Hosta is a Latin name. New host varieties - photos, names and descriptions

Hosta is a popular plant with a dense rhizome. It can often be seen in shady courtyards and parks. This perennial with large foliage can become a highlight flower bed, decorate with yourself country cottage area or garden. Blue hosta has foliage of an unusual bluish hue. Even florists use it to create unusual bouquets. The host is loved landscape designers and are often used to decorate flower beds.

Characteristics and description of the plant

Blue hosta is a ground cover plant and can serve as protection for itself and neighboring cultivated plants from weeds. IN natural environment grows on Far East, in Korea and China. It is considered sacred to the Japanese and has been grown in gardens for thousands of years. Previously, tradition did not allow residents of eastern countries to import hosta abroad, therefore in Europe they learned about this perennial only in the 18th century.

The blue hosta looks very unusual. Its leaf is heart-shaped and quite large in size. A waxy coating gives the leaf plate an interesting blue-green color. It becomes less noticeable under the influence sun rays. The plant blooms in September. In the photo there is a hosta, a plant with bright foliage, in in bloom seems like a real queen of the garden. Inflorescence - purple, white or white bells collected in a brush lilac color. Flowering lasts from June to October. When all the buds wither, the peduncle must be removed.

Using hosta in landscape design

Hostas are versatile plants for shady areas. They get along well with most plants and are low maintenance. The plant is not picky about soil and tolerates lack of light well. Hosta is combined with ferns, aquilegia, lungwort, astilbe and other flowers. The composition of this perennial and coniferous plants, as well as group planting next to fountains, or around a pond. Thanks to the many varieties, you can use your creativity and combine different shapes plants with each other, coming up with unusual combinations. Different varieties of blue hostas and low green shrubs look good together. Large bushes are often planted on borders and paths, combining them with tall plants. Beautifully flowering perennials beautifully set off the unusual color of the leaves of the blue hosta. You can grow hosta as a container plant, moving it around the garden.

Blue hosta: planting and care in open ground

Planting hostas in spring begins with selecting a location. When planted in a sunny area, the leaves lose their bluish tint and become simply green. Therefore, you should choose partial shade. The perennial prefers places under the canopy of large plants or trees. Where to plant blue hosta? On sandy soils it does not develop well. Ideal soil- slightly acidic and moist, but should be placed in the planting hole thick layer drainage A place for the plant should be chosen that is protected from drafts. When planting in groups, the distance between plants should be at least 80 cm. Water them only at the root, otherwise the leaves can be damaged.

Preparing the planting hole

Before planting hosta in the spring, the soil must be loosened to a depth of 30 cm, then mixed with complex fertilizer to stimulate the growth of the root system. Then the soil is removed and a small hole is dug, twice as wide as the plant’s root system. When planting, the root collar should be level with the soil. When planting, the roots are straightened and then covered with soil. The soil is rolled down, mulched with bark, and the blue hosta is watered abundantly.

Feeding the hosta

The plant acquires a decorative appearance in the third year of life. The leaves turn blue at two years. In fertile soil, perennials will need to be fed no earlier than a year after planting. In the fall, it is enough to mulch the soil around the plant with compost. If the plant lacks nutrients or it grows in poor soil, granular fertilizer is used to feed it, scattering it around the bush.

You can feed the blue hosta until mid-summer, otherwise it will only increase its green mass and not bloom, and will not have time to stop growing before the onset of frost. The soil around the plant is constantly moistened so that the foliage retains its decorative appearance and does not begin to darken at the edges. You need to water early in the morning, lifting the foliage. Then the ground is mulched - this will retain moisture inside. To ensure that the perennial looks neat and does not lose its shape, young flower stalks are removed. The leaves are cut off in late autumn: new ones will appear in the spring.

Varieties of blue hostas

In the photo, the hosta, a blue plant, often stands out from other perennials. That’s why landscape designers love to use it for their work. This perennial has many interesting varieties, and you can plant several different blue hostas in the garden at once.

Classic varieties include:

Reproduction of blue hosta by dividing the bush

Blue hosta can be propagated by dividing the bush, cuttings and seeds. The bushes are divided when transplanted in the fifth year of the plant’s life. This allows them to maintain their shape. Best period for division - early spring or early autumn. The hosta is dug up and the rhizome is cut, leaving one or two rosettes on each plot. The cut areas are sprinkled with crushed charcoal. Damaged and rotten roots are removed, and the plants are planted on permanent place. Hostas usually take root within two weeks. Therefore, it is advisable to have time to plant them before the temperature drops.

