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
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
Good slug resistance
3' H x 4' W

Substitution Suggestions

Hosta 'Sum and Substance'

Hosta 'Elegans'

'Blue Cadet'

Medium-sized selection
Forms a symmetrical mound
Parent to 'Blue Mouse Ears'
Blue-green leaves emerge in spring and fade to green in summer
Lavender flowers mid-summer
Yellow fall foliage before dormancy
12"-18" H x 24"-36" W

Substitution Suggestions

Hosta 'Halcyon'

'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'

'Curly Fries'

Miniature to small selection
Narrow, rippled, arching leaves
Morning sun for best coloring
Lavender flowers mid-summer
Perfect companion to bright blue hostas
Awesome container plant - pair with Dryopteris 'Brilliance' (pictured)
5"-10" H x 12"-24" W

Substitution Suggestions

Heuchera 'Lemon Love'

'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'

Heuchera 'Lemon Love'

'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
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'

'Frosted Mouse Ears'

Miniature selection
Mutation of 'Blue Mouse Ears'
Slow grower; needs moist soil and open space
Margins emerge gold and fade to creamy white
Lavender flowers early summer
Ideal for shady rock gardens and containers
6"-8" H x 12"-18" W

Substitution Suggestions

Hosta 'Blue Mouse Ears'

'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

'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

Substitution Suggestions

Hosta 'Stained Glass'

Hosta 'Touch of Class'

'Liberty' PP 12531

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
1'-2' H x 2'-4' 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' PP 16742

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
1'-2' H x 2'-3' W

Discontinued Montale item - while supplies last

Substitution Suggestions

Hosta 'June'

Hosta 'Liberty'

'Patriot'

Sport of 'Francee'
Sun and heat tolerant; some not all full sun
Creamy yellow margins quickly become pure white
Lavender flowers mid-summer
Great in city gardens or courtyards
Ideal leafy accent
Good slug resistance
18"-24" H x 30"-36" W

Substitution Suggestions

Hosta sieboldiana 'Elegans'

Hosta 'Sagae'

'Rainforest Sunrise'

Montale favorite!
Upright, mounded form
Moderate to fast grower
Mid-morning sun or bright shade for best gold tones
Dramatic contrast between bright centers and dark margins
Lavender tinted flowers mid-summer
Good slug resistance
8"-12" H x 16"-20" W

Substitution Suggestions

Hosta 'Blue Mouse Ears'

Heuchera 'Lemon Love'

'Royal Standard'

Vigorous and fast growing
Can tolerate direct sun with adequate moisture
Yellowish-green tones in full sun
Shelter from cold, dry wind
Fragrant white flowers late summer
Stunning in a mass planting
20"-24" H x 36"-60" W

Substitution Suggestions

Hosta 'August Moon'

Hosta 'Gold Standard'

'Sagae'

Upright, vase-shaped habit
Slow to establish
Wavy yellow margins become creamy white with sun
Early spring foliage resembles that of 'June'
Pale lavender flowers mid-summer
Good slug resistance
2'-3' H x 3'-5' W

Discontinued Montale item - while supplies last

Substitution Suggestions

Hosta 'June'

Hosta 'Patriot'

'Stained Glass'

Sport of 'Guacamole'
Very sun tolerant - needs adequate moisture
Variegation appears early in the season
Prominent veins give it a stained glass effect
Fragrant pale lavender flowers late summer
Outstanding choice for around the porch
12"-15" H x 30"-48" W

Substitution Suggestions

Hosta 'Touch of Class'

Hosta 'June'

Heuchera villosa 'Autumn Bride'

'Sum and Substance'

One of the largest of the hostas - can reach up to 9 feet across at maturity
Tropical, paddle-shaped leaves
Needs space to grow
Morning sun with adequate moisture for best golden-chartreuse color
Pale lavender flowers mid to late summer
Most slug resistant variety
2'-3' H x 5'-6' W