Hostas, the Premier Shade Perennial - Meadows Farms Nurseries and Landscaping

From Garden Talk with Doug by our own Doug Hensel, May 2013

This article is inspired by our beautiful, extensive selection of hostas that we have in our nursery. Walking through the aisles of hostas, I realize just how much I admire this perennial and how I enjoy showing them off to customers.

I have two varieties in my landscape. One is Frances Williams, which I have divided many times over the years. My other variety is Sum and Substance. I love this variety because of its chartreuse colored leaves and how large it grows. The new favorite that I plan to add to my gardens is called Mouse Ears. This hosta has the perfect name because its small blue-green leaves do look like mouse ears.

With so many choices of hostas, how do you know which one’s right for your garden? This decision could be decided by what kind of shade you have. This will help you select the perfect kind of hosta that will grow well in your landscape. Shade is described as deep shade (no direct sun), part shade (sun in the morning and shade in the afternoon), or bright shade (under trees with some dappled sun). The blue-green leaf varieties of hostas do best in the deep shade. The variegated leaf varieties of hostas do well in deep shade, part shade, and bright shade. The bright green and chartreuse varieties of hostas do best in part shade to bright shade.

Hostas are not without their challenges with pests. One common pest is the slug (use slug bait or a saucer filled with beer placed near the hosta). Another pest is the vole (use Permatill or Vole Bloc in the soil or plant using wire baskets). And the biggest pest of all is deer (use deer deterrent sprays).

Hostas are great for edging gardens or being accent plants. Your choice of hosta could be time-consuming when in our nursery, standing in front of more than 100 beautiful varieties of hostas, the premier shade perennial.

Varieties

Below is just a small sampling of varieties of hostas carried by Meadows Farms. Please note that not all locations carry every variety, so please contact your local Meadows Farms garden center for the availability of these and other hostas.

ABIQUA DRINKING GOURD

Large leaved ornamental blue-green leaves are cupped, nearly round and have a dull glaucous bloom; provides beautiful texture and contrast to other plants; near-white spikes of flowers in mid-summer.

ALLAN P. MCCONNELL

Attractive mounds of oval shaped dark green leaves, variegated with a narrow white margin; soft lavender flowers emerge in mid-summer; provides beautiful texture and contrast to the garden and border.

BLUE ANGEL

Blue Angel Hosta features dainty spikes of white bell-shaped flowers rising above the foliage in mid summer. Its attractive enormous textured heart-shaped leaves emerge blue in spring, turning bluish-green in color throughout the season.

BLUE CADET

Dainty, lavender spikes of flowers rise from lush, blue-green foliage; great impact when planted with finer textured plants.

BLUE MOUSE EARS

This miniature mounded hosta features small round, blue-green leaves and dainty spikes of pale lavender-white flowers; slow growing and cute as a button.

EMPRESS WU

Huge dark green deeply veined leaves of good substance; spikes of reddish violet flowers in early to mid-summer; one of the largest hosta varieties, it is an enormous focal point for the garden or border ends.

FIRE & ICE

A white leaf center with wide, streaky dark green margins; leaf is a rounded heart shape with good substance; spikes of pale lavender flowers in mid to late summer; a beautiful light color addition to the garden or border.

FIRST FROST

Ornamental blue-green leaves have a contrasting gold margin that fades to white later in season.

FRANCEE

Francee Hosta features dainty spikes of lilac purple bell-shaped flowers rising above the foliage in mid summer. Its attractive textured heart-shaped leaves remain forest green in color with distinctive white edges throughout the season.

FRANCES WILLIAMS

Frances Williams Hosta features dainty spikes of white bell-shaped flowers rising above the foliage in mid summer. Its attractive large textured heart-shaped leaves remain bluish-green in color with distinctive chartreuse edges throughout the season.

GOLD STANDARD

Gold Standard Hosta features dainty spikes of lavender bell-shaped flowers rising above the foliage in mid summer. Its attractive large textured heart-shaped leaves emerge lime green in spring, turning yellow in color with distinctive dark green edges throughout the season.

GOLDEN TIARA

Golden Tiara Hosta features dainty spikes of purple bell-shaped flowers rising above the foliage in mid summer. Its attractive textured heart-shaped leaves remain light green in color with distinctive chartreuse edges throughout the season.

GUACAMOLE

Guacamole Hosta features dainty spikes of white bell-shaped flowers rising above the foliage in mid summer. Its attractive large textured heart-shaped leaves remain chartreuse in color with showy emerald green variegation throughout the season.

HADSPEN BLUE

A smaller type of hosta, forms mounds of gray-blue leaves; provides beautiful texture and contrast to other plants; pale lavender spikes of flowers in late summer.

HALCYON

Halcyon Hosta features dainty spikes of lavender bell-shaped flowers rising above the foliage in mid summer. Its attractive textured heart-shaped leaves emerge blue in spring, turning bluish-green in color throughout the season.

JUNE

June Hosta features dainty spikes of lavender bell-shaped flowers rising above the foliage in mid summer. Its attractive textured heart-shaped leaves remain gold in color with distinctive aqua bluish-green edges and tinges of bluish-green throughout the season.

KROSSA REGAL

Krossa Regal Hosta features dainty spikes of lavender bell-shaped flowers rising above the foliage in mid summer. Its attractive enormous textured heart-shaped leaves remain silvery blue in color throughout the season.

MINUTEMAN

Minuteman Hosta features dainty spikes of violet bell-shaped flowers rising above the foliage in mid summer. Its attractive large textured heart-shaped leaves remain dark green in color with distinctive white edges throughout the season.

ORANGE MARMALADE

Gold leaved hosta with blue-green variegation and slight corrugation, fades to orange-gold color; provides beautiful texture and contrast to other plants; lavender spikes of flowers in early to mid-summer.

PATRIOT

Patriot Hosta features dainty spikes of lavender bell-shaped flowers rising above the foliage in mid summer. Its attractive textured heart-shaped leaves remain dark green in color with distinctive white edges throughout the season.

PAUL’S GLORY

Paul’s Glory Hosta features dainty spikes of lavender bell-shaped flowers rising above the foliage in mid summer. Its attractive large textured heart-shaped leaves emerge lime green in spring, turning gold in color with distinctive bluish-green edges throughout the season.

REGAL SPLENDOR

A large hosta with long pointed, powder blue leaves with narrow creamy yellow to white margins; an upright vase-shaped mound provides beautiful texture and contrast to other plants; lavender flowers on tall spikes in mid to late summer.

STAINED GLASS

Leaves have chartreuse centers with green variegation and wavy margins; provides beautiful texture and contrast to other plants; fragrant white spikes of flowers in mid-summer.

SUM & SUBSTANCE

Sum and Substance Hosta features dainty spikes of lavender bell-shaped flowers rising above the foliage in mid summer. Its attractive enormous textured round leaves remain chartreuse in color throughout the season.

WOLVERINE

Attractive wavy lance-shaped leaves with light green center and chartreuse margins; provides beautiful texture and contrast to other plants; lavender spikes of flowers in mid-summer.