Plant Image Data Base                                         

   Hosta

                                                       Hosta or Plantain Lily

• Form
  • herbaceous perennial
  • foliage ranges from 0.5' to 3' tall with an even wider width, depending upon cultivar
• Culture
  • partial sun to full shade (in most instances)
  • prefers moist, rich, well-drained soils with supplemental organic matter, but is adaptable to poor soils as long as sufficient drainage is provided to prevent dormant season crown rot
  • tolerant of Summer drought as long as the plant is root-established and is sited in partial shade to full shade
• Foliage
  • leaves are different shades of green, chartreuse, gold, or blue, frequently with white, cream, gold, or yellow variegation
  • fall color becomes a faded golden-brown or chartreuse with the onset of cooler temperatures (irrespective of Summer foliage color or variegation) and quickly melts back to the ground with early frosts
• Flowers
  • white, lavender, or light purple, and sometimes slightly fragrant
  • blooming for about two weeks at some period from July through September, depending upon cultivar

• Function
  • foundations, beds, edgings, borders, group plantings, entranceways, under story plantings beneath large trees, or focal points in the shade
• Assets
  • bold foliage is striking for color, variegation, size, and/or growth habit in the shade
• Purpose
  • Hosta is the classic foliage perennial for shady sites.
• Summary
  • Hosta is a bold-textured foliage perennial for partial sun to full shade conditions, also having moderately attractive flowers on long stalks in Summer, with hundreds of cultivars to choose from, differing primarily in foliage color, variegation, and size.

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