Hosta is a real decoration for any flower bed. A perennial plant from the lily family. Hosta grows in almost any area, it is easy to care for, it grows larger every year, and most importantly, hosta is not afraid of pests.

Insects do not eat the plant for its bitter juice, despite the fact that the hosta grows in the shade; mold and mildew avoid it. The plant is distinguished by beautiful carved leaves of multi-colored green and white shades.

Hosta grows mainly in width, the leaves can even cover an entire flower garden, resulting in a thick green head.

The maximum length and width reaches one and a half meters. Hosta blooms with small white flowers that grow from the top of the stem. The flowers themselves are pale purple and small in size.

Hosta is not valued for its flowering; the main decoration of any site is its gorgeous green, dense leaves.

There are many varieties of hosta, they differ only in the color and shape of the leaves.

Hosta is not at all fussy to care for; it can survive for several years in a row without pruning or feeding. Hosta can grow up to 20 years.

The hosta looks beautiful in the evening or early in the morning, when droplets of dew cover the green leaves, which results in an even greater volume of leaves. The plant is filled with freshness, juiciness, and is covered with moist pollen.

Hosta is most often planted together with thuja and coniferous ornamental plants. It is not necessary to weed the ground around the flower; the bush has wide leaves, it is always dark under them, and weeds practically do not sprout.

Hosta tolerates winter well, but gardeners still recommend covering it with sawdust or moss. The plant is able to wake up early after frosts, even at the beginning of May, when the frosts continue, the plant opens, turns green, and develops. At this time it is necessary to cover it.

How to choose seedlings?

Hosta is planted in a flower garden as seedlings, which you can grow yourself, or you can buy ready-made young bushes.

If the root system is open: in this case, the roots themselves seem to not exist yet, there is only a bud that is rooted into the ground. Such a hosta will be able to bloom no earlier than three years. The seedlings are planted in the ground, in a small hole, sprinkled with earth.

If the root system is closed: in this form it is much easier to plant the plant, it will take root faster, unlike the previous method. The seedlings are buried in the hole and then sprinkled with soil, while the soil should be lightly crushed. After this, the earth is moistened.

It is better for the host to buy from trusted places or large flower shops, it is desirable that the root system is closed with small leaves. Thus, in the fall you will have a young plant, quite ready for full development and flowering.

Before planting a flower, it is also necessary to check the integrity of the roots, they must be dense, solid, white.

If the roots are slightly damaged, they should be cut off, but such roots should not be taken; if you have a choice, it is better to buy a healthy ovary.

Hosta, planting and care?

Planting a hosta in the ground is not a troublesome task; it should grow in a shady place, protected from the wind. In the sun, the plant burns, the leaves turn brown and curl. Each variety requires a specific place; some varieties of the flower love light.

Hosta is planted in April, but if you plant it in the fall, you may not have time before frost, the roots may not develop and the plant will die from frost in winter.

The main requirement for soil is that it is light and loose, it should not be dense or heavy, there should be good air flow to the roots and water should not stagnate. You can add peat or sand to the soil if the soil is dense.

To prevent water stagnation, expanded clay is added to the roots; it serves as drainage to remove moisture. After planting, the hosta is watered.

Now it is known how to choose a hosta plant, planting and care open ground as described above, the activity is also quite simple.

Hosta types

There are quite a few varieties of the flower. Pay attention to the photo of the hosta; depending on the variety, the plant differs from each other.

Curly - distinguished by bright green leaves with a white border along the edges. The leaves grow upward to form a lush bush.

White-bordered hosta variety is similar to the curly hosta variety, only it grows in width.

Siebold is a unique hosta variety with leaves with a rough surface, soft, wide, and dark green.

Plantain - this hosta is found in summer cottages and abandoned roads. Many people confuse it with plantain because of its similar appearance.

Wavy - very beautiful view. The leaves of this plant are white with a green border around the edges. Due to the predominance of white color on the leaves, the hosta appears voluminous.

What can a host suffer from?

Although this plant is resistant to various pests and diseases, it can be affected by gray rot, snails, slugs, nematodes. In case of one of the diseases, the plant is sprayed with a special composition.

Absolutely everyone likes the hosta flower, photo pictures show the beauty of its bloom.

Photo of the Hosta plant

Khosta is one of the most spectacular jewelry garden By planting hostas in the delicate shade of your garden, you will add color to your flower garden and highlight your other favorite plants.

Hosta is decorative, both for its foliage (the shape and color are surprising in its variety) and graceful peduncles with lilac or white flowers.

Khosta is valued for its diversity. Her big ones leaves- the main decoration of the garden: depending on the variety, they can be narrow, heart-shaped, or round.

Hosta - color and shape

The surface of hosta leaves itself is also decorative: shiny and matte, smooth and textured. The leaves can even curl in a spiral! But that's not all. Hosts have many faces:

• dwarf hostas – plants less than 10 cm high, Dwarf(D)
• miniature hostas – height from 10 to 15 cm, Miniature (Mini)
• small hostas – height from 16 to 25 cm, Small (S)
• medium hostas – height from 30 to 50 cm, Medium (M, MED)
• large hostas – height from 55 to 70 cm, Large (L)
• giant hostas - height more than 70 cm, Giant (G)

Hosta leaves are always decorative, from spring to late autumn. The color range covers all shades of green, and more valuable varieties have leaves of bluish-blue, cream, golden, white colors:

• blue (B) - leaves with a bluish-gray waxy coating
• green (Gr) - leaves of different shades of green
• yellow (Go) - combines yellow-leaved hostas
• variegata (V) - includes variegated varieties: variegated-golden, with a white border, with a yellow or cream border
• mediovariegata (MV) - leaves with a green border

To decorate a garden or flower garden, hostas with edged or painted leaves are often used; with their help it is easy to highlight neighboring plants. This is why the combination of host and coniferous plants, thuja, junipers.

