tall
Captain Kirk Medium, 23" tall
| • | A heavy textured sport of Gold Standard with wide, dark green margins. |
| • | Has a fast growth rate and makes a full, lush plant quickly. |
| • | Lavender flowers on 30" stems in mid-summer. |
| • |
Mixed Hostas in a shade bed