✅ What can be planted next to the hosta

The uniqueness of using hosta in an outdoor interior lies in its sociability. The plant can fit into almost any design; the classic shape and species diversity only contribute to this.

Among the varieties of hostas there are dwarfs and giants, plants with green, yellow and even bluish foliage

The universal properties of the bush are:

Variable combination.
Unpretentiousness.
Easy rooting, propagation.
Rich appearance.
Long lasting decorative effect.

What is the best thing to combine hosta with when planting?

Many plants can be planted next to hostas, but there is a nuance (besides the obvious - the coincidence of requirements for living conditions). Don’t forget to immediately check what size the host will reach when it grows up - the leaf span of an adult plant can be very, very significant. Here's an example of one of my own long-standing missteps:

Everything is fine, but the primrose is planted too close to the host. At that time, I didn’t take into account that as the hosta grew, it would cover all the free space between two astilbes (by the way, they are wonderful neighbors). The primrose had to be replanted. Therefore, relatively small plants such as lungworts, primroses, daisies and others should be planted at some distance. In the summer it all looked like this (the hosta is still young - with age it has become much larger):

But small-bulbous plants (muscari, chionodoxa, pushkinia, scillas, crocuses and others), as well as daffodils (that is, everything that does not require annual digging - tulips will not work) can be planted closely: when they bloom, the hosts are not yet visible , and by summer its powerful leaves will cover the unsightly “bald spots” in place of the withered foliage of the bulbous plants. And here is an option where late muscari grow next to compact “blue” hostas:

White sedum spreads under them (both it and various forms of false sedum are excellent neighbors for hostas)

In the background is Byzantine chist, which also sits well next to the hostas. For example, like this:

Hostas and cypress spurge look good next to each other (just be careful that it doesn’t grow too much)

Here are the hostas in the shade of the ferns; on the side - variegated sedge (in any case, that’s what the neighbor who shared it with me called this plant), perhaps experts will clarify the name):

Combinations of hosta with ground cover plants are very successful (both wild ones, such as ivy bud, and cultivated plants, such as sedums, periwinkles, and others, are also suitable). In general, even the entire seven-dacha community probably won’t be able to compile a complete list of everything that can be planted next to hostas))) There are a lot of options!

Exactly, there are many combinations with hosta. The main thing is that there is a contrast then it’s beautiful. That is, the leaves of the hosta are oval or rounded and whole, which means we plant a leaf with the opposite shape next to it (cut-leaved or openwork). The main thing is not to forget that the leaves of the hosta are very dense and good rain is needed for the water to reach the roots of the hosta. Especially the blue giants.

Here in the photo of the host is a blue giant, and next to it is a kitten. You can see for yourself that nothing grows nearby. And this hosta is still a baby, she is 2 years old. It will increase a little more.

Ferns grew next to the hosta, but I had to move them and will move them again.

And here’s what I wrote about: the contrast of leaf shape and color

In general, the hosta is considered a universal “garden decorator”. Purely in form, most plants are compatible with it. Only, of course, not those who prefer open sun. That is, they will look good next to each other, but the host herself will suffer. And also - depending on the size of the hosta. There are very large hostas, with huge leaves, next to them only tall lilies, delphiniums, phlox, daylilies, onions, ferns, rhododendrons and similar plants will look good and will not suffer from it. The main thing is that the hosta companions are not undersized - otherwise it will cover them over time, even if the variety is relatively small. Sometimes, in any case, you have to tear off some of the leaves of the hosta from time to time so that it does not step on neighboring plants. By the way, you can staple a very beautiful tablecloth from torn hosta leaves - for one day, of course, but suddenly you are expecting guests, and this will be an original accessory.

Common combination with ferns

Fern is an unpretentious plant, like hosta. It can grow without replanting for many years, and in some cases, decades. The combination of hosta with fern is an excellent composition option for those gardeners who do not have enough time to care for the flowerbed.

Fern is a beautiful perennial, fast-growing plant that can grow in those secluded shady corners of the garden where other crops cannot even take root. Tall, erect shoots with carved fern leaves rise majestically above the squat hostas. There are varieties of fern not only with dissected leaves, but also with whole ones.

A huge variety of varieties of ornamental crops makes it possible to select companions for both tall and miniature hosta species. Both crops are planted in those parts of the garden where the sun's rays hardly penetrate: under trees, along fences, near buildings. To make the flower bed more attractive, you can supplement it, for example, with heuchera (a shade-loving crop with bright leaf blades).

Fern. (Photo used under standard license ©ogorodnye-shpargalki.ru)

Hostas in the garden - landscape tricks

A well-groomed garden and the facade in front of the house is the dream of many gardeners. To implement it, you need to start with landscape work. Hostas are considered the most popular used for decorating not only garden plots, but also park areas. These decorative herbaceous perennial plants are so popular and irreplaceable that it is impossible to imagine a single nook of the garden without them.

Hosta was previously called funkia; its main places of growth were China, Korea, and the Far East. The variety of herbaceous perennial includes more than 60 species of hosta, it is known in all corners of the globe. Why is it attractive? The leaves and their color are the main decoration of the hosta. In the garden, the landscape tricks of the designers are manifested in its harmonious juxtaposition with many beautifully flowering plants and tall cereals.

There are many varieties of hosta. Even classic perennial bushes with green leaves are not the same. The drawings on them have dark and light colors. Borders, stripes, white streaks in various variations create unique combinations on the leaves, changing the appearance of the plant.

How to plant hostas beautifully

The most unpretentious of the plants that are planted on a personal plot or in a garden is considered to be the hosta. It grows even in the most shaded areas. Many of its varieties thrive both in sunlit areas and in corners of the garden with diffused but bright light.