Hosta grows quite quickly into extensive plantations. Its luxurious green rosettes are formed by dense basal leaves.

Advice: To prevent the hosta bush from falling apart and looking neat, professionals break out the flower stalks. But this does not apply to varieties with white, fragrant and double flowers: Aphrodite, Royal Standard, Summer Fragrance, Fragrant Bouquet.

Bloom

Hosta flowers are bell-shaped, white, pinkish and lavender in color. They are located on tall peduncles and present an exquisite spectacle during mass flowering in mid-summer. Hostas, which bloom with white flowers, are mostly fragrant and smell like lilacs.

Hosta is an unpretentious beauty

Hostas love moisture. But in an adult hosta, the root system grows so much and goes deep, which makes it a fairly hardy and drought-resistant plant. Adult hostas are quite capable of going without water for a long time.

Hosta is unpretentious and versatile:

• decorative
• cold-resistant
• drought-resistant
• grows in light and shade
• perfectly complements other plants

Care

To grow hosta, choose an area with moist, humus-rich soil and good water permeability. If necessary, make a drainage layer of crushed stone or sand in the planting hole. Neutral or slightly acidic soil is suitable for hosta.

In the spring, fertilize your beauty with nitrogen fertilizers (manure, droppings) - this will promote the growth of leaves and the formation of a beautiful, lush bush.

The hosta practically does not need weeding, since its leaves cover the soil so tightly that they leave no chance for weeds.

Companion hostas

The versatility of hostas is amazing. She can act like single plant, and can become a companion for others. Traditionally, the following are planted next to the hosta:

• Heuchera
• ferns (Matteucci, Polystichum, Dryopteris)
• Voronets
• ofipogon
• purchase
• hellebore
• Horny goat weed
• primrose
• garden geranium
• foxglove
• astilbe
• lungwort
• aquilegia
• autumn anemone

To add volume to a composition with hosts, add a vertical accent:

• lilies
• bought
• phlox
• reed grass
• miscanthus
• tall cereals

It is important that these plants require similar living conditions, and this greatly facilitates the process of caring for them. Periwinkle and burda with small leaves can be a good background for hosta.

Where to plant?

Do not plant hostas in full sun. Some varieties with yellow and white leaves look better in such places, but they definitely need shading from the midday sun, otherwise the leaves will get burned.

For most hostas, planting in openwork shade is most acceptable, then the beauty of the leaves will be revealed to the maximum.

Plant blue hosta varieties in a completely shaded area, this is where their leaves will take on a bluish-blue hue. These hosts only need a couple of hours of light for normal growth and flowering.

Hosta along the paths

Thanks to its neat shape and color, hosta perfectly emphasizes the contours of flower beds and the boundaries of garden paths, decorates the banks of reservoirs and the outlines of lawns.

When designing paths, take into account the future size of the bush so that the leaves of an adult hosta remain outside the path and are not damaged when walking.

Container landing

The versatility of the hosta allows it to be grown as a container plant, which can be used to decorate different corners of your garden.

Choose beautiful ones for planting ceramic pots, unusual containers that would suit the style of your garden or the design of a specific recreation area, such as a patio or terrace.

Pay attention to the color of the container: a dark shade will absorb heat and warm up more, a light shade will heat up less and is used for sunny areas.

Hosta for patio

A patio is an internal shady courtyard for relaxation that creates exactly the conditions that the host loves so much. Partial shade, lack of drafts and the special microclimate of the patio are ideal for these plants. In turn, the various colors of hosta leaves, without special effort on your part, can make the patio incredibly elegant.

Coastal zone

If you are the owner of a garden pond, do not hesitate and choose hostas for landscaping. Variegated varieties go well with bluish and green ones. Arrange your hosta collection so that the smaller varieties are in the foreground and the taller ones form the background. Choose varieties with textured, huge or narrow leaves.

Reproduction

The hosta bush is divided every 5 years. During this time, the hosta significantly increases in volume and densely fills the space allotted to it. The most suitable times for dividing are spring and late summer.

Hello all gardeners!

Perennial herbaceous plant Liliaceae family - widely used in landscape design for landscaping, creating flower beds, flower beds, decorating park areas, alleys and summer cottages, in recent years won the hearts of many gardeners with its ease of care and amazing appearance. How to care for hosta garden plot we'll talk today.

Experienced gardeners recommend performing simple agrotechnical techniques to improve the condition of the hosta, increase the decorative value of the bushes and create unique compositions, decorating the front garden, garden, local area iridescent greenery.

Currently, there are more than 40 species of hosta. A number of plant varieties have amazing leaf shapes and colors. For example, Hosta albo-marginata or white-edged hosta attracts the eye with a soft silver edging located along the edge of the wide-oval leaves. And Hosta ovata var. aurei-variegata or in other words - golden-variegated hosta amazes the imagination with its long (up to 17 cm), wide-oval leaves covered with yellow strokes.

Hosta tolerates well with scattered sunlight. In such areas, moisture evaporates more slowly, allowing the bushes to develop luxuriantly. It is not advisable to plant hosta in a sunny place. Although the crop will not die, you can forget about the wild development of leaves. In addition, the variegated foliage fades in the sun, and all the charm from the lighter touches disappears.

Most often, the plant is propagated by dividing the bush, which can be done in adult hostas (at least 4-5 years old). In nurseries, hosta is grown from seeds, but this process is labor-intensive and takes a lot of time from gardeners.

