Category Archives: Planting & Care
Fragrant Hostas
Flower of hosta bloom later in the summer, usually August that why we call “August Lily” Hosta plantaginea is name the all gardener know well cause of very large white flowers in August with .6+ inches long and pure white bigger than other hosta.
Hosta plantaginea is also could reflushing new foliage during the summer months. While most hosta species send up all of their foliage in spring.
Plantaginea has long been a popular plant in hybridizing many hybrid hosta came from hosta plantagenea.
Fragrant Hostas tolerate more sun heat and humidity than any group of Hostas their origin from china gave this benefit.
56 officially registered as fragrant flowers) of these, only 27 are actually available/ genetically stable/ and truly fragrant
Flagrant hosta list
Fragrant Bouquet | 28" T x 48 " W A large hosta with apple green foliage and wide cream leaf margins. Large funnel shaped fragrant white flowers in late summer. |
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So sweet | 21" T x 47 " W Deep green leaves with creamy-yellow margins that lighten to white as the season progresses. In late summer, fragrant pale lavender to white flowers appear. |
Fragrant Blue | 20" T x 4 " W Chalky blue leaves that hold the blue color. This is a one of blue hosta Barely fragrant light lavender flowers |
Honeybells | 22" T x 45 " W Heart Pucker downward long wavy light to medium green leave Pale lavender bell shape and flagrant flower |
Sweet Susan | 30" T x 18 " W Shiny medium green leaves with 8 pairs of veins Tubular light purple flower. |
Royal standard | 26" T x 63 " W Large hosta crossing from H. plantaginea and H. sieboldiana. Large mounds of wavy green glossy Narrow, oval, bright leave. Highly fragrant, funnel-shaped, white flower bloom on late summer. |
Avocado Hosta | 28" T x 48" W Giant Hosta Oval to heart-shaped on shinny leave with a chartreuse turning yellow center and a wide, medium green margin. Large fragrant white flowers. |
Fragrant Queen | 16" T x 25" W Rounded, glossy, dark green leaves, each edged with a wide creamy border and topped in midsummer with stalks of light lavender, very fragrant flowers. |
Thunderbolt | 28" T x 48 " W The thick blue green leaves are highlighted with a creamy central band. white flowers |
Fried Green Tomatoes | 25 " T x 59 " W Leaves are dark green and slightly wavy White flowers with fragrant. |
Plantaginea | 25" T x 55" W Heat-tolerant species from China With bright green foliage. All fragrant hostas have some H. Plantaginea genes from hybridization. Large fragrant white flowers with beautiful pure white and the most fragrant of all hosta flowers |
Hosta varities
By the characteristic of leaf and flower we could categorizes hosta as following
– Blue Hosta
– Green Hosta
– Yellow or golden hosta
– White or partially white hosta
– Mini Hosta
– Corrugate Hosta
– Giant Hosta
– Streaked Hosta
Blue Hosta
There are few plants that demonstrated a true shade of blue foliage for the garden, Normally the attractive of plant is flower since Hostas are noted for their brightly colored variegated leaves, the best one that all gardener known hosta leave come in many variegated patterns. Actually Hosta leaves aren’t blue, but the leaves are green with a waxy coating which produced when new leaves are emerging.when season progress the wax decline from sun exposure ,water , temperature etc, after that he green leave underlying will appear. That mean why many hosta emerges with blue-green leaves, but becomes green in later. How long of blue color or waxy retain in the leave up to many factor,some may retain longer some not based on growing conditions.
