Hostas Are Emperors of the Shade

First posted on 07-09-2010

Hostas may be just the ticket for gardeners who want to plant something in a shady spot.

“These plants are hardy, low-maintenance perennials that are easy to grow,” said David Trinklein, University of Missouri Extension horticulturist. “Their impressive colors and leaves give hostas the label among gardeners as ‘emperors of the shade.’”

There are an estimated 70 species and more than 4,000 cultivars of hostas available today. They range in size from miniatures only a few inches in diameter at maturity to giants with a height and spread of 3-4 feet or more.

Although hostas are shade plants, many cultivars would appreciate a bit more sun than we tend to give them, Trinklein said. An ideal scenario is several hours of morning sun followed by afternoon shade or broken patches of sun and shade characteristic of the exposures under a large, open tree.

Hostas have fairly aggressive roots that compete well with the roots of most tree species.

“Good drainage is important,” Trinklein said. “Deeply incorporating about four inches of organic matter is a good way to prepare average soil for hostas.”

Fertilizing hostas remains a controversial topic among experts. Some insist that hostas growing in soils containing sufficient amounts of nutrients do not need fertilizer, while others maintain that supplemental fertilization is beneficial.

“It is important not to fertilize hostas after the middle part of July to avoid stimulating late-season growth and preventing the plant from hardening for the winter,” he said.

Well-rotted manure, compost, leaf mold and peat are good sources of organic matter. Plant in a hole that’s about 12 inches deep and 1.5 times the mature diameter of the cultivar you are planting.

Hostas need about 1.5 inches of water per week during the summer. Burned leaf tips and dropping leaves are telltale signs of insufficient moisture. If hostas need supplemental irrigation, water early in the morning to allow leaves to dry as quickly as possible.

Deer love hostas and can be difficult to control. Slugs and snails are also fond of hostas. They typically chew small, round holes in the leaves and leave a trail of dried slime. Poison baits containing Mesurol, metaldehyde or iron phosphate are effective in controlling slugs and snails. Another approach is placing a pan filled with beer in the garden. The beer aroma attracts the pests, which will crawl into the pan and drown.

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