Hosta cuttings

Propagation by cuttings allows you to preserve the plant variety. This method is used in the summer, from June to July. Shoots with leaves are used as cuttings. Sheets should be shortened by a third to reduce the evaporation of moisture from the surface. The cuttings are protected from direct sunlight and constantly moisten the soil around them.

Propagation by seeds

The seeds appear after the plant has flowered. In place of the buds, a box remains from which seed can be collected. The disadvantage of this method of propagation is the loss of variety. Hosta seeds do not have strong germination; before sowing, they are soaked in growth stimulants and treated with a pink solution of potassium permanganate. The soil is also disinfected to destroy fungal spores and other pathogens various diseases. You can do this by calcining the soil in the oven or treating it with the same solution of potassium permanganate. The soil for sowing seeds is made up of baking powder and peat. It should be breathable and lightweight. Hosta is sown superficially in moist soil using disinfected containers. A thick layer of drainage is placed at the bottom. The seeds are lightly sprinkled with substrate, covered with film or placed in a greenhouse and placed in a place protected from direct sun.

Seedling care

The optimal temperature for seedlings is +20-25 °C. The first seedlings appear after 2 weeks. Then the greenhouse is moved to a well-lit place and begins to be ventilated periodically, accustoming the plants to the open space. It is important to monitor the soil moisture and not allow it to dry out. At the stage of the first pair of leaves, seedlings are picked, placing them in different containers. The pots are placed in a large tray with water and watered through it. The top layer of soil is covered with sand and the moisture continues to be monitored. When young plants become stronger, they begin to harden, lowering the air temperature to +18 °C. Hostas develop very slowly and almost always lose varietal qualities when propagated in this way.

Hosta pests

Blue hosta is most often damaged by snails and slugs. They eat succulent leaves and spoil their appearance with their silvery marks. The main means of combating them are traps and bait in the form of granules. Small rodents can damage rhizomes. To protect it, it is better to clamp it in a container with a net or scatter poisonous bait around it. Pests especially often attack the host in winter period. If the plant does not produce fresh leaves in the spring, this may indicate that the root has been damaged by insects. To check, it is dug up and inspected.

For the winter, the host does not require special shelter, but some experienced gardeners They try to protect themselves by mulching the soil around the plant. If the soil is damp, such places become ideal for breeding field mice. They dig holes around and spoil root system plants. Another danger to blue hostas are caterpillars. They can destroy a bush in one night. Special chemicals called insecticides are used against these insects. Dangerous pest, destroying hosts, is a nematode. These worms live in the ground, but can crawl onto plants and feed on leaves. Traces of the lesion look like brown stripes on the veins of the leaves. Aphids can also take up residence on blue hostas. Then small spots appear on the leaf plate, similar to punctures with a pin.

Hosta diseases

Among the common diseases of these perennials, fungal diseases occupy the first place. They are controlled with fungicides. Plants can become infected with viruses. Signs of damage are yellow spots and dots on the leaf blade. It is useless to fight viruses; the diseased plant is dug up and destroyed, otherwise the virus will spread to neighboring trees and shrubs. Any instrument that has come into contact with a diseased plant must be disinfected.

Phyllosticosis is a disease caused by a fungal infection. Often found in perennials weakened by a hard winter and when the top freezes during return frosts. Traces of the lesion look like large merging brown spots with a grayish coating.

Blue hosta can also get anthracnose. The infection affects plants weakened by lack of nutrition and excess moisture in the soil. The disease can be cured using systemic fungicides.

Our grandmothers, growing garden strawberries, or strawberries, as we used to call them, did not particularly worry about mulching. But today this agricultural technique has become fundamental in achieving High Quality berries and reducing crop losses. Some might say it's a hassle. But practice shows that labor costs in this case pay off handsomely. In this article, we invite you to get acquainted with the nine best materials for mulching garden strawberries.

Succulents are very diverse. Despite the fact that “little ones” have always been considered more fashionable, the range of succulents with which you can decorate modern interior, it’s worth taking a closer look. After all, colors, sizes, patterns, degree of prickliness, impact on the interior are just a few of the parameters by which you can choose them. In this article we will tell you about the five most fashionable succulents that amazingly transform modern interiors.