Variety of hosta species

Flower growers recommend determining the best place to place the hosta by planting it in different parts of the garden. Next year it will become clear in which of the selected areas the plant feels better. This can be determined by the color of the foliage. Next, you can transplant the grown bush to the chosen location. The perennial is unpretentious in care and tolerates changes in habitat painlessly. If necessary, hosta can be grown in a container for the purpose of landscaping balconies and terraces.

Advice. It is better to grow a perennial plant by dividing the rhizomes. Experienced florists believe that this method is more convenient than growing hostas from seeds.

Planting this herbaceous plant in carpet design looks beautiful. Its large leaves prevent weeds from growing in the garden. Carpeting in this case is considered not only decorative, but also useful.

Neighborhood with conifers and juniper

Reproduction, planting and care

Hosta reproduces by dividing the rhizome or planting seeds. Planting in the ground is carried out in the fall. Carrying and dividing the bush in the spring. Before planting, add fertilizer to the hole and water it generously. After planting, the soil is compacted. The preferred planting location is deep or openwork shade. The plant is unpretentious, but has its own characteristics. Frequent replanting and excessive watering are not recommended. A beautiful crown with bright leaves requires nitrogen and organic fertilizers. Only sufficient feeding allows the plant to grow faster and bloom longer. The plant should be provided with systematic moisture, but in moderation. Particular attention is paid to young seedlings and all plants in hot, dry weather. Diseases include slugs. Chemical solutions help. To form a dense, symmetrical bush, young flower shoots must be broken off so that the rosette does not fall apart in all directions.

Unpretentious astilbe is resistant to cold and disease. The plant loves moisture, mulching the soil, and fertilizing the soil. After flowering, the flower stalks are trimmed and fed. Reproduction is easier by dividing the bush than by seeds. To collect seeds. The plant is not pruned after flowering, but waits for the seeds to appear in the boxes. After harvesting, they are left wrapped in paper until the spring warmth. In March, the seeds are planted in a container. Young seedlings are planted in the ground after a year, and flowering appears after 2 years. Division must be done at least once every 4 years. Add humus or compost to the hole. After planting, water abundantly and compact the soil. Sufficient soil moisture is the main requirement for growing this crop. In a temperate continental climate, a strong and healthy plant tolerates winter well; mulching the soil and covering it with spruce branches is sufficient.

What to plant next to hostas

What does hosta go with in a flowerbed? These ornamental plants get along well with all flowers, so the question of what to plant next to the hosta does not arise. Previously, this perennial plant could rarely be found in flower beds and flower beds. It was considered something special among the usual plants and flowers. Modern varieties decorate flower beds and paths. They look wonderful surrounded by roses, peonies, hydrangeas, and irises. A good tandem of hostas in a flower bed with geraniums. These plants are a decoration for any flower garden: from a ceremonial composition to a shady corner in a landscape style.

Hosta in landscape design

Designers use a variety of hosta varieties in their compositions. They are attractive because they tolerate low temperatures well, are frost-resistant, which means they are a perennial decoration. These perennials are divided into varieties with original glossy, waxy and matte leaf coating. There are varieties with very large leaves, and these ornamental plants also have small leaves. The type of leaf is also varied. Its structure can be smooth, embossed, wrinkled and with wavy leaves.

Interesting. There are miniature varieties of perennials, the height of which is just over 10-15 cm. They appeared in the last decade and have taken root in home floriculture. Subspecies of hosta varieties are used in garden landscapes.

It all depends on the height of the herbaceous perennials. Ground cover - have a height of up to 20 cm, border - from 20 to 30 cm, medium-height - 30-45 cm and high - from 45 to 80 cm. With their help, you can, using optical illusion, revive the darkest corners of the garden, creating multi-tiered compositions.

Hosta in the flower garden

Thanks to the beauty of their leaves, herbaceous bushes are not only a decoration for gardens. The leaves are used to create original bouquets. This large-leaved plant looks beautiful both growing alone and in monogroups, creating complex compositions from different varieties. Landscape designers use hosts:

when creating flower beds;
as a border plant, decorating the front edge of the composition;
in freely growing groups;
in rockeries;
like tapeworm or large spots on the lawn;
in the design of regular mixborders and flower beds;
in rock gardens and Japanese-style gardens;
in creating small decorative ponds,
in dividing the flower bed into sectors;
in the form of carpeting or a green “pillow”.

Hosts at their summer cottage

Classification

Today there are more than 600 varieties. Based on their characteristics and features, several options for categorization into groups are used.

By type:

glossy;
matte;
motley;
with a white or green border around the edge.

According to the range of green mass:

turning green;
yellowing;
whitening.

By form:

long;
round;
lanceolate;
heart-shaped;
narrow;
wide.

According to the height of the bush (excluding peduncle):

miniature (dwarf) – up to 10 cm;
small (ground cover) – 20 cm;
medium (border) – 30 cm;
large – 45 cm;
giant - over 60 cm.

There is no single international standard for the parameters of each category, therefore, in different countries there are often differences between the classification of species into one group or another.

Flower garden or flower bed with hostas

The herbaceous shrub will not get lost in a bright flower garden. The plant creates interesting compositions in the colorful flower beds, the originality of which receives its share of admiration. Flower beds fenced with borders of greenery look more attractive, especially when hosta is involved in the design of flower borders. With the help of designers, you can choose the right varieties with different sheet colors and their location in the border. This will be the key to the beauty and uniqueness of the flower garden.