Some of Favorite Blue Hostas
Blue Heaven | 18 " T x 24 " W Heart-shaped Silvery blue leaves. The clumps are topped with 18" spikes of lavender flowers |
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Elvis Lives | 18" T x 38 " W Narrow blue-green leaves , Pale purple flowers |
Krossa Regal | 40" T x 70 " W Wavy blue green leave and a graceful. lavender flower appear on exceptionally tall 4-6 foot’ |
Blue Mammoth | 18" T x 24 " W Heart-shaped leaf on blue green color, Bell shape with lavender flowers |
Big Daddy | 25" T x 47 " W Grey-blue leaves with prominent veins, Grayish-white bell-shaped flowers. |
Blue angle | 32" T x 70 " W A very large tiered mound of heavily textured blue leaves that can be as wide as 18 in. in diameter. Purple/Lavender Flower |
Deep Blue Sea | 15" T x 36 " W Thick metallic blue leaves with cupped and heavily corrugated. Light lavender flowers |
Blue Umbrellas | 31" T x 59 " W Large specimen with big blue-green leaves a downward cup shaped. Pale lavender large flowers. |
Blue Cadet | 16" T x 36 " W Medium size hosta with blue-green heart shaped leaves. Medium Lavender flower |
Restless Sea | 17" T x 32 " W A medium size hosta with large intensively curled leaves edges leaves is intense blue, blue-gray green, green in summer Lavender flowers |
Blue Jay | 18" T x 15 " W Hybrids a seedling from Hosta 'Dorset Blue The intense powder-blue round cupped heart shape on leaves Becomes green later in the season. The clump is topped with light lavender flowers |
Abiqua Drinking Gourd | 22" T x 46 " W Heavily textured, huge blue-green leaves cup and twist White flowers. |
Baby Bunting | 6" T x 12 " W Blue hosta in smallest size (mini hosta) Rounded leaves about 2 inch wide in maturity that begin grey-blue in color, later becoming dark green. Purple flowers. |
Camelot | 18" T x 48 " W Medium hosta with a thick & heart-shaped leaves are bright blue in spring. A leaves are moderately corrugated and slightly cupped. lavender flowers |
Dorset Blue | 6" T x 15 " W (Mini blue) Rounded intense blue leaves, looks like 'Blue Moon', but grows better. Heart-shaped blade. Heavily corrugated, thick substance. Pale lavender flowers open in mid- to late August. |
Green Hostas
Green hosta is so fascinate in the garden due to the beautiful shade of green along with wild leaf characteristics. By hybridizing many variation of shade were created. Colorful of leave on hosta depending on genetics, exposure to sunlight or soil and light absorbing chlorophyll in their leave that why some slightly green some darker.
“The expert on hosta explain on the shiny of hosta leave.
he shiny layer on hosta leaves is based in the cuticle, which is the topmost layer of the leaf epidermis. The epidermis is the outer multi-layered group of cells covering the leaf. It forms the boundary separating the plant’s inner cells from the environment. The epidermis serves several functions: protection against water loss, regulation of gas exchange, and secretion of metabolic compounds. The epidermis is usually transparent, since epidermal cells lack chloroplasts and outermost coat is a waxy cuticle that prevents water loss. Thus, the plant cuticle has a primary role in water conservation, but is also an important barrier against the entry of pathogenic microorganisms. The cuticle consists of a cross-linked polymer called “cutin” and provides a protective wax layer that seals the plant surface. The waxy layer of the cuticle is obvious, appearing either as a shiny film on some hosta leaves or as a glaucous outer covering that gives a gray or blue appearance to hosta leaves. That glaucous type of cuticle has light scattering crystals present in the wax, which give a dull, rather than a shiny appearance. Several factors can determine how shiny the leaf surface appears including the amount of wax, the type of wax, the crystalline structure of the epicuticular wax, leaf texture and in some genera leaf hairiness. The cuticle can be damaged by external forces like rubbing or mechanically polishing through which it becomes shinier because the structure of the epicuticular wax is physically changed. The physical characteristics of the cuticle are based on environmental adaptation of plants, in our case hostas, in response to terrestrial conditions and the underlying reason has not been studied in the genus Hosta. Shiny cuticle characteristics are genetically passed on to progeny, and appear to be dominant in F1 and F2 pod progeny of “shiny” species like H. yingeri. It should be noted that glaucous characteristics usually disappear as the growing season progresses and are not as permanent as the shiny phase.” — George Schmid
Bridegroom | 16" T x 34" W A very shiny dark green leaves that curl upward while the sides of the leaves turn downward. Rippled margins make great when stand alone. Purple flowers |
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Church Mouse | 12" T x 14 " W Mini green–hosta with thick rounded, blue-green leaves are ringed with a coarsely ruffled edge bell-shaped, lavender flowers. |
Marilyn Monroe | 14" T x 36 " W Heart-shaped thick leaves green with an intense white underside. The waxy leaves have ruffled margins.Lavender flowers |
Green Jeans | 15" T x 40" W Shiny dark green leaf Hybrid from ‘Aureomarginata' x Hosta yingeri. Wide vigorous clumps are composed of rich green leaves Deep Purple flower |