The Egyptians used mint as early as 1.5 thousand years BC. It has a strong aroma due to the high content of various essential oils, which are highly volatile. Today, mint is used in medicine, perfumery, cosmetology, winemaking, cooking, ornamental gardening, and the confectionery industry. In this article we will look at the most interesting varieties of mint, and also talk about the features of growing this plant in open ground.

People began growing crocuses 500 years before our era. Although the presence of these flowers in the garden is fleeting, we always look forward to the return of the harbingers of spring to next year. Crocuses are one of the earliest primroses, whose flowering begins as soon as the snow melts. However, flowering times may vary depending on the species and varieties. This article is dedicated to the earliest varieties of crocuses, which bloom in late March and early April.

Cabbage soup made from early young cabbage in beef broth is hearty, aromatic and easy to prepare. In this recipe you will learn how to cook delicious beef broth and cook light cabbage soup with this broth. Early cabbage cooks quickly, so it is placed in the pan at the same time as other vegetables, unlike autumn cabbage, which takes a little longer to cook. Ready cabbage soup can be stored in the refrigerator for several days. Real cabbage soup turns out tastier than freshly prepared cabbage soup.

Blueberry – a rare and promising berry crop in the gardens. Blueberries are a source of biologically active substances and vitamins, have antiscorbutic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and tonic properties. The berries contain vitamins C, E, A, flavonoids, anthocyanins, microelements - zinc, selenium, copper, manganese, as well as plant hormones - phytoestrogens. Blueberries taste like a mixture of grapes and blueberries.

Looking at the variety of tomato varieties, it is difficult not to get confused - the choice is very wide today. Even experienced gardeners He's annoying sometimes! However, understanding the basics of selecting varieties “for yourself” is not so difficult. The main thing is to delve into the peculiarities of the culture and start experimenting. One of the easiest groups of tomatoes to grow are varieties and hybrids with limited growth. They have always been valued by those gardeners who do not have much energy and time to care for their beds.

Once very popular under the name of indoor nettle, and then forgotten by everyone, coleus today is one of the brightest garden and indoor plants. It is not for nothing that they are considered stars of the first magnitude for those who are primarily looking for non-standard colors. Easy to grow, but not so undemanding as to suit everyone, coleus require constant monitoring. But if you take care of them, bushes made of velvety unique leaves will easily outshine any competitor.

Salmon backbone baked in Provençal herbs is a “supplier” of delicious pieces of fish pulp for light salad with fresh wild garlic leaves. The champignons are lightly fried in olive oil and then water it apple cider vinegar. These mushrooms are tastier than regular pickled ones, and they are better suited for baked fish. Wild garlic and fresh dill get along well in one salad, highlighting each other’s aroma. The garlicky pungency of wild garlic will permeate both the salmon flesh and mushroom pieces.

Conifer tree or shrubs on the site is always great, but a lot of conifers is even better. Emerald needles of various shades decorate the garden at any time of the year, and phytoncides and essential oils released by plants not only aromatize, but also make the air cleaner. As a rule, most zoned mature conifers are considered very unpretentious trees and shrubs. But young seedlings are much more capricious and require proper care and attention.

Sakura is most often associated with Japan and its culture. Picnics in the canopy flowering trees have long been an integral attribute meeting spring in the Land of the Rising Sun. Financial and academic year here it starts on April 1, when the magnificent cherry blossoms bloom. Therefore, many significant moments in the life of the Japanese take place under the sign of their flowering. But sakura also grows well in cooler regions - certain species can be successfully grown even in Siberia.

I am very interested in analyzing how people's tastes and preferences for certain foods have changed over the centuries. What was once considered tasty and was an item of trade, lost its value over time and, conversely, new fruit crops conquered their markets. Quince has been cultivated for more than 4 thousand years! And even in the 1st century BC. e. About 6 varieties of quince were known, and even then methods of its propagation and cultivation were described.

Delight your household and prepare a themed cottage cheese cookies in the form of Easter eggs! Your children will be happy to take part in the process - sifting the flour, combining everything necessary ingredients, knead the dough and cut out intricate figures. Then they will watch with admiration as pieces of dough turn into real Easter eggs, and then with the same enthusiasm they will eat them with milk or tea. How to make such original cookies for Easter, read our step by step recipe!