Hosta border

Border plants are involved in creating a landscape near a house on a personal plot. They separate decorative and functional areas. Hosta is considered a wonderful plant, often used to create a green border. Designers suggest making compositions of at least three of its types with different height levels, planting along the paths. The main thing is the compatibility of the selected varieties of this perennial plant in shape and color, thereby creating a unique pattern. Border varieties include miniature Blue Cadet plants with blue leaves or Light Up.

When creating a beautiful and durable garden design, you should listen to the advice of landscape designers regarding the choice of planting site, lighting, and proximity of plants.

Selection of plants for gardening

A very important stage in creating a composition. When choosing a crop, you should take into account their flowering period. This will make it possible to change the design and appearance of the ridge throughout the season. And also create a very beautiful combination of color and shape without excessive diversity. Photos and names of flowers for the discount are presented below. Of the early flowering species, the following are used:

crocuses;
daffodils;
snowdrops, tulips, they provide short-lived beauty, so annuals can be placed in the vacant space - calendula, lobelia;
ageratum.

Species such as petunia, pansies, and lobelia are also suitable. These plants go well with decorative annual species - chlorophytum crested, cineraria maritima, hybrid coleus. Many gardeners add vegetable crops.

Perennial plants for gardening are a godsend. Gardeners plant:

irises;
hosts;

Phlox, peonies, and lilies are also suitable. They do not require annual planting, so they greatly simplify the work with the flowerbed. If you add herbs or low-growing conifers, the flower garden will become much more colorful. It is important to match the color combination. If there are plants in the garden that attract attention with their rich colors (salvia), then the rest should be more modest in color (peony, delphinium).

If the flower arrangement is made from flowers of one type, it is better to focus on peonies, daisies, irises or daylilies.

Vervains, marigolds, hostas, and sedums are well suited for complex designs. Flowers with little foliage on the stems should be decorated with decorative greenery. Keeping the rhythm on the ridge should be entrusted to kochia or long-flowering ornamental shrubs.

Important! In place of faded plants, others must be planted in a timely manner to maintain the neat appearance of the garden bed.

Flowers with peonies

Peony is great for creating a long edging along a house or garden path. The design of ridges with similar colors along the paths looks good:

Before planting peonies, you should consider:

The flower does not like to be transplanted, so the place must be chosen carefully.
Young peonies gain strength for several years to the point of lush flowering.
It is a dominant perennial. It is better to plant one variety and select any perennials to go with it. In a long flower bed along a garden path, you can place two varieties of peonies on opposite sides of the edging.
For rabatka, you can add different annuals each year.

An excellent addition to peonies would be early bulbous ones, such as tulips. They go together very well. After the peonies have bloomed, their leaves will be a luxurious background for astilbe, petunia, godetia, zinnia, and aster.

Important! Species incompatible with peonies for rabatka are adonis, lumbago, and the Ranunculaceae family.

Flowers with roses

You can’t just plant the queen of the garden in any composition. Roses must be placed according to a pre-drawn pattern. The center is always occupied by tall specimens, the edges by lower ones.

Designers recommend using low-growing, thornless roses. If the variety has thorns, then it is good to plant it away from the garden path - in the middle of the flowerbed or on the side near the house. You can combine roses in a flower bed with cereals, sage (background), delphinium, low-growing irises, clematis, lilies, and silver wormwood. The surrounding plants are selected so that flowering is continuous.

Flowers from perennials

This option offers a lot of room for creativity. You can create beds of any type from perennial plants. For a long rabatka use alternation and repetitions. At the same time, not only the color, but also the shape varies. It is important that the intervals are even.

Beds of perennials can be located anywhere. For example, between two tracks. In this case, the “pyramid principle” is used, reducing the height of the plants from the middle to the edges. Then the drawing is perceived equally from any side.

A cascade of perennials along the fence looks very stylish (see photo):

In order to correctly arrange a ridge of perennials along the path, gardeners draw diagrams. This allows you to graphically see the entire drawing and decide on the types of plants.

Separately, it is worth highlighting the ridge of conifers and shrubs. This option looks great. Flowering shrubs next to pine needles are a very impressive duet.

Rabatka blooming all season

For continuous flowering, gardeners prefer to choose perennial plants. This is especially important during the spring months. Perennials require less care and do not react critically to lower temperatures. The list of names should be extensive. Then, with the onset of spring and before the cold weather, you can get an amazing composition that blooms continuously. Some nuances need to be taken into account:

Perennials grow over time and need to be given enough space.
Choose non-capricious species; do not plant exotic ones due to the complexity of care.
Plants that bloom at the same time are best combined into groups.

Annuals will help create the same beauty. They allow you to change the general appearance of the ridge every season. You need to carefully combine the types so that the effect of the flower bed is maximum. To do this, you should draw up diagrams, for example, as for a ridge of annuals along the path:

Compositions with hostas in the garden: 15 examples with photos

Hosta is a spectacular “decorator” of gardens. Whatever type of hosta you choose - low-growing, large, plain, blue, with veins - it goes well with any plants and flowers. Hosta transforms flower beds with ferns and cereals, adds zest to mixed borders with conifers, frames paths and flower beds with tulips, astilbes and irises. In this article I will tell you how best to plant hosta and give examples of the best compositional combinations of hostas in site design.

Features of planting hosta

Hosta is perfect for planting near a pond, in the shade, as a soloist or in a group with other plants. It is better to plant hostas in fertile, moist soils. The plant is winter-hardy and disease resistant. It grows quietly in one place for 10-15 years without losing its decorative effect. Easily propagated by seeds and dividing the bush.

Ideal place to plant hosta

Experienced gardeners do the following: they plant several bushes in various areas of the site, and observe how they feel, their growth rate, color change and flowering. And where the host produces the best results is the “ideal” place.