Caring for host bushes is simple and includes activities such as:

Systematic watering, especially in hot and dry summers;

Loosening the soil under the bushes while simultaneously removing weeds;

Mulching the land using organic compounds (carried out no more than once every 3 years);

Fertilizing with mineral fertilizers;

Fight against mollusks (slugs);

Warming for the winter.

Watering hostas

The large size of hosta leaves leads to increased evaporation of moisture. Therefore, without watering, your plant will grow much slower. A lack of moisture in the soil is indicated by darkening of the tips of the foliage. It should be noted that the hosta does not tolerate waterlogging, so during rainy periods it does not need additional watering. The root system of young hostas is located close to the surface, therefore it should be watered with enough water to wet the soil to a depth of about 10 cm.

An adult plant develops a powerful plant that goes deep into the ground. root system and less sensitive to drought. Sprinkling the bushes is useful, through which the leaves are quickly recharged with moisture. To prevent sunburn, the event is held early in the morning or after sunset.

How to care for hosta. Weeding and loosening

Loosening carried out after watering will prevent the formation of a soil crust on the surface of the earth, which impedes the moisture and air exchange of the roots. As in any flower garden, weeds under the hosts, which take away nutrients from cultivated plants, must be removed.

Feeding hosts with organic and mineral compounds

Many gardeners do not consider it necessary to fertilize hosta. This is a misconception, since the plant is very responsive to both organic and mineral supplements. The appearance of a fertilized hosta is strikingly different from one growing without additional nutrition.

It is advisable to add organic matter (once every 3 years) before winter. By mulching hosta plantings with humus, leaf litter, garden compost, rotted pine bark, pine or spruce needles, you will not only insulate the plant for the winter, but also saturate the soil with nutritional compounds released by the mulch as it decomposes.

Fertilizing with mineral fertilizers is carried out twice during the entire growing season. In the spring, to speed up the process of growing foliage, the hosta is watered with a solution of nitrophoska (30-40 grams per square meter), and before flowering, a mixture of carbamide (urea), superphosphate and potassium salt is scattered under the bushes, respectively, 20, 50 and 10 grams per square meter . landing meter.

For feeding use specialized mineral fertilizers, sold in gardening stores, or water the flower beds with complex nitroammophos, diluted according to the instructions. Fertilizing is carried out after full scheduled watering of plants.

Fighting slugs and warming hostas for the winter

Since slugs show considerable interest in the plant, experienced gardeners regularly carry out measures to combat these inhabitants summer cottage. Shellfish are collected by hand, special traps are installed in the plantings, the soil is sprinkled with pine litter, and the plantings are powdered with a mixture of tobacco dust, pepper and (1:1:3).

At the end of autumn, the leaves of the host are carefully trimmed, leaving a height of no more than 10 cm, and mulched, covering with garden soil, fallen leaves, straw or tyrsa to a height of 5 cm. The plant under such a “blanket” tolerates winter frosts well and, starting in spring, The summer resident is pleased with the active growing season.

That's all about how to care for hosta in the garden. I wish you beauty in your country estates! See you!

Learning to care for a plant is not at all difficult, and even a beginner can cope with it.

Particular attention should be paid to the peculiarities of planting hostas: choosing a place on suburban area and soil treatment.

Selecting a location

Many people believe that the plant loves shade, so they prefer to plant it in dark places. This is not entirely true.

It is better to choose a place depending on the variety:

• Varieties with dark green and blue leaves are preferable to be planted among fruit trees(under the apple tree, pear tree). Dense branches and foliage will protect the hosta from sunlight.
• Varieties with golden and yellow leaves love to bask in the morning sun. They can be planted on the eastern part of the site next to small shrubs or tall flowers. The hosta will receive the sun's heat and remain protected from the sun during daylight hours.

If it is not possible to create such conditions, it is better to give preference to a darkened place. Long exposure to the sun will be harmful to the flower; in the shade it will feel more comfortable.

Choosing the time to land

Early spring is the most better time for planting hostas. During this period, the roots begin to grow, but the leaves have not yet unfolded.

Sometimes it is planted in early September. There is no need to delay so that the plant has time to take root and take root before the onset of frost.

The “Siebold” variety is planted and divided only in the fall due to the difference in the root system.

Soil preparation

Hosta is not demanding on the composition of the soil, however, for good growth and flowering of the plant, the soil must be fertilized

Hosta is not picky about soil composition and grows well anywhere. The exception is damp, marshy, clayey areas. The best option- light soil that allows moisture and oxygen to pass well to the roots.

Before planting, you should dig up the soil well, remove roots, dry leaves, grass and loosen it.

If the soil is sandy, you can add peat to it. If the soil is heavy and dense, it needs to be drained with fine river sand.

Landing in the ground

Hosta is planted in the ground using seedlings.

Seedlings can be of two types - with an open root system or a closed one:

• Seedlings with a closed root system are easier to plant in the ground. You need to dig a hole and place a plant with an earthen ball in it. Sprinkle the sides and top with earth, without compacting too much. If the soil is not rich in minerals, you can add a little peat to the bottom of each hole.
• Seedlings with an open root system are also planted in dug holes, at the bottom of which fertilizer is placed. Make a small earthen mound at the bottom and place the plant vertically on top, carefully straightening its roots down. The hole is filled with earth, compacted and watered with water. The top of the bud remains above the ground.

Find out the features of growing verbena from seeds.

Awesome decorative flower to decorate the garden behind it.

Reproduction

Most often, hosta propagation is carried out by cuttings or dividing the bush. Sometimes seeds are used, but seedlings grow worse, and ornamental bushes are formed only in the 4th year.

Propagation by cuttings

The procedure is carried out from mid-May to August. Only young shoots with a “heel”, small leaves and short roots are suitable as cuttings.