Among tuberous crops, there are not so many decorative deciduous favorites. And caladium is a true star among the variegated inhabitants of interiors. Not everyone can decide to own a caladium. This plant is demanding, and first of all, it requires care. But still, rumors about the extraordinary capriciousness of caladiums are never justified. Attention and care can avoid any difficulties when growing caladiums. And the plant can almost always forgive small mistakes.

We have prepared a hearty, incredibly appetizing and simply easy-to-prepare dish for you today. This sauce is one hundred percent universal, as it goes with every side dish: vegetables, pasta, or anything. Chicken and mushroom gravy will save you in moments when you don’t have time or don’t want to think too much about what to cook. Take your favorite side dish (you can do this in advance so that everything is hot), add some gravy and dinner is ready! A real lifesaver.

Hosta already for a long time It is considered a garden favorite, so it is simply impossible to list all the hosta varieties (there are several thousand of them), and new ones appear every year. Unfortunately, many varieties are very difficult to distinguish from each other, although there are real highlights.
The choice of variety directly depends on your taste. Tall and medium-sized varieties are the most stable and durable. Dwarf forms are much more capricious and require more careful care.

Among the blue hostas Tall varieties are very impressive. You can choose a variety with wrinkled leaves - Big Daddy(Big Daddy) and with a smooth leaf surface - Elegance(Elegans).

Out of competition among medium-growing varieties Halcyon(Halcyon), Blue Boy(Blue Boy) Love Pat(Love Pat, pictured at the very beginning of the article, this hosta can grow in full sun).




Of the more compact ones, be sure to plant Blue Moon(Blue Moon) and Blue Cadet(Blue Cadet).




Hostas with green leaves should also grow in your garden, because they help make the transition between brightly colored varieties smoother. Plantain hostas (with pale green leaves and white fragrant flowers) and lanceolate hosts are very popular.
Interesting miniature variety Teaspun(Teaspoon), which, unlike most dwarfs, is very resilient.




From yellow-leaved hostas stands out August Moon(August Moon) is a large plant that by the end of summer changes the color of its leaves from yellowish-greenish to almost lemon. The Lemon Lime variety has lemon-colored leaves.

Always look impressive varieties with a border on the leaves. U Alex Summers(Alex Summers) creamy white border, Antiochus(Antioch) the border is first yellowish and then becomes white.




On a dark green background in the variety Patriot(Patriot) the white border looks especially contrasting. Medium-sized variety France Williams(Frances Williams) is distinguished by a rather wide, but blurred yellowish border against a background of bluish-green wrinkled leaves.




Golden Tiara(Golden Tiara) is a miniature plant with a clear golden border along the edge of the leaf.




Hostas with a contrasting center of the leaf attract particular attention. Most often these are varieties with a white or golden center and a green edge. Great example - Inniswood(Inniswood, photo above) with a narrow green border and a bright yellow center.

IN Lately Almost no project can be completed without using one or more hosta varieties in flower beds. And not by chance. Hosta retains its decorative properties in any conditions and pleases the eye much longer than flowering plants. Their beauty and unpretentiousness are beyond competition.

Often the names reflect the characteristics of the variety. In the photo: Hosta undulata (wavy). Those hostas that have reached 4-5 years of age are very beautiful; every year their leaves acquire the shape and color characteristic of the variety. They differ significantly in appearance, size (from the tiniest to the gigantic), color, and growing habits.

The classification of hostas is usually considered according to the size of the bush, its height... Let's start from dwarf (below 10 cm), miniature forms (from 10-15 cm), small (up to 25 cm), medium hostas with a height of 30-35 cm, then there are large varieties , large (up to 70 cm) and extra large (over 80 cm). This classification is rather arbitrary, because plants in different conditions may show themselves differently.

The main characteristics of hosta varieties are their color in various shades and combinations (plain, tricolor, variegated, chimeric, yellow with a white-green border, white border, etc....).

• Blue, gray-blue, silver, bluish-green;
• Green from light green to very dark;
• Yellow with lemon and golden foliage;
• Albo-Aureovariegata with variegated leaves;
• Albo-marginata with white border;
• Aureomarginata with golden, yellow, cream border;
• Mediovariegata with a green or bluish border and a “colored” center;
• Tricolor, there are three shades of color;
• “Chameleon varieties”, changing the shade of the leaves throughout the season (golden, cream, light green).