Hosta grows well in both shade and partial shade.
Many species thrive in bright sun.
Blue hostas should only be planted in a shady corner.
In hostas with white veins, bright sun causes burns.

IMPORTANT

The same hosta variety planted in the shade and in the sun will have a different color.

Ideal for hosta are places with moist soil (near bodies of water, in the forest area of the garden).

Tips for planting hostas

1. It is better to plant hosta in the spring, but it also takes root well in the summer.

2. For planting, you need to prepare a landing hole:

The hole should match the size of your seedling. Make sure that there is room for the roots, and do it with a reserve, because the hosta grows quite quickly.
We fill it with compost and peat mixed with garden soil taken out of the ground. If the soil is clayey, then it is better to lay a drainage layer at the bottom of the hole.

3. Before planting, remove all weeds and dig up the soil onto the bayonet of a shovel.

4. We spill the planting hole with water and place the seedling without deepening the root collar and straightening the roots to the sides. If the seedling is from a purchased container, then we place it together with a lump of earth so that the base of the plant remains in the same place where it was in the pot (do not bury it).

5. Then we press the soil a little with our palms and water again. If the ground sags a little, then fill it up and level the surface.

Photo: hosta in garden design

Caring for hostas after planting

After planting, it is better to mulch the surface - this will make the plant more comfortable, and you will have less hassle with frequent watering and weeding.

Sometimes the ground around the hosta is mulched with agrofibre. But this is closer to professional landscape design.
Amateur gardeners can use mulch, such as sawdust or pine chips. They will protect the plant from pests such as slugs, which love damp and cool places.

If the soil dries out quickly, the hostas will need to be watered deeply and frequently. They love to drink!

Photo: mulching hosta with agrofibre

Compositions with hosts: examples and photos

Below are examples of compositional combinations of hostas with other plants and flowers.

Choosing a location and optimal growing conditions

Choosing a place for a flower is very important, because it is supposed to be planted not for 1 season, but for a long time. It is better to take care of growing conditions in advance, taking into account the following rules:

Different varieties of the “queen of shadows” have a common property: they love shaded conditions with inconsistent sunlight. Therefore, their flower beds are often located near garden trees or outbuildings. The fact is that if you plant flowers in an open area, then strong sun can have a bad effect on the coloring of the greenery - over time it will become paler, and burns may also appear.
Hostas love moisture, so it would be optimal to plant them in low-lying areas of the garden, where moisture will accumulate after heavy rains, or near artificial reservoirs. If the summer is dry, then you will need to water frequently and abundantly - flowers do not develop well on dry soils.
Plants should only be planted in well-dug soil. Large earthen stones must be broken. If weed rhizomes are found, they should be removed.

Important! The decision to choose a location must be made taking into account the characteristics of a particular hosta variety. For example, varieties with rich green leaves like strong shade, while plants with yellow-orange shades of green prefer semi-shade. For them, the best option would be a place that is well lit in the morning and almost completely goes into shade during the day.

Hostas in the garden (landscape tricks)

Nature has created an innumerable number of different plants. Moreover, in the natural environment there is no dissonance in the combination of different neighboring cultures. With a good imagination, you can take a lot from the wild to create a paradise on your property. For example, hostas in the garden and landscape tricks for growing flowers are of great interest in the design of a flower plot. The use of hosta in garden landscape design when decorating flower beds has many options. The abundance of varieties and types of this crop (about 50 species and more than 700 varieties) will help you create absolutely charming compositions.

Spectacular astilbe

Astilbe is one of the best hosta partners. With her participation, you can create many different flower bed design options. Together they will decorate borders, shady places under tree crowns, artificial ponds and fountains, and alpine slides. In addition, these crops are similar in terms of care principles, as they prefer to grow in shady and humid places. They are resistant to severe frosts and do not need shelter.

Astilbe is a picky perennial that delights with its lush flowering for a long time (from June to September). The flowers exude a delicate aroma that is similar to bird cherry. Even after complete flowering, astilbe looks very good.

The variety of varieties, differing in height, color of openwork leaves, which are bronze, burgundy, dark green, and inflorescences (snow-white, bright red, purple) allows you to create unique compositions and combinations with lush hosta rosettes.

Astilbe. (Photo used under standard license ©ogorodnye-shpargalki.ru)

Basic rules of landscape design

Without going into the complexity of the design, you can note some quite understandable rules for yourself. They consist of:

Unity of style. This means that both the buildings on the site and the flower beds must be in the same style. If you want to grow a garden in some kind of national setting, then the entire landscape will have to be adapted to this type, that is, buildings and fences will have to be camouflaged, and harmonious plants will have to be chosen.
Simplicity of design. This is not a matter of boringness, but of the dosage of details of the future garden. A small area loaded with unnecessary decoration causes anxiety and a feeling of lack of taste in the creator of the composition.
Dominance and submission. One prominent plant is selected as the basis of the future flower garden, and all the others are selected to match it. The goal is to obtain a single composition, where each plant is designed to highlight the beauty of the main element.

Therefore, even before creating a garden, it is worth choosing the right plants and decorative details that match them (figurines, borders, tiles for paths, lanterns, fountains).

Important! You can choose any component of the composition as the main element, including decorative elements.

Hosta – photo

Decorative hosta foliage is an ideal addition to garden seedlings or landscape compositions. As a visual confirmation of these words, we offer you a whole selection of photographs!