After pruning, the leaves of the cuttings are immediately trimmed to help reduce evaporation.

After planting, the plant begins to ache and the leaves wither. Regular, abundant watering and spraying with water is required. After a few days it comes to life and begins to develop.

Reproduction by dividing the bush is done early spring

Dividing the bush

Reproduction by dividing the bush is carried out in early spring or early September. The bush is divided into small divisions with one (or two) rosettes of leaves.

The divisions are placed in prepared holes (20-25 cm), previously abundantly moistened with water. The divisions are planted at a distance of 30-35 cm from each other.

In the first days after planting, the plant is watered abundantly so that it takes root and takes root as quickly as possible.

Propagation by seeds

According to the laws of genetics, the plant often grows with traditional green leaves. This is the first drawback that gardeners who choose this method will have to face. The yield of seedlings with variegated, heterogeneous coloring is very small.

The second drawback is the very slow growth of seedlings and the low percentage of seedlings.

Hosta care

Learning to care for a plant is not at all difficult. Hosta is unpretentious, although it requires some attention.

Watering

Hosta loves good, abundant watering. It is recommended to water it in the morning. On hot days, the frequency of watering is increased. It is better to use settled water.

If your hosta has darkened leaf tips, it needs more moisture.

Top dressing

For good development and growth, the plant needs fertilizing. But if the soil has good fertile qualities and was fertilized before planting, you should not overdo it with fertilizing.

You can fertilize the hosta with mullein infusion with the addition of superphosphate, potassium sulfate and ammonium nitrate. Fertilizer can be applied 3 times: at the beginning of the growing season, during the appearance of buds and immediately after flowering.

Trimming

To protect hostas in winter, they mulch with organic materials.

In the fall, before the onset of cold weather, pruning is necessary. You only need to cut the stem on which the flowers were located.

This is done so that the plant does not waste energy on producing seeds. There is no need to touch the remaining leaves, as this will weaken the flower.

Winter care, preparation for winter

Before the onset of cold weather, it is useful to mulch. Selected as mulch only organic materials: sawdust, hay, humus, bark. This will help the hosta to overwinter better and protect it from frost and wind.

Pest and disease control

Although the plant has good immunity against diseases and pests, you need to be prepared for anything. A good preventative measure would be proper care and careful attention to the flower.

The most common problems include the following:

• Phyllosticosis - fungal disease, affecting hosta leaves. It is easy to detect by the red-brown spots that appear on the leaves. Fungal plaque quickly spreads over the entire surface and easily transfers to new leaves. To cope with the disease, all affected leaves are cut off and destroyed, and the bushes are sprayed with Abiga-Pik or Vectra. Can be sprayed with colloidal sulfur.
• Gray rot (or botrytis) - begins with rotting of the tips of the leaves, and then covers the entire leaf blade. This disease can be managed with help Bordeaux mixture and the drug topaz. It is better to destroy the affected areas.
• Root collar rot is a very common companion to excess moisture. Affected plants need to be dug up, the roots washed, unusable parts removed, dipped in a weak solution of potassium permanganate and replanted in a new location.
• Slugs - attack hosta leaves. They are easy to notice - traces of dried mucus and small holes on the leaves. Fighting slugs is a bit difficult. Place a Thunderstorm bait under the plant, cover the hosta with plywood overnight, and in the morning collect the slugs and destroy them.
• Foliar nematodes - multiply quickly, leaving light brown streaks on leaves. The infected parts are destroyed, the ground is disinfected with a formaldehyde solution, or the host is transplanted to a new place, having previously disinfected the roots in a solution of potassium permanganate.

Read about the rules for planting and caring for delphinium.

Behind a climbing vine in the garden.

Varieties

There are a wide variety of hosta varieties in nature. Let's look at the most popular of them:

• Hosta curly - has wide green dark leaves edged with a white stripe. The plant reaches a length of 60 cm. The flowers are small, light lilac in color. Begins to bloom in late spring.
• Hosta Siebold has good aesthetic qualities. It is endowed with large heart-shaped leaves of white-yellow color and a green border along the edges. The variety tolerates sunny, slightly shaded places well.
• Hosta Fortune is a fairly compact variety, reaching a length of only 40-45 cm. The leaves are heart-shaped, green in color and have a light beige border. Lilac flowers.
• Hosta tall is a large plant growing up to 90 cm in height. Has large green leaves. Blooms in June and July.
• Hosta wavy - very decorative variety. It has elongated leaves 20 cm in length. The edges of the leaves are wavy and have a beautiful shade - a white center and a soft green border. It blooms in the second half of summer with lilac flowers.

The most popular hosta varieties are shown in the photo:

Preface

Over the past 2-3 years, the decorative shade-loving perennial - hosta - has become very popular in Canada and the USA. Our landscape designers also picked up this trend. But it turns out that our mothers and grandmothers have long known and loved the plant; for us it is not a visiting fashionista, but a familiar modest one who decorates the gardens in a secondary role. Planting and caring for hosta different varieties vary significantly, so a novice gardener needs to know the nuances before purchasing one or another type of flower.

Features of growing hosta

Hosta is a herbaceous perennial of Asian origin, which became a common decoration in our gardens 30–40 years ago. She is a close relative of the daylily, which many gardeners love for its unpretentiousness and ability to grow in the most unfavorable conditions. But in recent years, in the official classification of the hosta, or as it is also called, funkia is listed in the Asparagus family.

Looking at this diverse flowerbed, it is difficult to notice that all the plants here belong to the same species

Hosta is a real salvation for gardens with moist loamy soil and significant shading. In such ideal conditions this plant covers the entire area allotted to it with a thick carpet of large green, light green, golden-yellow and even bluish-gray leaves.