The color of the flowers varies from purple to white. Some varieties have flowers with a strong, delicate aroma. Most hostas bloom in July-August, but there are earlier and later flowering varieties.

Description of hosta species and their varieties

"Aureo-marginata" (golden-edged) is medium sized, the leaves are heart-shaped, dark green with a wide creamy yellow margin. One of the few hosta varieties that can withstand direct sunlight.

Photo: Hosta Gold Standard - the color of the leaves is golden-green with a contrasting dark green border. 70 cm high. As the foliage grows, it takes on a more golden hue, sometimes fading to a creamy white.

Varieties: "Albopicta" (yellowish leaves and green border, later the foliage almost merges with the border); 'Patriot' and 'Minuteman' have broad white edges and flatter heart-shaped leaves; "Aureamaculata" (with a yellow center and a green border), "Aurea" (golden), "Ferising"…

Hosta Siebold(Hosta Sieboldiana) - the original species hosta with a height of 70 cm, always a welcome guest in the garden, can become a contrasting addition to any garden composition. Its large blue heart-shaped leaves, with a pronounced convex relief of the supporting veins, always look attractive.

“Elegans” is the name of a hosta variety of medium size up to 60-70 cm, a plain blue surface and characteristic white flowers on long peduncles (up to 130 cm in height). The deeper the shadow, the brighter the blue color.

Varieties obtained on the basis of Siebold are usually covered with a waxy coating, until the end of summer they slowly wear off when touched, are partially washed off by rain, or melt in the sun.

“Halcyon” is the bluest hosta, despite the abundance of blue varieties, its size is small, usually does not exceed 40-50 cm in height, it develops heart-shaped horizontal leaves on strong petioles. Lavender flower without fragrance.

"Big Daddy" - blue leaves with an expressive wrinkled texture, a fairly large plant, growing in width, shade-tolerant...

"Striptease" is one of the most original varieties. In the center of the leaf there is an oval mesh pattern of white veins. It is a distant descendant of the relatively low-growing form of Hosta fortunei - hyacinth, so named for its light purple “hyacinth” flowers.

Varieties: "Blue Angel" - bluish-green leaves; "Christmas Tree" - leaves are matte, bluish-green with an uneven white border; "Great Expectations" - leaves are yellow-green, with an uneven green border, wavy along the edges.

(Hosta undulata) is a small plant with elongated, oblong-ovate leaves, strongly wavy along the edges, a white central part or alternating white-green areas at the base. Peduncles up to 80 cm tall. The flowers are funnel-shaped, light purple. Blooms in July-August. The species has been in cultivation since 1834.

Photo: Hosta "Golden Tiara" with heart-shaped green leaves, wide creamy-yellow edges, low, forming a very dense wide curtain, can be ground cover. Lavender flowers.

Photo: ‘Albomarginata’ (white-edged) - widespread among gardeners, very hardy, unpretentious...

‘Mediovariegata’ - the variety is distinguished by its excellent shape and variegated coloring of slightly curled leaves.

Varieties: "Erromena" - hosta with smooth green leaves and tall peduncles up to 1 meter; "Undulata" - leaf is sharp, ellipsoid, white, with a narrow green stripe, height 20-30 cm; "Univiltata - the middle of the leaf is white and the edges are green...

Hosta plantain (Hosta plantaginea) – the species is characterized by thin, light green shiny, ribbed leaves of an elongated shape and sterile fragrant flowers, the smell of which is reminiscent of lilac and violet at the same time. The flowers open in the afternoon, but in our climate this type of hosta does not have time to bloom. The only known variety is "Grandiflora".

Hosta swollen (Hosta ventricosa) - height 30-50 cm, distinguished by heart-shaped green leaves with a strongly pointed end. ‘Univiatta’ is a variety with a height of 40 cm and a bush diameter of up to 110 cm.

Hosta small(Hosta minor) - 10-15 cm tall, the species grows in breadth due to rhizomes. Narrow, lanceolate leaves. The flowers are dark purple, slightly raised above the leaves. Blooms in July–early August for 14-20 days. Varieties: "Blue Cadet" - 20 cm high, bluish-green leaves; "Keirin Minor" - 20 cm high, dark green leaves.