Photo: termit116.ru

Photo: cheeseheadgardening.com

Photo: zen.yandex.ru

Photo: greenmarine.ru

Photo: mplanetspb.ru

Photo: fermoved.ru

Photo: frustratedgardener.com

Photo: procvetok.ru

Photo: shulga.org.ua

Photo: sazhentsy-pitomnik.ru

Photo: planeta-kvitiv.com

Photo: azbukaogorodnika.ru

Photo: gazon7777.ru

Photo: marusin-sad.com

Photo: sdelai-lestnicu.ru

Photo: novotech24.rf

Photo: mplanetspb.ru

Photo: samdizajner.ru

Photo: landscapetnik.com

Photo: domashniecvety.ru

Photo: kiev.prom.ua

Photo: e-gardens.ru

Photo: lubvit.ru

Photo: pulse.mail.ru

Impatiens (70 photos): planting and care, cultivation

Geometry in creating a flower garden

The design solutions are complemented by the use of geometric shapes when planning a flower garden. Depending on the task at hand, the size and shape of the site, and its location, the following are used:

Triangle rule. In simple terms, this means that tall plants, for example, trees, are planted first, then lower bushes and then flowers. The shades of foliage from high to low also change from dense green to light green, light green and yellow. Moreover, each group is planted in a triangular shape.
Rule of the circle. The circle helps distribute the color and light spectrum in the area. It can be divided into 2 or more parts and plants with related shades of flowers (leaves) can be planted in each of them. Just follow the rule of 3 colors, 3 sizes and 3 shapes.
Rule of the square. It is based on the cardinal directions and involves planting plants according to size and content characteristics.

Spring bulbous

As you know, hostas emerge from the ground very late in the spring. Instead of waiting for the shoots to finally unfurl and grace the flower bed, you can use this hosta feature as an opportunity to showcase the blooms of bulbs and early-blooming perennials. By mid-summer, most of these early plants will have disappeared; hosta leaves will quickly cover the fading foliage and occupy about 75% of the area, taking over the baton in the flower garden.

The following bulbous plants make the best hosta companions:

Crocus, which can tolerate sun to partial shade, is hardy in zones 3-8.
Anemones - grow in sunny or partial shade. In northern regions, they prefer to grow in the sun, and where it is warm enough, they thrive in the shade. Hardy in zones 5-9, depending on the variety.
Numerous species and varieties of tulips (especially botanical ones) will tolerate partial shade. Tulips are hardy in zones 4-10.
Lilies of the valley prefer partial shade and moist soil. They are distinguished by very high cold resistance in zones 2-9.
Snowdrops ( Galanthus ) will tolerate full sun to light shade and are hardy in zones 3-7.
Muscari can withstand light shade and are suitable for zones 4-9.

Remember that no bulbs like full shade. Therefore, they should be used either under deciduous trees (until the foliage blooms, there will be enough light in the flower garden), or as companions for variegated hostas with a predominance of yellow tones in color (these like to grow in places where there is a little more sun). Suitable for such cases: miniature daffodils, scyllas, hazel grouse, irises (iridodictiums). In a reasonably lit hostarn, consider adding different types and varieties of ornamental onions (alliums).

While the hostas are just putting out their foliage, the flower garden is decorated with bulbous flowers. © Lyudmila Svetlitskaya

In a sunny location, you can add decorative onions to the hostas. © Lyudmila Svetlitskaya

How to beautifully plant hostas at your summer cottage or in the garden

To use a plant in the landscape, before breeding, you need to choose a permanent place for it and decide what to plant next to the hosta. It is not advisable to replant the crop. It is recommended to renew plantings after 6-10 years.

For your information! Hosta is capable of forming a dense green cover at the planting site in 2 years.

The place should be shady, calm with slightly acidic, moist soil. For lush growth, you should immediately pinch the emerging peduncle. The beauty of the hosta is in the leaves, and the flowers are rather inconspicuous, so you can do without flowering.

Handsome host at the dacha

It is important to keep in mind when planting that every year the plant will become more luxuriant, which means it will need good space around it.

Choosing a site for planting

You can grow hostas in the garden either in the center of the plot or in the background. Just take into account what plants the hosts are combined with. Based on the shade of the leaves, neighboring flowers are selected. For example, blue will look stylish with white, yellow with red, and other shades with green.

Important! If you have any doubts about choosing a place, you can try planting them in different areas and observe where they grow best. This place can be chosen as a permanent one for the next season.

With the arrival of autumn, the leaves of the plant are not cut off. The bush under the snow will serve as a shelter for the root system. Clearing of leaves is carried out in the spring.

Rules of care

Watering. In the first year, the seedling needs to be watered. Try to avoid wetting the leaves - use a watering can without a nozzle, water at the root. The soil should be soaked by 15–20 cm.

Check the depth of blotting with a probe. Photo: ogorod.ru

Fertilizers. If fertilizers were applied during planting, then no fertilizing is done for the first 3–4 years. Starvation is determined visually: faded color, underdeveloped petiole, limp leaves.

In this case, apply complex fertilizers (superphosphate + potassium sulfate) under the bush. For an adult plant, 1–2 tbsp is enough. l. each drug. Sprinkle with soil and water. You can use liquid concentrates for ornamental plants. Feed twice: in June and August.

After the buds wither, remove the flower stalks with pruning shears. Photo: 7ogorod.ru

After 7–10 years of growth, a very overgrown bush can be divided. It is not necessary to dig: cut off part of the root with a shovel, and fill the resulting hole with earth.

Hosta on an alpine hill

The basic varieties of the crop are quite large. They are not very suitable for alpine slides. But through the efforts of breeders, dwarf plant species have been bred. In addition, some of their properties have been improved. For example, resistance to sunburn, decorativeness of flowers.