Irish Luck | 18" T x 36 " W Glossy & dark green leave with rippled margins and deep veining. Light purple bell-shaped flowers |
Red Neck Heaven | 13" T x 30 " W Medium green, with thick white wax on the back of the leaves. Green leave with a heavily rippled margin white flowers emerge sideways |
Sum and Substance | 30"T x 60 "W Giant heart-shaped, flat leaves have a glossy chartreuse hue that changes to gold when more sun. Purple/Lavender Flower. |
Stimulation | Glossy green leaves with amazing amount of waviness Large pale lavender flowers. |
Surfer Dude | 18" T x 48 " W A unique wavy edge with thick grayish-green leaves.upright leaves that arch outwards like a giant wave slightly fragrant purple flowers |
Get Nekkid | 12" T x 27 " W Glossy green wavy leaf hosta with an amazing floral display. Hybrid from ‘Elvis Lives' and ‘Hosta yingeri lavender flowers |
Hostas Mature Clump size classify
Hostas Mature Clump size classify
For 5 years growing in ideal condition in same area. Hosta mature will get large clump. When purchasing new plants they will be classified in one of these classifications:
• Dwarf: less than 4″ in diameter
• Miniature: 5″ – 9″ in diameter
• Small: 10″ – 15″ in diameter
• Medium: 16″ – 24″ in diameter
• Large: 25″ – 36″ in diameter
• Very large: Over 36″ in diameter
Guideline for size categories by American Hosta Grower Association (AHGA)
Size Clump Height Leaf Area
Giant Greater than 28 inch > 144 square inch
Large 18-28 inch 81-144 square inch
Medium 10-18 inch 25-81 square inch
Small 6-10 inch 10-25 square inch
Miniature Less than 6 inch Up to 10 square inch
Based on average mature clump heights (generally 5+ years)
Measurement may vary considerably depending on the age of clump growing condition in America it have simple fact that hosta grow faster in the North than in the South.AHGA (American Hosta Growers Association) set standard for 2 zone of customer that helpful and declare it for customer expectation.
AHGA HOSTA CLUMP SIZE STANDARD Hosta Clump Height
Size North South
Mini up to 8 inch up to 7 inch
Small 9-14 inch 8-11 inch
Medium 15-22 inch 12-18 inch
Large 23-29 inch 19-24 inch
Giant 30 inch and above 25 inch and above
Uses and ideas for Hostas in your garden
Hostas are great for beginners due to it easy and rapidly to grow, more than that to make difference in your garden you can use hosta as,
• Border/Edger planting – with the rapidly horizontal growth Hosta is suit for border.
• Ground cover plant and Weed controller – With fast grower a thick mat of root will cover the ground and more leave of hosta are also able to control weeds as they leave protect light for them.
• Background planting –Hosta Look great in stand-alone but with large green hostas will show off more colorful varieties of plants. Hostas that emerge with tremendous color but fade to all green and are great background plants.
• Specimen planting – unusual hostas that are your favorite plants are allowed to grow into very large clumps.
• To use yellow or white hosta in your garden they can be a natural brightener for shady or dark gardens.
• To created good image in the large garden, plant different varieties for reliable color and texture.
• Hostas are so great to bridge gaps in seasonal perennial bloom.
• Use variegated hostas such white or cream margin to create “moonlight gardens”.
• A single hosta in a container is dramatic and sculptural. Hostas look great in containers paired with other foliage plants or annuals. Make sure it get adequate water.
• Use mini hostas for edging along walkways and flower borders.
• Hosta leaves and flowers are also look great for floral arrangements.
Hosts structural
Plant shape
Hostas usually reach their full maturity in 4-8 years. Some cultivar can grow up to a couple feet in diameter, Hostas are herbaceous perennially plant that emerge from smalls and develop the leaves at the base of the stems grow into clumps with white-hued plump rhizomes, culture mature hosta forming to dome-shaped mounds flat and even cube-shaped mounds with variety of leave color. They are usually blue, green, or yellow with round to lance shape. Some hostas create mounds in groups, with many different plants clumping together, close to the ground. Vase-shaped hostas have long, slender leaf stalks that curve outward, away from the base of the plant.
Hostas bear large, tube or funnel-shaped flowers, generally having six radial lobes that are either white or deep purple. All hosts bloom lily- like attractive flower in summer.
Leaf
In their overall contour the leave of hosta difference in leaf’s base and tip
The leaf bases found in different varieties of hostas are in 4 types.
1. Heart-shaped (leaves having two identical, rounded lobes on either side of the petiole or stalk at the point where it goes into the leaf blade.
2. Wedge-shaped (leaves having straight sides, but are converging.
3. Truncate (the leaves appear as if they have been slashed directly through their base.
4. Attenuate (leaves whose sides are arched and converging).
The tip of hostas leaves may in cuspidate (get thinner gradually and ending at a sharp point), or mucronate (suddenly ending in a sharp point). some type may also be obtuse (rounded) or acute (converging in a point).
The leaf of hostas may be twisted or undulating goes along with the wavy margin some also be cupped. The surface of hostas blade may be dimpled (puckered) or smooth and the puckering might even be minor or deep.