Hostas grown: curly (H. crispula), straight-leaved (H. rectifolia), lanceolate (H. lancifolia), other varieties and hybrid varieties With different colors leaves and flowers.

Hosta "Marilyn Monroe"- interesting average size variety (50-60 cm), which can be called the hit of the season. Round, dense, smoky-green leaves with a strongly ruffled edge, on red petioles, the underside of the leaf is whitish. The leaf plate is always located horizontally. Sun-shadow.

In the photo: Hosta "Marilyn Monroe" - this variety is unique in that along the edge of the leaf there is a deep wavy ruffle, which creates for an adult plant the visual effect of Marilyn Monroe's blown skirt.

Mini-host varieties - fashionable and exclusive...

Today the creation is very popular alpine slides And dwarf varieties hostas fit perfectly into their overall concept due to the compactness of the bushes and the originality of the foliage.

Mouse hostas bloom with numerous lavender flowers, similar to hyacinths, which are located above the leaves.

"Blue Mouse Ears" - several wonderful sports were obtained from her - spontaneous genetic varieties...

In the photo: "Church Mouse" - church mouse, new for 2013, strongly sinuous blue leaves with a greenish-yellow border, which subsequently darkens.

• "Dragon Talls" - translated as "Dragon Tales", narrow bright yellow leaves with a wavy edge. Hosta has the shape of a round bush about 10 cm tall. Grows well, loves partial shade.
• "Cameo" - new for 2012, 10-12 cm high, gray-green in the center, creamy-white-yellow border, rounded dense leaves, wavy. Blooms with lavender flowers in early summer. Shade/penumbra.
• "Dancing Mouse" - leaves are two-colored, bluish-green with yellowish-green edges, dense, wavy. Size: 15-20 cm. Lavender flower. From sun to partial shade.
• "Blue Mouse Ears" - the leaves are painted pale blue, have a distinct grooved surface... It appeared about 10 years ago and has already gained well-deserved popularity among collectors.
• "Green Mause Ears" - a variety of green-leaved hosta with a bluish bloom, almost round leaves with a heart-shaped base, lavender-colored flowers. Grows in sun and shade.
• "Royal Mouse Ears" with white and cream striped leaves.
• "Holy Mouse Ears" (sacred) with a white stripe and veins in the center of the leaf.
• "Frosted Mouse Ears" is a variety with a white border along the edge of the leaf.
• "Snow Mouse" is another tiny hosta of the mouse ear family. The center of the leaf is white, the border is greenish-blue, rounded, very dense, fleshy leaves, large lilac-pink flowers. Partial shade/shade.
• "Green Eyers" - apple yellow leaves with a graceful green edge, neat rounded bush, grows well, grows from sun to shade.
• "Teeny-weeny Bikini" is a super variety of dwarf hosta with narrow shiny leaves with a white center and a green border. Partial shade/shade.
• "Touch of Glass" - very dense blue leaves with a waxy coating with a narrow lemon-colored center. The sun takes it out. Lavender flowers.

A modern garden cannot consist of only beautiful flowering plants. He also needs decorative foliage plants, the queen of which is the hosta.

Lanceolate hosta

The very first hosta that settled in my yard was the lanceolate hosta. This is the most common plant. We see this hosta in city parks, schools, near entrances, and just on the streets.

Only 40 cm high, it forms a beautiful, compact bush with a diameter of up to half a meter. A very unpretentious species that can live on any soil.

I needed a lanceolate hosta to decorate my flower beds. My entire garden is divided into separate zones and now each such clearing is surrounded by a chic border.

Many years later. I have a good collection of hostas, but I will never be able to give up lanceolate, because it gives a complete, well-groomed appearance my garden.

Blue hosta

Hosta Halcyon

After the green hosta, you will definitely want to plant a blue one. Blue hosta has leaves with a bluish-gray waxy coating. This is where getting acquainted with different varieties“Big Daddy”, “Big Mama”, “Blue Cadet”, “Earth Angel”, “Touch of Class”, “Clown’s Collar” and off we go...

I warn all future “hostomaniacs” that you have entered a path from which it will be difficult to turn off. Stop if you can!!! There will be no turning back)))

Having planted a blue hosta in the shade (it is in the shade that it retains its color), you begin to understand that a shady corner can be colorful, bright, and you also need hostas with a white center, a white border... That's it!!! You're caught!!!