Among perennial herbs, hosta is considered a long-liver, because its age can reach 25 years or even more. The rosette reaches its peak of decorativeness at the age of 4–5 years, and by 8–10 years it manages to become even more beautiful, displaying varietal nuances. It’s nice that even at the ripe old age of 30, this plant retains its beauty.

Decorative capabilities of the plant

In landscape design, hosta is valued for its incredibly diverse large decorative leaves, wide crown, and shade tolerance, which is unusual for ornamental plants. Hosta flowers appear in summer and autumn; these are modest inflorescences in the form of several bells on a common stem. The color of the petals is lilac, sometimes dark purple or white.

Funnel-shaped bells are the standard hosta bud shape.

Breeders have paid special attention to hosta foliage - different varieties will provide you with a range of dozens of crown shades, and the shape of the leaves can be elongated, oval, heart-shaped with almost imperceptible or prominent veins.

The hosta's natural habitat is river banks, so it looks harmonious and grows well next to decorative ponds, fountains, swamps, streams. At the same time, the hosta is combined with any other moisture-loving inhabitants of the site and does not inhibit the growth of other crops. If the soil of your site is moist enough, you can use hosta to edge borders, emphasize the bends of garden paths and border recreation areas, but it is important not to allow its roots to grow too much to the sides.

Hosta is just perfect for edging a pond

The main function of hostas in landscape design is to fill empty space and create a background for more ornamental plants. But often giant plants are used in single plantings with the addition of snags or gravel. In shady corners you can create compositions from different varieties of hosta. Thanks to the variety of varieties of this plant, such groups will not be boring.

Fluffy hosta and tall ornamental plants - perfect combination for flower beds

If you want to play in contrast, dilute the hosts with sedge or cereals. These plants will perfectly highlight each other’s features.

In addition to planting in open ground, hosta is often grown in a tub. Its lush crown looks great in tall narrow pots, creating an interesting decorative contrast. This is a good solution for those who want to grow low-growing or dwarf hosta in areas with a harsh climate, for example, in the Krasnodar Territory.

The hosta tub should have the properties of a thermos to prevent the roots from freezing in winter. To do this, the plant is planted in a small pot with the obligatory addition of water-retaining materials to the bottom of the container (construction perlite is suitable). This tub is installed in the main, decorative one and the space between them is filled with any construction heat insulator. In such a container, the hosta can winter without problems and is not afraid of overheating of the soil in summer.

Hosta is not very suitable for sophisticated landscape design, but it fits perfectly into more democratic styles - landscape, Japanese. In addition, by choosing a suitable tub, you can turn this modest plant into one of the highlights of the garden.

Thanks to the proximity of hostas and sedum, a modest mixborder looks more advantageous than a pink bush

The problem of decorating shady corners has become one of the most pressing for me when planning a personal garden. It so happened that most of the free plots of land on small area found themselves in the shadow of buildings. In the sunny zone, beds with tomatoes, cucumbers and herbs are firmly established, and the partial shade is occupied by berry bushes (I confess, interspersed with decorative ones at the expense of practicality) and a tiny flowerbed. Nothing wanted to grow in the shade except sneaky weeds. For some time I hoped to plant them with honeysuckle, but the light was not enough for her either. The barberry planted there for the occasion lost a fair share of its attractiveness because of this arrangement. If you had similar problems, it will not be difficult for you to understand how delighted my first meeting with hosta was - a shade-loving (and not just shade-tolerant) decorative, and even flowering plant. Literally on the same day, I scoured all the online stores and in the end, from the incredible variety of options, I chose a couple of varieties for myself - the spectacular First Frost and the more practical hosta with the unromantic name Bloated. It’s too early to plant - I’m waiting for the sales to start and the parcel to arrive. But I already want to get down to spring chores as quickly as possible and give the host the opportunity to decorate the unattractive area near the utility room. Judging by the statements of the store's consultants, happiness is just around the corner.

Video: hosta in flower beds

What climate is this function suitable for?

In nature, hosta is found in warm-temperate climates. climatic zone(China, Korea, Japan), in the southwest Far East, Kuril Islands and Sakhalin Island. It is interesting that the Japanese plant funkia not only for decoration, but also use the shoots for food.

Despite the fact that hosta came to us from Asia, the climate of the middle zone is simply ideal for it. She feels great in rainy, cool summers and is able to successfully survive a moderately harsh winter. The cold resistance of the crop allows it to be successfully grown in middle lane Russian Federation, but for more northern regions it is worth choosing varieties more carefully or preferring cultivation in a tub. Important: the hosta, even in containers, will not live in the house; for normal development it needs a change in warm and cold periods.

It is difficult for hosta to tolerate dry air, constant and strong sunlight, and decreased soil moisture. Therefore, in regions with a sharply continental climate, it does not grow so luxuriantly and requires more careful care. If you are trying to grow a hosta in the Kuban, you will have to work hard to create acceptable conditions for it.

Mulching is a great way to keep your hosta stable high humidity soil

The hosta is not picky about soil pH and adapts to both excessive acidity (pH 6–6.5) and alkalinity (pH 7.5–8). But breathability and presence are important nutrients, therefore, a green pet cannot do without loosening and feeding. Dense clay and dry sandy soil are destructive for hosta, in such conditions even large varieties become smaller, and with insufficient watering or stagnation of water they die.

Popular varieties with photos

Gardeners do not need to know the plant assortment in detail, and even botanists are often confused about the hosta pedigree. But it is important to distinguish some features that indicate the capabilities and needs of your chosen culture. For example, plants with dense, variegated leaves are bred for sunlit areas and light partial shade, while a dark, delicate crown with thin leaf blades is characteristic of varieties that love shade and can get sunburn due to contact with direct rays.

