Hosta

Hosta (Plantain lily; Funkia)

Plants range from mini to massive.
Hostas like rich, slightly acidic soils but can tolerate almost any soil once established.
Some varieties have fragrant flowers - pollinators love hostas!
Ideal plant choice for a low-maintenance garden.
Their tolerance to pollution allows them to perform well in city environments.
Hostas are a mainstay of shade gardens; very effective when grouped or massed, as a background plant, in shady borders and in woodland gardens.

Hostas Special Features Chart
Hostas with Variegated Leaves Chart
Hostas with Solid-colored Leaves Chart

'August Moon'

Quick growing and vigorous
Forms a dense, assymetrical mound
Sun tolerant
Leaf color depends on sun exposure - lime green to bright golden yellow
Lavender blooms
Illuminates the landscape
20" H x 42" W

Substitution Suggestions

Hosta 'Gold Standard'

Heuchera 'Guacamole'

'Big Daddy'

Large, puckered, chalky blue leaves
Shade for best blue color
Can handle some sun
Leaves become more cupped as plant matures
White flowers in late summer
Thrives under tree canopies
Good slug resistance
2' H x 3' W

Substitution Suggestions

Hosta sieboldiana 'Elegans'

Hosta 'Guacamole'

'Blue Angel'

Largest of the blue-leaved hostas
Forms a lush, dense, cascading mound of huge leaves
Plant in minimal direct sunlight
Companion plants include Pulmonaria and Alchemilla
Pale lavender blooms
Good slug resistance
3' H x 4' W

Substitution Suggestions

Hosta 'Sum and Substance'

Hosta 'Elegans'

'Brim Cup'

Small green hosta with wide, white to cream colored, irregular margins.
White flowers
Attracts hummingbirds
Bloom time: summer
12" H x 18" W
NEW TO MONTALE IN 2022

'Blue Mouse Ears'

Miniature selection
Forms a symmetrical mound
Soft blue-grey foliage with faint white edges
Leaves resemble mouse ears
Lavender flowers mid-summer
Perfect for rock gardens and containers
Good slug resistance
6"-12" H x 8"-12" W

Substitution Suggestions

Hosta 'Frosted Mouse Ears'

'Brother Stefan'

Heavily corrugated, blue green leaves with brilliant gold centers.
Slug resistant
Bloom time: summer
20" H x 36" W
NEW TO MONTALE IN 2022

'Dancing Queen'

Montale favorite!
Emerges bright yellow and remains yellow all season unlike other hostas that emerge or turn chartreuse
Leaves have pie-crust edges
Pale lavender flowers and soft yellow foliage mid to late summer
18" H x 30' W

Substitution Suggestions

Hosta 'August Moon'

Heuchera 'Guacamole'

'Earth Angel'

Sport of 'Blue Angel'
Blue-green leaves mature to green
Chartreuse margins widen and mature to creamy white
Smaller when grown in poor soil
Tolerates some sun
Pale lavender flowers early summer
Good slug resistance
3' H x 4' W

Substitution Suggestions

Hosta 'Liberty'

Hosta 'Olive Bailey Langdon'

sieboldiana 'Elegans'

Several years to reach mature shape
Tolerates dry shade
Crowds out garden weeds
Blue leaf color in light sun
Lilac tinged flowers spring to mid-summer
White blooms
Offers unique texture against smoother varieties
Combine with creamy variegated varieties
Good slug resistance
2'-3' H x 3'-4' W

Substitution Suggestions

Hosta 'Patriot'

Hosta 'Big Daddy'

Hosta 'Blue Angel'

'First Frost'

Sport of 'Halcyon'
Excellent adaptability
Emerges with golden margins, changing to white later in the season
Foliage remains attractive until first frost
Light lavender flowers mid-summer
Good slug resistance
16" H x 36" W

Substitution Suggestions

Hosta 'Francee'

'Francee'

Parent to 'Patriot'
One of the best white-margined hostas
Increases fairly quickly
Tolerates morning sun but color may fade to olive green
Pale lavender flowers mid to late summer
Wide, low mound of foliage makes 'Francee' ideal for use as a ground cover
14" H x 36" W

Substitution Suggestions

Hosta 'First Frost'

'Gold Standard'

Medium to large selection
Green, gold and emerald all at once
Centers emerge light green and progress to gold
Morning sun enhances gold coloring
Pale lavender flowers mid-summer
Creates dynamic contrast to solid green foliage
Sufficient height to use as a cover along north-facing foundations
20" H x 36" W

Substitution Suggestions

Hosta 'August Moon'

'Guacamole'

Good sun tolerance
Leaves emerge green and variegation intensifies as season progresses
Fragrant soft white summer flowers
Centers turn gold with sun exposure
Combine with blue-leaved hostas and native ferns
18"-24" H x 36"-50" W

Substitution Suggestions

Hosta 'Big Daddy'

tardiana 'Halcyon'

Parent of 'June'
Retains blue color longer than most
Pairs well with bright, variegated varieties
Use as a filler between yellowish-green foliage and ferns
Pale blue-violet flowers mid-summer
Good slug resistance
18"-24" H x 30"-36" W

Substitution Suggestions

Hosta 'Elegans'

Hosta 'Big Daddy'

Hosta 'Blue Angel'

'June'

Montale favorite!
Sport of 'Halcyon'
One of the last to go dormant
Centers turn medium to light gold on sunnier sites; chartreuse in deep shade
Pale lavender flowers mid to late summer
Good slug resistant
16" H x 42" W

'Liberty'

Sport of 'Sagae'
Slow grower
More sun and drought tolerant than most
Forms an upright, vase-shaped mound
Wide, dramatically streaked yellow margins fade to cream
Showy lavender flowers early/mid-summer
Good slug resistance
PP 12531
26" H x 39" W

Substitution Suggestions

Hosta 'Earth Angel'

'Olive Bailey Langdon'

Large selection
(Great sub) - Improved 'Frances William'
Less prone to leaf scorch
Cupped leaves with a deeply corrugated texture
Blue centers with wide gold margins
Purple flowers early summer
Good slug resistance
30" H x 60" W

Substitution Suggestions

Hosta 'Earth Angel'

'Orange Marmalade'

Puts on a multi-color display
Quite sun tolerant
Emerges with a green center and transitions to bright golden-tangerine lightening and maturing to creamy white by summer's end; pure white if in a lot of sun
Orange hue all season
Pale lavender flowers mid-summer
PP 16742
18" H x 30" W

Discontinued Montale item - while supplies last

Substitution Suggestions