Variegated hosts

These are varieties with a border of a different color - white, yellow or cream. "Lakeside Dragonfly", "Samurai", "Hweee!", "Brim Cup", "Golden Tiara", "Strawberry Surprise". I was happy when the colors began to sparkle in the shady areas of the garden.

I love hosta because the leaves remain attractive for a long period from early spring to late autumn.

The absolute favorite among the variegated hostas for me personally is “Lakeside Dragonfly” - “Dragonfly”. Bright, with sharp leaves, like dragonfly wings, graceful, beautiful. Suitable for growing in rock gardens, rock gardens, and medium-sized flower beds. Grows well in pots and tubs...

After the “bordered” hostas, there is a desire to plant media-variegated ones - the leaves of which, on the contrary, are light (white, yellow, cream), and the leaf border is green.

Mediavariate hosts

These varieties, with a predominant yellow or white color in the center, with a green border, vary in such color combinations: yellow-blue, green-white.

How luxurious they are!!! “Clifford’s Stingray”, “Fire and Ice”, “Gypsy Rose”, “Kiwi Full Monty”, “Dream Queen”, “Golden Meadows” and others. It is no longer possible to stop.

“Hostomania” has moved to the next stage. Several times a day you need to look at your fancy hostas, admire them, and “communicate with them.” Everyone's favorite “Golden Meadows” (pictured) cannot leave absolutely anyone indifferent!

Large and giant hostas

I thought for a long time about where to plant large hostas. They need a lot of space, at least partial shade. There was no place in the garden for them, but the desire grew.

Hosts “T-Rex”, “Blue Angel”, “Frances Williams”, “Gentle Giant” gave no rest. I know for sure that there are never too many plants, only a little space.

The decision came naturally when I saw this photo on the Internet!!! I grow climbing roses the same way. Nine favorite bushes lined up in a row. Gorgeous forged supports were made for each rose. Luxury tops climbing roses and the stems below are not at all aesthetic. Large hostas should be planted between the roses. Everything ingenious is SIMPLE! Roses and hostas have become friends, and all the guests in the garden freeze looking at this riot of blooming and non-blooming...

Classification of hostas depending on the height of the bush

This information is for beginners. The classification is accepted by the American Hosta Association.

First group: dwarf hostas D (Dwarf) have a height below 10 cm.

Second group: miniature (Mini) - height from 10 to 15 cm.

Third group: small S (Small) - height from 16 to 25 cm.

Fourth group: M (Medium) - from 30 to 50 cm, the most diverse and numerous group of hostas.

Fifth group: L (Large) - from 55 to 70 cm.

Sixth group: G (Giant) - more than 70 cm.

The photo, which was appreciated by the whole world, is of the host “Gentle Giant”. Originator: P. Black/Sebright Gardens, 2005. Bush height 100 cm.

Hostas with a “waffle” texture

God, what names don’t they call them! And “crumpled”, and “pimply”, and “toads”...

For a long time it seemed to me that there could not be a more beautiful hosta “Brother Stefan” in nature! But no, maybe...

In this photo, “CLEAR FORK RIVER VALLEY” is one of the most “crinkled” waffle hostas, the most corrugated among the world hosta collection. And what is the cost of the host “Deep Pockets” translated as “Deep Pockets”. The leaves of these hostas are dense and cool. Sometimes one section is already a whole bush. I love these hosts for their power and luxury...

Hostas in the sun

SUN TOLERANT - these are hosts that can withstand a sufficient amount of sun, i.e. are not susceptible to sunburn(edge, or “melted” with holes in the center), do not fade or crumble.

Interestingly, the narrower the white stripes present on the leaves, the more bright sun this plant can withstand. Checked!

Hosta "Minuteman" sits in full sun and is a beauty, an excellent variety! Hosta "Great Escape" does great in the sun, good girl!

Some varieties, on the contrary, show a yellow color only when planted in the most illuminated place.

Hostas with green leaves that have yellow centers ("Great Expectations") can tolerate a lot of sun. The intensity of sunlight in this case affects only the rate of discoloration of the yellow color and its transition to almost White color. The brighter and longer the lighting, the faster this process occurs.

Hosta red-petiolate

The time will come and you will definitely get acquainted with these interesting specimens, which are jokingly called red-legged.