For landscape design, it is also important to consider the size of the plant. According to the official classification, hosts are divided into miniature (Mini - up to 10 cm), dwarf (D - 10–15 cm), small (S - 15–25 cm), medium (M - 25–45 cm), large (L - 45 –70 cm) and giant (G - over 71 cm). Having seen such a letter marking on the planting material label, you can determine the possible height of an adult plant.

The most interesting varieties:

• Sum and Substance - This is a giant hosta with a light-loving habit that is unusual for this species. The height of the plant reaches 85–90 cm with a diameter of 200 cm, and the size of an individual heart-shaped leaf is often 45x38 cm. Suitable for zoning a site and single plantings;

  The Sum and Substance bush is so huge that a child could be hiding among the leaves of an adult plant.

• Abiqua Drinking Gourd (Abiqua Drinking Gourd) is a medium-sized plant, height up to 35 cm, diameter up to 40 cm. It stands out for its cup-shaped, slightly wrinkled leaves with noticeable veins and tubular white flowers. Very disease and slug resistant. Prefers acidified soil;

  The blue bowls of Abiqua Drinking Gourd leaves will definitely not get lost among the greenery

• Undulata Albomarginata (Albomarginata, Wavy) is a large plant (height up to 60 cm) with elongated pointed leaves with a light edge. Blooms in July-August with purple buds. Tolerates frost and sun well, but prefers partial shade. The soil should be slightly acidic or neutral;

  Undulata Albomarginata looks great next to varieties with monochromatic foliage

• Albopicta (Albopicta, Fortune) is a large hosta (up to 70 cm) with pointed light green leaves with a dark edge. Young leaves are the lightest with a yellow center; by the end of summer they gradually darken to completely green. The variety grows well in sun or partial shade and is recommended for filling shady areas. Survives frosts without shelter;

  Even without flowers, Albopicta is not inferior in beauty to other ornamental plants

• Aureomarginata (Aureomarginata) is a light-loving variety, the height of the bush reaches 65 cm. The leaves are wide, light green with a beige edging. The color of the crown depends on the lighting - it gets darker in the shade. The flowers are lilac or purple with a pronounced aroma. A fast-growing perennial, it reproduces well by division;

  Aureomarginata perfectly highlights the beauty of conifers

• White Feather (White Feather, White Feathers) is a large plant (up to 50 cm) with unusually light foliage color. The crown is yellowish-beige with pale green veins, the leaves are narrow and elongated. As the leaves mature, the blade is completely filled with greenery. The perennial blooms later than the varieties described above - in July-September. The variety is shade-tolerant, easily tolerates frost, and unpretentious;

  White Feather bush looks like one huge flower

• Blue Angel is a large hosta with a characteristic bluish-green crown. The leaves are evenly colored, but slightly wavy and textured due to the abundance of parallel veins. The plant looks good in single plantings and prefers partial shade. The flowers are almost white, slightly lilac before opening, and form a rather dense cone-shaped inflorescence. Grows well in the city, is not demanding on the composition of the air;

  The Blue Angel bush will easily prevent the appearance of weeds in the flowerbed

• Bressingham Blue is a hybrid variety bred as a ground cover. The shape of the bush is vase-like, the leaves are wide and wavy, the flowers are white. Prefers well-fertilized soil, does not tolerate dampness, is drought-resistant and winter-hardy. Grows best in partial shade, suitable for planting in a container;

  Bressingham Blue is best seen against greener foliage.

• Brim Cup (Brim Cup) is a medium-sized variety (up to 40 cm) with variegated foliage. The central stripe of the leaf blade is olive green, the sides are pale yellow or white. The flowers are soft blue, turning white as they open, appearing in June-July. Not picky about soil, winters well. Used in mixborders, borders, flower beds;

  It is difficult to find leaves with more decorative colors than those of the Brim Cup hosta.

• Sieboldiana Frances Williams (Siebolda Frances Williams) is a variegated variety with a light green border of irregular shape. The flowers are white, the height of the peduncle is up to 60 cm. Prefers acidified soil with slight waterlogging. Used in mixed group plantings, ridges and borders, like tapeworm;

  Sieboldiana Frances Williams will become one of the largest herbaceous perennials in your garden

• Canadian Blue (Canadian Blue) is a medium-sized hosta (height up to 50 cm) with dense oval-wedge-shaped leaves, a bluish coating is noticeable on the plates. Prefers shade or partial shade, fades under direct rays. Blooms with lavender buds in mud-August. It grows moderately, do not expect a quick recovery after propagation by division;

  One of the main decorative components of Canadian Blue is a waxy coating, which gives the leaves a bluish color.

• Undulata Mediovariegata (Mediovariegata) is a wavy hosta with variegated erect leaves. The color of the plate is triple - white middle, light green edging and medium green edge of the sheet. The flowers are small and bright pink. Prefers loose, nutritious, slightly acidic soil with moderate moisture. Loves shade; in partial shade the foliage acquires a uniform color. This is one of the old (1930) and highly resistant varieties;

  This curly beauty will easily enliven shady areas of the garden

• Patriot (Patriot) is another medium-sized variety of hosta that does not suffer from excess light. The leaves are dark green with beige edges. The flowers are lilac and bloom in July-August. Used in shady areas near ponds, in mixborders and group plantings;

  Patriot will not get lost even among tall flowers

• Fire and Ice (Fire and Ice) is a hybrid dwarf variegated variety. Winter-hardy, demanding on humidity conditions. Prefers sunny places, but can be used in a shady garden. Suitable for rockeries, group plantings;

  Little Fire and Ice is a real highlight of the rockery

• Halcyon (Halcyon) is a medium-sized hybrid funkia with a bluish-green crown. Flowering period July-August, flowers are pale lilac. Grows quickly, especially in the shade. In the light, the leaves lose their blue tone. Unpretentious to soil and companion plants;

  Halcyon variety is well suited for growing in pots

• Elegans (Elegance) is an old giant variety, bred in 1987. The leaves are dense with a waxy coating, not afraid of slugs. The flowers are white and have no scent. Growth is moderate, but the plant reproduces well by self-sowing. Hosta Elegans is winter-hardy and undemanding, loves shade.

