Hosta (lily of the valley) – planting and care

Scientific name: Hosta spp.

Family: Asparagaceae

Hosta is a favorite among garden enthusiasts, and for good reason. The plant comes in many different varieties, the leaves can be green, bluish, yellow or variegated - with white or cream edges. The foliage is dense and lush, and the plant can stand for years in the same place without much care, it comes back willingly year after year and really only gets more beautiful with age.

There are over two thousand varieties of hosta, and it is the great variation in the foliage (both in terms of colors and patterns) that makes the plant a collector's item among the most avid collectors. In other words, hosta is planted for the sake of the leaves, but it also blooms - usually with flowers in white and delicate blue and purple tones, on tall stems that rise above the foliage, to the delight of bees and other pollinators.

Hosta is a great plant for shade beds, under trees, along paths or as ground cover. Since hosta spreads out over time in the bed, it keeps weeds at bay and helps to retain moisture in the bed for longer.

Many people ask us if they can plant hosta in outdoor pots, and you absolutely can. Filling outdoor pots with perennials is something more and more people swear by. Choose a large pot, fill it with good soil and plant away. The plant will die back in the fall, just like in the bed, but will come back in the spring.

Also read:

• Perennials in beds and pots – planting and care

Hosta can be planted from early spring to late autumn. They establish quickly but grow relatively slowly. If you want a lush bed in a short time, you can plant quite densely. When the plants grow, you can divide them.

Most types of hosta do best in partial shade to full shade. The varieties with green leaves do best in shade, while the varieties with yellow or white edges prefer some sun to bring out their colors. Many of the bluish, yellow, and thick-leaved varieties also do well in full sun. Hosta is generally quite adaptable to sun conditions.

Hosta likes moist, well-drained soil. They thrive in soil that is rich in organic matter, so feel free to mix in some cow manure compost when planting. But when it comes to soil, hosta can also adapt to a great extent.

There are only a few simple tricks needed to keep a hosta looking good for a long time.

• Watering
  Hosta prefers even moisture. Water the plant regularly, especially during dry periods. Make sure it does not stand in water, as this can lead to root rot.

• Fertilization
  Hosta needs nutrition to grow big and beautiful. Fertilize the plant in early spring, and preferably again during the summer. For example, you can use cow manure compost, regular garden fertilizer or Trim Blue. You can also give the plant a top layer of new soil every spring.

• Pruning
  Hosta requires minimal pruning. After flowering, the flower stalks can be cut off. In the fall, you can leave the wilted leaves on the plant as a natural winter cover, and then cut off all the old and dead ones in early spring. However, if the leaves are clearly attacked by fungus in the fall, you should remove the leaves before winter comes.

• Slugs and pests
  Slugs, unfortunately including brown slugs, are the biggest challenge for hostas. Use snail repellent, snail traps or copper tape around the plant to keep them away. Keep the area around the plant clean to reduce infestation.

Hosta can be divided to get more plants, to prevent the plant from getting too big for its space or simply to renew it – the plants get dense. It is best to wait until the plants are 4 to 5 years old before dividing them for the first time. It is best to do this in early spring, before the leaves appear, but the plant can also be divided in autumn.

1. Dig up the plant. Hosta has strong roots, so don’t be afraid to take a little bit of a beating, the plant will cope even if some leaves and roots are damaged.
2. Divide the root ball with a sharp spade or knife, making sure each part has enough roots to survive on its own.
3. Plant the parts where you want them, just make sure it is a place they will thrive.
4. Water well, and continue to water as the plants establish themselves.

If you are going to plant hosta with other plants in a bed that is in shade to partial shade, it is important to choose plants that thrive in the same light and moisture conditions. Here are some suggestions:

• Astilbe (Astilbe)
  Does well in shade to partial shade, and likes moist soil. The flowers provide a nice contrast to the hosta's foliage.

• Heuchera (Alumroot)
  Comes in many different colors and can provide a nice contrast to the hosta. Thrives in shade to partial shade.

• Ferns
  Thrives in shady areas and provides a nice texture with the hosta.

• Forget-me-not (Brunnera macrophylla)
  Has attractive leaves and small blue flowers that brighten up the shade.

• Foamflower (Tiarella)
  Has beautiful leaves and white to pink flowers. Thrives in moist, shady soil.

• Sedge (Carex)
  An ornamental grass that provides a nice texture and contrast to the large hosta leaves.

Although hosta is primarily grown for its decorative foliage, young shoots of hosta can actually be eaten. In Japan, there is a long tradition of collecting "sansai" (mountain vegetables), including hosta. All types of hosta can be eaten, but there is a great deal of variation in taste. Hosta grandiflora is said to be one of the most used and tasty varieties.

If you want to try hosta in food, spring is the time to be ready. When the shoots come up from the ground, like pointed, green spears, you can cut them down and prepare them, as if they were asparagus (the shoots actually look a bit like asparagus too). Make sure you only cut off a few shoots from each plant, so that they grow big and nice in the bed too.

Although hosta drops are edible for humans, cough drops can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea in dogs and cats, so be careful with your four-legged friends.

Hostas die back every fall, and it takes a while for them to come back in the spring. It's easy to think that the plant hasn't survived the winter, but in the spring the shoots appear – and soon the beds and pots are overflowing with beautiful leaves again.

TIPS FROM THE GARDENER:

- Elin F. Nordli, a plant scientist with a master's degree in horticulture and a special fondness for daylilies (Hemerocallis).

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