Heroic Hostas - a guide to growing and caring for beautiful plants

May has traditionally been a bit of a ‘gap’ month in my garden—not in the exciting, travel-related sense, but rather as a waiting period before summer arrives in full bloom. Not this year! This is because I’ve re-discovered hostas.

Hostas come in an incredible array of shapes, sizes, and colours, so there’s a hosta to suit most outside spaces. Their lush, broad leaves provide a striking contrast to more delicate plants, creating texture and depth where things might otherwise feel a little sparse. While they don’t flower in quite the same way as more showy perennials, many varieties produce elegant spikes of lavender or white blooms, which add a soft, graceful touch to the garden. But it’s their leaves that truly steal the show—rippling, variegated, deep emerald green, zingy lime or a gorgeous blue/grey, depending on the variety.

Hostas are perennial plants, so they return year after year, rewarding you with an increase in their impressive foliage as they mature. They’re easy to grow and tolerate a wide range of conditions but prefer not to be excessively dry or exposed to scorching sun. Though often associated with shade gardens, certain varieties can manage partial sun as long as they don’t bake in the midday heat. Despite their soft, luxuriant appearance, they are more resilient than you might expect and can withstand wet, windy weather with ease.

One of the greatest benefits of hostas is their ability to create excellent ground cover, naturally suppressing weeds while forming a lush, layered effect. However, unlike some other plants, hostas do have one notorious enemy—slugs! These persistent pests love to feast on hosta leaves, leaving unsightly holes behind. Planting hostas near slug-resistant companions, like ferns or geums, can help, and there are various organic methods to keep slugs at bay, from crushed eggshell barriers to nematodes.

Hostas pair beautifully with a variety of plants, whether nestled in a traditional woodland setting or blended into a tropical garden. Their versatility makes them easy to combine with both bold and subtle colour schemes, complementing shade-loving plants like ferns, hellebores, and astilbes.

Where to plant hostas?

Hostas are widely grown across the world and are incredibly adaptable. They work well in shaded borders, under trees, or as striking features in pots. Their leaves grow in a soft, mounding habit, making them a fantastic filler for awkward gaps or bare spaces in the garden. Smaller varieties look great in rock gardens, while larger varieties can anchor or brighten a shaded corner with their bold presence.

Hostas thrive in moisture-retentive soil and prefer dappled shade, though some varieties tolerate partial sun. Excessive heat can scorch their leaves, so a location that offers protection during the hottest part of the day is ideal.

While hostas perform best in the ground, they can be grown in containers as long as they are kept well-watered. However, potted hostas may be more susceptible to pests such as vine weevils.

When to plant hostas?

Hostas are best planted in spring or autumn, allowing them time to establish strong roots before facing the extremes of summer or winter.

If growing from seed, sow directly into the soil once the risk of frost has passed. However, propagating hostas from seeds is slow, and most gardeners prefer division as the best way to increase their collection.

How to plant hostas?

Dig your planting hole twice as large as the plants entire pot and/or root system and add plenty of organic matter to improve the moisture retention in the soil, while still allowing adequate drainage.  If you have a heavy clay soil, a bit of grit at the base of the hole can help the roots from becoming waterlogged over the winter.

Place the plant into the hole and position it with all of the leaves sitting just above the surface of the soil.   

Fill in the areas around the plant with soil and firm them down gently.  When you’ve completed your planting, water well and if you can, add a thick layer of mulch to help retain the moisture and protect the young shoots. Learn more here Marvellous Mulching

If you have more than one plant, a group of three can give dramatic impact and a really full display of colour and texture, just remember to leave enough space between them for light and air to circulate when they are fully grown and to prevent overcrowding, particularly for larger varieties.

How to care for hostas?

Dividing hostas

Hostas benefit from division every three to five years to maintain their vigorous growth. If left too long, they can become woody, and growth may slow. Signs it’s time to divide include a bare, thinning centre of the plant.

Dividing hostas is simple and provides free plants to fill gaps or share with fellow gardeners. Lift the entire plant carefully from the ground, then split the clump using a sharp spade. Replant in fresh soil and water thoroughly.

Pest problems with hostas

Slugs and snails are the most common threats to hostas as they seek out the tasty new shoots, leaving lace-like holes in their leaves. Organic methods like crushed eggshells, coffee grounds, and copper barriers can deter them, while nematodes offer an eco-friendly control method.

Encouraging natural predators like frogs, birds, and hedgehogs can also help. Take some simple measures to give them a bit of protection using the tips here Slug Stopping Strategies

If growing hostas in pots, vine weevils can be a concern. Adult weevils nibble leaf edges, while larvae attack roots. Immersing newly purchased hostas in water for 24 hours can help flush out pests before planting.

Watering hostas

Water hostas regularly, especially while they establish, and during dry spells. They thrive on moisture but dislike being waterlogged, so good soil drainage is essential.

If the summer is a particularly hot one with little rainfall, your hostas will need to be watered.  A good soak, directed at the base of the plant, rather than a light sprinkle from above, will conserve water and ensure the plants roots get the moisture they

need.  

Feeding hostas

Hostas grow quickly and you can boost their vigour if you choose to feed them with some organic potassium or all-purpose fertiliser during the summer.  Those in pots and planters that can’t stretch their roots further to take extra nutrients from the ground, particularly benefit from this.

Winter care for hostas

Hostas die back in winter, leaving bare crowns beneath the soil. Their foliage usually withers and flops onto the soil with the first of the frosts so cutting back their dead leaves in autumn tidies the garden and reduces slug hiding spots. Adding a layer of mulch helps insulate the roots and crown and encourages healthy growth in spring.

How to propagate hostas?

The easiest way to propagate hostas is by division. When mature clumps start to look congested, dig up the entire plant, split it into smaller sections, ensuring each has both root and leaf growth, and then replant. Water regularly until established.

To encourage long lasting, healthy and vigorously growing hostas, divide plants every three years or so.  If they’re left too long, they may become woody, flowering will reduce, and they could even die.  You will know when the time is right as the centre of the plant will start to look bare and brown.  Doing this is easy and generates extra, free plants that you can use to fill gaps or even gift to friends and family, more information can be found here  Divide and Multiply

While hostas can be grown from seed, it is tricky and most varieties are hybrids, meaning the offspring may differ from the parent plant. If collecting seeds, wait until flower heads die back, then sow them in early spring with some heat to encourage germination.

I hope this gives you all the information you were looking for - happy hosta growing!