  Elegans leaves are one of the most popular options for bouquets.

It is important to consider that fashionable varieties are quite expensive, especially if breeders have given the hosta uncharacteristic features. Therefore, before you shell out a round sum for your favorite specimen, think in detail about where you can plant it, how suitable the conditions of your site will be for this plant, and how much time you will have to spend on care. Perhaps sometimes you should prefer a more modest, but hardy and unpretentious variety.

Video: variety of funkia varieties

If your hosta with yellow leaves suddenly turns green, it means it is suffering from lack of sun. Perhaps you transplanted it into less good place or shaded by another plant. Hosta with blue foliage can turn green either from a lack or from an excess of light.

Planting methods

You can bring hosta to your site for the first time in the form of seeds, cuttings or particles from an adult plant, and if you buy them in a specialized store - in the form of a young plant in a container (usually also obtained by cuttings or in a test tube from the meristem). All these methods are well known to amateur gardeners and most of them prefer division or its subtype - propagation by rhizomes.

The more expensive and decorative a varietal hosta is, the slower it grows. Therefore, it is not worth propagating valuable plants by division, as this will only prevent them from reaching the desired size and fully expressing their beauty. It is better to prefer cuttings.

Many summer residents successfully divide and plant hostas from early spring to mid-September, but if you have not yet divided your own hosta, it is better to perform the first procedure at the very beginning of spring or at the end of August. And the Tokudam and Siebold varieties can only be separated in the fall.

Video: propagation of hosta by dividing the bush

Rhizomes

The rhizome of the hosta is branched enough so that a fragment can be separated from it without damaging the plant. For replanting, select a section of rhizome with 2–3 growth buds and well-developed lateral roots about 10 cm long. If you buy planting material, make sure that the roots are alive and elastic; dried out and brittle ones will not take root. Also pay attention to the presence of mold, rot, strange stains and growths that indicate disease. Such a plant needs to be treated, not propagated.

The rhizome fragment for planting should not be too small

Rhizomes for planting can be stored in winter in a cool place without access to light. It is enough to place it in a light-proof container or bag and put it on the balcony, in the basement or just in the refrigerator. The main thing is to make sure that the temperature in the chosen place stays within 5–10 degrees above zero.

Hosta can be planted in both spring and autumn. In the spring, it is better to do this before the first leaves begin to bloom on the planting material, then they will take root successfully and will delight you with good growth. Autumn planting carried out in warm weather, at the end of August and beginning of September, since in a cooler period it will be difficult for the plant to take root.

Choose a place to plant hostas based on the color of the leaves. Green varieties They love strong shading more than others; variegated ones grow well in partial shade.

Hosta does best in raised beds.

Cuttings

Young shoots of hostas with heels are chosen as cuttings. The leaves are cut to half or a third of their length, and it is better to immediately select a shoot with small short-petioled plates. After the roots appear, they are planted using the usual cutting method and additionally shaded. Watering is not carried out, only spraying. For the first 2-3 days, the leaves of the cutting may look lethargic and droop, but do not despair - by the end of the week they will definitely return to vigor. It’s just that at this time the sprout was busy rooting and did not have enough strength to grow the crown.

If you are unable to grow plants from cuttings this way, try increasing the dose of the growth stimulator

Seeds

Hosta seeds remain viable for up to one year, but for successful germination it is better to use freshly harvested ones. At the end of April they are placed in pots with soil mixture or planted in a garden mini-greenhouse at the beginning of May. With proper shading and timely irrigation, the first shoots will appear in 20–25 days. After this, the seedlings will need to be rid of weeds and provided with comfortable humidity and temperature regime. Young rosettes will be ready to be planted on permanent place already in August.

Hosta seeds have good germination even without additional stimulation

Vegetative methods are the easiest way to propagate hostas. Growing seedlings from seeds requires much more effort to germinate and grow the crop; varietal characteristics are often not preserved, and to achieve a decorative effect, a young plant will need at least 4 years (for comparison, divided bushes look beautiful after 1–2 years).

Instructions for planting hostas

Regardless of how you received the planting material, you need to adhere to the following methodology:

1. Dig a hole with a diameter of 50 cm and a depth of 30 cm. If you plant several plants nearby, provide a distance between them of about 0.3–0.4 m for large-leaved varieties and 0.2–0.3 m for dwarfs, since the hosta tends to grow in width.

   The holes do not have to be placed in a row; a chaotic order is also suitable for filling a flower bed.

2. Prepare a soil mixture from equal parts compost soil, rotted manure and peat, as well as a small amount of sand. Acidic soil should be neutralized a little by adding a handful of wood ash(it has an alkaline reaction). Fill 60% of the hole with soil mixture and water it generously.

   It is best to pour the ashes both into a recess and onto an earthen ball with roots.

3. Carefully place the planting material in the hole and carefully straighten all the roots (if you do not plant the plant with a lump of earth). Fill the hole with the rest of the soil mixture so that the growth buds are at ground level and again spill the soil generously. If you are planting a divided bush, you need to bury the material to the same depth at which the mother plant grew. It is usually easy to identify by the appearance of the stem.