New host hybrids

About 20 such hybrids have been obtained. The most spectacular of them are:

Venus is a plant with small, shiny, heart-shaped leaves;
Shining Tot features beautiful pale lilac flowers;
Variegata - comes from Japan, has beige leaves with light green and green borders;
longissima Maekawa has narrow emerald leaves with a frilly edge;
Ground Master has narrow and long leaves, which are framed by a yellow stripe, and a very dense root system. It can be planted to strengthen the soil on the shore of a reservoir;
Kabitan A distinctive feature of the species is lanceolate, folded leaves with a light green center and a dense green stripe along the edge.

Hosta green plantain Venus

The hosts Lemon Lime, Vanilla Cream and Geisha also look amazing. They are all yellow shades.

Dwarf hostas

Of the dwarf blues, the following are in great demand:

If it is impossible to acquire dwarf forms, it is quite possible to get by with basic varieties. On an alpine hill in the sun, their leaves will be smaller than in the shade.

Important! Hybrid varieties grow more slowly than basic varieties.

Still, in rock gardens, hosts are recommended to be placed in the shade of stones or other plants. In any case, they should not be planted at the top; it is worth choosing a place at the foot of the hill. It’s even better if the flower garden approaches the pond.

Kinds

About 40 species are known, each of them is characterized by high decorativeness and ease of care. There are both shade-tolerant and those that grow in sunny areas. Below, in alphabetical order, is a description of the most popular of them.

White-edged

It got its name due to the presence of a white border; the center is painted in a rich green tone. Medium height, up to 70 cm in diameter. One of the most hardy and unpretentious.

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Bloated

Large heart-shaped leaves with a dark green matte leaf are noted. The root system is located superficially. The flowers are lilac or violet.

Wavy

Originally from Japan, one of the most common in the regions of the Russian Federation. The leaves are smaller than those of other representatives of the genus, pointed. They are distinguished by a white stripe in the middle. Height reaches 30 cm.

Siebold

One of the most beautiful, distinguished by large gray-green plates (size 40*25 cm) in the shape of an oval with a point and a coating. The flowers are lilac in color, arranged in a brush.

Curly

Neat bushes with a white edge, slightly wavy around the perimeter. The flowers are purple, located on tall stems.

Lanceolate (narrow)

Characterized by lush large plates (up to 15-17 cm in length) on high petioles. The rosette is basal, wide. Funnel-shaped flowers are collected in a brush and placed on long (up to 50 cm) smooth stems-peduncles. Flowering occurs in July.

Small

Miniature dwarf, up to 15 cm tall. Leaves are elongated and neat. The flowers are purple.

Podorozhnovaya

One of the most interesting and beautifully flowering species. Massive, with distinctive characteristic “ribs” throughout the plate. Large lily flowers bloom on tall peduncles (up to 70 cm). There is a subtle pleasant aroma and long flowering until August-September.

The smell and sweet juice on the flower stalks can attract ants and black aphids.

Erectifolia

Distribution area: Far East. Characteristic are small, erect, upward-pointing bushes.

Fortune

Compact, dense, heart-shaped, light purple flowers. It goes well with others, shading off brighter or more variegated ones.

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Fortune Patriot

Ovoid

It grows up to 40 cm in height. Clusters of small flowers bloom in July-August.

Why does hosta change leaf color?

The change in leaf color in many hosta species is genetic. Under any conditions, they will change color during the growing season. Shades can vary from white to blue. But their change can also occur due to climatic conditions or violation of maintenance rules. Changing species can be divided into:

viridescent is when any initial spring foliage color changes to deep green by the end of the season;
lucent - these leaves change color from the original light yellow (yellow, variegated) to dark yellow;
albescent - hosta leaves change from yellow, light green and green in spring to white in autumn;
fluorescent - the change in shades goes from blue to green, and the transformation occurs already in the middle of the season.

Flower garden with hostas

Once you use hostas in your garden design, you can admire the lush, beautiful bushes for many years. They will decorate flower beds even when other flowers have not bloomed. Moreover, their care is minimal.

Flowerbed with hostas and perennial flowers

Traditionally, hostas are planted with perennials such as:

Closer to the pond, the following are added to the flowerbed:

Distribution of plants depending on height

Dwarf hosta varieties are planted around evergreen coniferous bushes, and a tall variety looks beautiful alone against the backdrop of a tall tree, near ponds, in the last row of mixborders.

Important! In a rocky garden (rock garden), it is customary to combine dwarf conifers with yellow-leaved hostas.

Hostas of medium height look advantageous on the first row of borders.

Half-meter species harmonize with gladioli, lilies, delphiniums and irises of suitable height.

Garden compositions with contrastingly colored hostas

If you have a sufficient number of different varieties of plants, a large area, or a pond, it is appropriate to arrange a flowerbed of only hostas. For such purposes, contrasting types of different heights are often used, with the addition of a large plain version in the center.

Light yellow hosta looks gorgeous under a blue spruce

Contrasting will give a unique landscape to the flowerbed. A plot designed using this method looks expensive and unusual. You should use suitable tones, taking into account the dimensions, complementing the flowerbed with other plants of a similar theme. Until the hosta grows, you can dilute the space with annuals, add wood chips, and make a mosaic using stones. The host will reach its maximum size approximately in the second year after planting.

The variegated hosta will also feel good in a sunny flower bed if it is planted in the shade of taller perennials.

This composition will create the feeling of a cascade. Therefore, to ensure an even transition between bushes, designers first remove flower stalks. You can verify the correctness of the forms by looking at flower beds with photo hosts on the Internet.

Experts distinguish green, white and yellow hostas.

