How many varieties of hostas are there?
Hostas is the unsung hero of the shady garden. There are 70 species of hostas and over 3,000 registered varieties, so you have lots to choose from. Though they do bloom, they are grown primarily for their beautiful foliage, which adds interesting texture and color to the garden all season long. While shade is important for your hostas, do not plant your hostas under trees whose roots will compete directly with the roots of your hostas. For instance, beeches (Fagus), birches (Betula), cherries (Prunus), large maples (Acer), poplars (Populus), and willows (Salix) should be avoided.Do hostas like sun or shade? Most hostas need at least some bright light, preferably morning sun or dappled sunlight. Gold-leafed varieties require more light to bring out the vibrant leaf color.They should be completely bare rooted before planting and their roots untangled. If your hostas arrive bare root they will probably appreciate being soaked in a bucket of water for several hours to rehydrate them before planting.Hostas crave a steady nutrient supply throughout the growing season. A month after planting, feed them with Miracle-Gro® Shake ‘n Feed® All Purpose Plant Food, making sure to follow the directions on the label. This will keep your hostas fed for up to three months.
Which hosta has the most fragrant flowers?
They all have something in common: Hosta plantaginea “blood” in their parentage—this is the main species with floral/sweet fragrant flowers, similar in scent to Japanese honeysuckle. Hosta flowers usually open in the morning, but H. Like I said earlier, plantaginea is the only fragrant species of hosta so if another hosta has fragrant flowers, it has plantaginea in its lineage. With the help of hybridizers, we now have the fragrance of plantaginea crossed with more dependable growing hostas to produce a new breed of fragrant hostas.
What is the best month to plant hostas?
How to Plant Hostas. The best time of year to plant hostas is in early spring or early fall (as soon as summer heat breaks), and before the rainy season if your area has one. Hosta varieties come in different sizes. Smaller varieties will get lost next to big plants, while larger varieties may overwhelm a more limited space. Allow enough room in your hosta garden for plants to grow to their mature size so they don’t become overcrowded.Smaller and more vigorous hostas can reach mature sizes in 3 to 5 years. Giant and slower growing hostas can take 5 to 7 years to reach their potential. The quality of your soil and available moisture can also play a big part in this.
Do hostas need a lot of water?
Hostas are Thirsty Plants To keep your hostas looking lush and full, make sure they get about an inch of water per week. Depending on the weather and where you live, natural precipitation may not be adequate. Consistent moisture is especially important during the first few years when the plants are getting established. Here are a few summer garden tasks you should consider to grow beautiful, productive hostas. One of the best things you can do for your hostas is to keep the soil consistently moist. Adequate watering allows hostas to photosynthesize more efficiently and store plenty of energy to make it through the winter.Hostas thrive in compost rich soil. If you have healthy soil, that is more important than fertilizer. Using a product, like Miracle Grow, can quickly feed your hosta and make it look good for a short time.Hostas don’t like wet feet and will not tolerate standing water. newly planted hostas will need bi-weekly watering for the first month after planting. Once established, small or medium plants will need a good soak about once a week. Hostas are drought tolerant yet like moist, well-drained soil.Add a layer of compost to the bed to help the plants grow. Hosta plants do not tolerate drought well, so it is important to make sure the soil drains well to prevent the roots from sitting in standing water. To improve drainage, you can add organic matter such as compost or well-rotted manure to the soil.