   Until the plant is secured in the correct position, use only your hands, then you can add soil with a spatula

4. Mulch the root circle of the seedling with bark chips or other selected material. Optimal thickness layer - 1–2 mm. It is advisable to choose a prickly mulch so that slugs cannot get close to the young plant

The hosta will take root completely only after a month, and the first two weeks require daily watering.

Video: secrets of growing and caring for the host

What care is needed

Hosta is very moisture-loving, so it will never refuse watering, preferably under the roots of plants. But in the evening, especially after a hot day, it is worth giving the host a shower - at this time the drops on the leaves do not threaten her sunburn. But if the root circle of the plant is well mulched and the plant is not planted on dry soil, the need for watering arises only during the driest period. With proper irrigation, the soil is saturated with moisture to a depth of 10–15 cm, and the stream of water does not compact the soil.

When watering with a hose, use a spray nozzle.

Hosta also prefers three meals a day:

• in early spring, usually in April, when the first leaves bloom, it needs organic matter (leaf soil, compost, rotted pine bark);
• during flowering, most often at the end of May, mineral fertilizers are required (Sodium, Phosphorus and Potassium in equal quantities or 1:2:1 proportions);
• Immediately after flowering ends, in the first weeks of July, you need to add organic matter to the soil again. After mid-July, it is best to stop fertilizing, since due to abundant growth the plant will not have time to slow down metabolic processes and prepare for winter.

Hosta does not need a special dosage, just follow the instructions on the packaging of the selected product. Examine the label carefully - fertilizers can vary greatly in concentration active ingredients . It is best to feed plants after rain or very heavy watering of the area. Remember: granular fertilizers can cause burns if they come into contact with leaves, so it is safer to use solutions.

If you are a beginner gardener, you should use specially prepared complex fertilizers and not use untested folk remedies

The poorer the soil on your site, the more often you will have to fertilize the hosta. And vice versa - on naturally nutritious soil, it grows almost without care.

Many gardeners in the fall mulch a circle of earth around the hosta with a layer of leaf or compost soil up to 5 cm high. This procedure allows you to add needed by the plant fertilizers and at the same time provide aeration. But it is recommended to carry it out only for plants that have reached 3–4 years of age.

Another important stage in hosta care is regular loosening of the soil, which must be carried out throughout the growing season. As already mentioned, hosta roots grow wide at shallow depths, so you need to be extremely careful during the procedure.

After the flowers dry out, the flower stalks lose their decorative effect and need to be removed

Those who value the decorative appearance of the hosta should also take care of removing faded inflorescences, as they look unattractive. If you want the bush to quickly grow in width, do not let it bloom - pinch off the stalks as soon as the hosta throws them out.

How to prepare a plant for winter

In the middle zone and in the south, the hosta usually overwinters on its own, using its own dried leaves as protection from the cold. In more northern regions, especially if a thick enough snow cover does not form in winter, it is necessary to build a shelter for the plant.

If your winters aren't too harsh, just let the hosta take shelter under its leaves.

On a dry day, dig the plant in a circle and scatter mulch from dry peat, rotted sawdust, and mown grass. You can sprinkle tobacco dust or phytosporin on top of these fertilizers so that the hosta is not bothered by slugs in the spring. After such preparation, you can cover the bush with any breathable heat insulator, from agrofibre to spruce branches. Usually such shelter is sufficient even for a harsh winter.

Video: wintering hostas

When a plant is not happy

Hosta is practically not susceptible to diseases and pests (with the exception of slugs), so if it starts to dry out, the reason usually lies in the wrong humidity or light conditions. Try to see if too much sunlight hits the leaves and if the soil above the roots is drying out. Darkening of the tips of hosta leaves is a clear marker of lack of moisture. If watering and shading do not bring results, the plant may suffer from attacks from the black weevil. In this case, use a specialized pest control product.

Brown stripes on hosta leaves are a sign of damage to the roots by nematodes. Rotting of the leaves from the tip to the middle indicates the appearance of gray rot. These scourges can also be eliminated by chemical treatment. If the leaves become unevenly variegated, dark leaves appear yellow spots, which means you have to get rid of the plant - it is infected with a virus.

Delicate flowers named after the goddess of love, hosta, unfortunately, will not be able to bloom in every garden

Sometimes novice gardeners are disappointed when they buy a variety with beautiful flowers, in particular “Aphrodite”. One of important features This variety is thermophilic. Short summer northern regions does not allow it to even fully open its flowers and the buds die off immature. Therefore, before purchasing, be sure to check whether a particular variety is suitable for your climatic conditions.

Some summer residents, following the example of other perennials, try to transplant a 5-6-year-old hosta to a new place. But this plant lives much longer than others, so it can easily remain in one place for 10 years or even longer. If your hosta is drooping after transplanting, don't worry too much - most likely it wasn't ready for such stress yet. When abundant watering does not bring results, add a little growth stimulator to the daily portion of water.

One day, a friend of mine complained that the hosta that had been living with her for several years suddenly began to wither and by the summer she was completely sad. The owner tried to increase the volume and frequency of watering, but this did not help much. Then it turned out that previously, during the hottest time of the day, the hosta was protected from the direct rays of the sun by the shade of a tree that grew near its neighbors. The leaves of its hosta are variegated; such varieties tolerate indirect sun rays, so such protection was quite enough for her to actively grow. But that year, the neighbors suddenly decided to build a gazebo and cut down the tree, so the hosta lost the necessary support. As soon as the situation was resolved, the friend moved the poor thing into the shade of the house, and the plant soon came to life.