Veins in hosta leave are display the characteristic pattern. When you look at the leaves from above, the veins seem to be susceptible.
Hosta Flower
Hostas are known for their large, lush leaves and mounding forms, but they also have small flowers.the flower will bloom from summer to fall blooming time around 4-6 weeks depend on variety and growing condition because healthy hosta plants bloom more reliably and for a longer than stressed plants
The Hosta always show up in leave bush flower seems to be a second aspect of the Hosta. It can bloom anytime from June to October with funnel or bell shape. Many look like lilies. Hosta flowers come in pink, white, lavender and violet-blue some don’t open at all, most with fine lavender stripe. Some Hosta flowers are fragrant, especially in the evening they will be strong with a scent similar to a cross between daffodil and lily.
Hosta Description
Hosta are clump-forming herbaceous perennials with simple in a Liliaceae genus with about 23-45 species of plant commonly know as hostas,plantain lilies (particularly in Britain) and some know by Japanese name Giboshi. The genus is in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae, and is native to northeast Asia like ‘liliod momocots’
Hostas are popular cultivated as shade-tolerant foliage plants.
The name Hosta is in honor of the Austrian botanist Nicholas Thomas Host. The rejected generic name Funkia, also used as a common name, can be found in some older literature.
Hostas are widely cultivated, easy-to-grow, long-lived, shade-loving perennial that is prized for its colorful leaves, particularly pretty in the garden as shade-tolerant foliage plants whose show a focal point. Though Hosta plantaginea originates in China, most of the species that provide the modern plants were introduced from Japan to Europe by Philipp Franz von Siebold in the mid-19th century. Newer species have been discovered on the Korean peninsula as well. Hybridization within and among species and cultivars has produced numerous cultivars, with over 3,000 registered and named varieties, and perhaps as many more that are not yet registered with the American Hosta Society.
More information and Fact about White Hostas
White hostas are seemed magical plants. However, it could ever come across one even in the experience garden. Because of basic knowledge about chlorophyll (green pigment or molecule that plants use to convert sunlight into energy )plants can only use green pigmentation to create chlorophyll for their growing This means that all pure white hostas (no green pigment) , as beautiful as they are, must either develop green tissue in some day for their survival. The time that their will show off in white color leave up to the store energy in each plant.
We can say that, there are no white hostas. The basic color of hosta are green, blue, and yellow. White can be a center or margin accent color. Four color as mention can appear in any combination of centers, margins, and streaks. (Recently hosta breeder can breed red tone color)
Any way if you want to plant white hosta be known that it will become to change color of leave throughout the growing season afterward. Genetics play the most important role in the color of hostas, Heat and directly sunlight are the external factor that direct effect in the time of change some change very quickly while other change slowly.
White Hosta Feature Problem
Failed to thrive
White Feather Hosta came up beautifully, then started to turn brown and withered around the edges of the leaves and appears to be dying. First the edges of each leaf drooped when dig it up the root system looks really good but the leaves are almost destroyed.
This case might be happen ,in general, variegated plants tend to be less hardy than solid green plants due to there is less leaf area of the chlorophyll with which to capture sunlight. In the case of the White Feather, all of the leaf area is white when it first breaks through the ground – although it does develop green streaks (some leaves may become totally green) –white hosta with thin leave should be control well for the sun light, bright shade, or early morning or evening sun are their best. Direct sun exposure is often too intense for the white hostas may cause them to burn or turn brown so you can always move them to another location. Planting white host in the pot is the best way for control sun light,but don’t worry, so long as the root it’s not died it will emerge again next spring. Because of this,. It is best to start this plant in a large pot and keep it evenly moist.
Hosta ‘White Feather’
Hosta are one from the most popular and unique of perennials to shady areas, with hundreds of varieties. Plants form sturdy mounds of foliage, topped with lily-like blooms. This miniature selection has unusual pointed ivory-cream leaves the plants emerge snow white and keep this gorgeous till spring, As the season progresses they develop green streaks which gives them the chlorophyll to grow on, more green started to creep into the leaves. By mid-summer the green had overtaken the white Lavender flowers appear in early summer. Ideal for the shady parts of the rock garden, for edging or in containers.
Flower Head Size Medium
Height; 15-20 cm ( 6-8 inches)
Spread; up to 90 cm ( 30 inches)
Flower Time; Late spring or early summer
Foliage Color; Deep Green / Variegated / White
Plant Uses & Characteristics Accent; Good Texture/Form, Alpine & Rock, Containers, Cut Flower, Edging, Rabbit Resistant, Massed, Woodland