Unlike a single-color specimen, contrasting plants (green, light green and white) have thinner leaves and shorter height. Because of these characteristics, bright species are most common in flower beds, alpine slides, and in less shaded places. Splendor is created by plants located next to conifers. Figured cutting of bushes framed by contrasting hostas is a classic of the palace genre.

A small flowerbed in the middle of the lawn with Cossack juniper and hostas

Dwarf varieties of bright colors perfectly complement attractive small carpet-type flowers. Cute leaves with a white border can become an independent composition if planted in a strict shape (square, rectangle).

If you plant small hostas more often, in a few years they will make an excellent garden rug

Many variations are applicable today using host:

maintenance of pedestrian paths;
planting at the porch of the house, decorating facades, front entrance;
combination of contrasting types with monochromatic ones;
location at the foot of coniferous trees;
decoration of roses

When planting contrasting representatives of the hosta, it is necessary to remember that the plants get burned from direct sunlight through drops of water. Therefore, it is better to water the bushes at the root, or late in the evening, otherwise the hosta will lose all its attractiveness. Otherwise, gorgeous greenery with white rays, or emerald green, will responsibly decorate the garden all summer, and in any weather.

The moisture-loving hosta is often used to decorate ponds.

What is permissible to plant next to hosta?

For example, hosta is shade-loving, which means it would be better to plant shade-loving plants nearby. Here are some of them:

Roses and conifers in landscape design

The last 2 crops will look great with tall varieties of hosta, but low-growing varieties are best combined with forget-me-nots, lungwort or mantle.

Note! The hosta feels comfortable in the shade of a thuja or garden cypress.

You can also create compositions exclusively from hosts. Due to the variety of leaf colors, different types and varieties will help you create an original design. In this case, there is no need to plant anything else next to the hosta.

Geranium, fern, mountain weed, peonies, heuchera, and all types of conifers are suitable as neighbors for the culture.

Hosta and roses

Being the queen among flowers, the rose does not really need neighbors. In addition, she loves open sunny areas. But some crops are quite capable of emphasizing beauty, helping to retain moisture in the soil and preventing attacks by harmful insects. One such plant is the hosta. True, they should not be planted in close proximity to rose bushes. They are, after all, different in terms of conditions of detention. Hosta can draw moisture onto itself. As a companion plant, hosta can be planted no closer than 30-35 cm from the rose bush. It is best to plant roses with one type of crop.

Flower garden with hostas and astilbes

There is good compatibility between hosta and astilbe in garden plantings. The main decoration is its leaves, which are:

In addition, the leaves are different in shape. There are round, narrow, heart-shaped. They also differ in size.

Not only are they different in color, but they also remain decorative until the frosts. Well, astilbe has a wonderful feature of blooming all season long, delighting with its colorful buds. These two cultures are also united by a love for shady, damp areas of the dacha. They feel great under the shade of tall trees, where other flowers cannot survive.

Flower garden with hostas and astilbes

Gardeners use this tandem to decorate abandoned, dark corners of the garden and artificial ponds. Hosta brings calm and orderliness to plantings of picturesque and spreading astilbe.

They can also be supplemented with bulbous ones, such as tulips and lilies of the valley. Spreading hosta bushes will hide them after flowering. Thus, the neat appearance of the flower garden will be preserved.

Important! Only astilbes and hostas are often planted in a gravel bed. Several varieties of these 2 crops are planted based on height, shape and color combination. The stone retains moisture well, and moisture-loving neighbors turn a simple flowerbed into a fairy-tale garden.

Hostas and daylilies

They create a wonderful tandem with representatives of the daylily family. Because hostas have leaves of different shades, and daylilies have very different shades of flowers.

Note! To plant daylily next to the hosta, you should be careful about combining these two crops. For example, if the last bud has a yellow center, then the host needs to choose a yellow-leaved one. And if the flower has a green (or shade of it) center, then hostas of any kind are suitable.

Main varieties with descriptions

There are a large number of hosta varieties, but only a few are actively used in landscape decoration. The most popular varieties are with the following names:

With a white border - this beautiful variety was bred in Japan, it grows well in semi-shaded areas and tolerates cold well. The white-edged blooms in mid-to-late summer. The name of this variety is easy to explain, just look at the photographs - the white border gives the leaves an original look.

Hosta plant, photo

Developed in China in the eighteenth century, the Bloated Hosta . This plant is a large, voluminous bush, the height of which can reach 1 meter 20 centimeters. This variety has a heart-shaped foliage.
Plantain hosta is the most common variety with green embossed leaves that change color during the warm season. Reaches 60 cm in height. Takes the form of bushes and grows well. The plant does not tolerate winter frosts well due to the roots protruding from the soil. To prevent freezing, plant the bush in a timely manner. In the photo below you can see what such a hosta looks like.

Hosta - varieties, photos

Aureum Maculata - an analogue of the Swollen Hosta; The foliage of this variety combines two colors, but only if the plant is in a semi-shaded location. If the area where this species grows is in complete shade, the leaves quickly acquire a uniform color.
Wavy - with oblong, elongated leaves. The foliage color of the wavy hosta can combine several colors or be monochromatic. The wavy hosta variety was brought to Russia from Asia in the first half of the twentieth century.
The most unpretentious variety that requires minimal care is a variety called Erromena . Grows on any soil. The foliage color is light green-emerald. The height of Erromena is about 50 cm. Flowering begins in the second half of summer. The flowers have a delicate lavender hue.
The Univitata variety is beloved by most landscape decor specialists . The popularity of this variety is explained by the fact that this plant does not require private replanting. The foliage of this species is white in the middle and emerald along the edges. Flowering continues from early to mid-summer. Color: purple-lilac.
One of the most beautiful varieties is the perennial White Brim , which is perfect for the climate of our country. You don’t even need to insulate it for the winter season. Volumetric bushes are an ideal solution for camouflaging tree trunks.