These varieties are decorative due to the bright purple color of the leaf petioles. Sometimes painted in red tones and peduncles seed pods. In some varieties, the red color even extends to the leaf along the central vein.

Hosta "Moonstruck" is a very showy miniature hosta with bright cherry petioles and flower stalks only at the base.

Hosta "Purple Heart" translates as "Purple Heart", has purple petioles and a purple spot at the base of the leaf.

And simply a masterpiece, in my opinion, is “Raspberry Sundae” translated as “Raspberry ice cream”. This charming hosta is a new achievement of selection. Contrasting leaves - a mixture of snow-white shade in the center of the leaf with a wide painted border around the edges. The highlight is the dark burgundy stem. This beauty should definitely take up residence in your garden.

Hostas - “mice”, varieties

The first “mouse” that appeared in my garden was, of course, “Blue Mouse Ears”. This is the very first “mouse”, which marked the beginning of the dynasty of the “mouse family”.

This small (for now) group of hostas is a collectible for many hostomaniacs; they are dreamed of and “hunted” for. These little “mice” have charm, they are cute, touching and very beautiful! Their round and plump leaves reminded the breeder of “mouse ears” - this is how the name appeared.

Hosta "Blue Mouse Ears" was awarded the international awards "Hosta of the year" in 2008, as well as "Best Blue Leaf 2004". And then it started... Hostochka “Mini Skirt” (sooooo cute), “Snow Mouse”, “Church Mouse”, “Dancing Mouse”, “Cat And Mouse”, “Desert Mouse”, “Country Mouse”, “Funny Mouse”, "Frosted Mouse Ears" and so on...

That’s it, I got caught... After all, “mouse” is still a very expensive pleasure, but you can’t turn away from this path. Think about it when you start collecting them... The little ones are beautiful when they bloom! And if you fill a small flowerbed of “mice” with decorative wood chips (red or ginger) you will get a very beautiful sight - a HOLIDAY in your garden...

Small hosts

If you don't have much space in your garden, don't despair because there are hostas that are small but no less beautiful. I really love the interesting miniature host “Dragon Tales” - Hosta Dragon Tails. I also love the cute little Teaspoon - Hosta Teaspoon, the wrinkly Lakeside Dimpled Darling, the wonderful Warwick Comet, the adorable Lakeside Paisley Print, the playful Color Festival, the curly little Kiwi Spermint.

Collection hostas, varieties

I would compare collectible hosts to contemporary art. You may like them, or they may cause you confusion.

Collection hosts are hosts with unique characteristics. Mass production technologies cannot reproduce too complex drawing sheet, preserved only during NORMAL DIVISION. Such hosts are truly collectible, but therefore, unfortunately, quite expensive. Collectors try to exchange such varieties, give good friends and not put up for free sale. “Bull Frog”, “Breeders Love”, “Confused Angel” are now the dream of many hostomaniacs. And breeders offer new varieties every year... The passion for hostas turns into INFINITY...

What colors do hostas go with?

What flowers and plants should I choose for my hosts? Hostas have a lot of friends and companions. They must have the same environmental requirements (not very harsh sun and moderately moist soil). People who love light are not suitable friends ( bearded irises, gladioli, dahlias). But it is considered a classic to combine hostas with astilbes, mountain weeds, ferns, bergenia, heucheras, lungworts, tenacious, buzulniks, dicentras and other plants that love shade and partial shade.

Spring bulbs are very good for replanting. The foliage on the hostas blooms quite late and while there are no hostas leaves, the bulbous ones bloom, and in the summer, when the foliage of the bulbous hostas dies, the hostas leaves bloom and cover all the empty places.

Hosta division

If you want to divide an old, problem-free variety, you can do this from early spring to late autumn (any time). But if we're talking about about a valuable variety or young bush, then I do not recommend dividing it in the spring. It is better to do this in early August, before the second wave of growth.

The hosta bush needs to be completely dug up, and the rhizome should be cut with a knife along the already grown and formed sections. The most interesting thing is that even a rosette shoot without roots (it happens that such a section accidentally breaks off) has every chance of taking root well before winter. In August, roots are actively growing, so in the spring you will have a healthy and strong plant.

If hostas grow in your garden, please attach their photos in the comments. If possible, give a short description and characteristics of them. Why do you like the particular type of hosta that grows in your area? What do you think hostas go best with and what colors?