Another interesting variety is Ovoid Hosta , popular in Asian countries. This variety is a compact bush with a spherical configuration. Foliage may vary in size, color and shape.
In the Far East, many summer residents prefer a variety with straight leaves. This is a large plant with straight, upward-facing foliage. During the flowering period, the straight-leaved hosta produces voluminous flowers with a rich lilac color. This variety loves well-lit sunny areas - this distinguishes it from other species that prefer shade.

Advice. The upright sun-loving hosta should not be planted in an area near trees.

Late-flowering hosta species include the variety Fortune . The first flowers appear at the end of summer, flowering ends by October. Fortune bushes are quite large, their height can be about a meter. The foliage combines two colors: green in the middle and white at the edges.
It is impossible not to note another type of hosta that evokes admiration for its elegance - Elegance. This variety reaches a height of 56 centimeters; it can grow to the sides by more than a meter.
A distinctive feature of the Elegance variety is the elongated heart-shaped foliage of a rich green color. In mid-summer, this plant produces white flowers that resemble daylilies.

Landscape tricks

Over time, some rules for growing hosta have been developed. It can be described as follows:

when adjacent to a rose, the hosta should be planted in a flowerbed on the north side;
incompatibility due to cultivation conditions can be eliminated by planting hostas in pots. Thus, a small garden with a hosta can be mixed in different ways;
To protect against spring frosts, plants should be mulched with a thick layer of compost and nitrogen fertilizers should be applied.

Empirically, it turned out that the hosta in landscape design complements the flower arrangement if:

the neighbors are rich in foliage, more in the upper part;
other components of the flowerbed have bloomed, withered, and lost their foliage.

Path made of decorative stone, decorated with hosta bushes

The culture also acts as a refreshing background for nondescript plants and is used as the main decoration when creating a flower bed. Starting from tall species, further decoration of the flower garden is created with shorter representatives of the same crop or other suitable plants. The lowest varieties (dwarfs) are planted in the foreground of flower plantings (rockeries, rock gardens, flower beds).

Compositions from hostas and other plants

When creating compositions, it is important to take into account not only the design of the future flower bed, but also the matching growing conditions (abundance of moisture and shelter from direct sunlight)

Flowerbeds with heucheras and hostas

The composition of hosta with heuchera is one of the most successful options of its kind. This is explained by the fact that heuchera has flowers of delicate light shades (from white to red). They stand out well thanks to the juicy, dense greenery of the funkia. When creating a composition of these crops, it is important to take into account that heuchera grows up to half a meter in height, so it can be planted in various combinations with low-growing hosta. If the choice fell on large and tall hostas (from 80 cm to a meter), then they should always be planted in the background so that the heuchera does not get lost in their bushes.

Hostas in combination with astilbes

Astilbe and hosta share a love for shade, which is why they are often used together when creating compositions. The options for their use are limited only by the gardener’s imagination. Here are just a few of them:

Create a beautiful garden frame using alternating hostas and astilbes.
Arranging a flower arrangement to create a border along garden paths or ponds.
An excellent option is a circular composition around a shady garden tree, which will fill the empty space underneath it.
Finally, such compositions are often used to frame a lawn with even greenery in bright shades.

Other flower arrangements

Hosta fits into flower beds and other types of compositions with many plants, since varieties have different stem heights.

Basically, design moves are based on 2 ideas:

Contrasting bright colors against the background of dark green hostas - gladioli, lilies, irises, delphiniums. The plant also contrasts well against the background of soft green foliage (small lawn vegetation, ferns).
Creating multi-tiered compositions with height differences due to hostas and other plants. For example, the same gladioli can be placed in the background, and small varieties of hosta can be grown right in front of them. This will create the effect of upward movement due to the tiering and shape of the gladioli flowers.

Functionia can be used in a variety of ways, since there are many types of plants, and each of them has its own characteristics. At the same time, caring for the plant will not be difficult, so hosta is the choice of many gardeners, both among amateurs and professionals.

Subtleties when growing

Another way to beautifully plant hostas in a flowerbed? To do this, you can use the following techniques:

Medium-sized varieties of hosta should be combined with flowers of purple or white shades.
Varieties with green and blue leaves will show their best qualities only in the shade, while yellow and light green leaves require lace shade for optimal decorative effect.

The amazingly beautiful hosta bush will be at home in any flower garden. Its unpretentiousness in cultivation makes it even more desirable for gardeners. And the culture’s ability to grow in the most unpopular areas of the garden makes them even more attractive. Only they must be protected from strong drafts! A calm, moist area in the shade - and the plant will look impressive.

Roses on the background of the hosta

Typically, roses have always been planted in a rose garden, and this is no coincidence. In a monoculture, it is easier to meet the plant’s requirements for soil quality, fertilizing, watering and treatments for diseases and pests.

The rose is certainly beautiful on its own, but the hosta background makes it even more attractive. It is known that roses love a lot of sunlight and do not tolerate excess moisture. Hostas have absolutely opposite requirements for cultivation. However, it is quite possible to create a flowerbed from these two beautiful plants if you adhere to the following recommendations:

Choose hosta varieties that can easily tolerate exposure to sunlight: Sum and Substance (the leaves do not lose their decorative appearance, but the color changes from light green to golden yellow), June Fever (the leaves acquire a more saturated color), Sun Power (the most light-loving variety) , Blue Ivory (the blue leaves of the variety become paler when exposed to sunlight).
Water often, then mulch.
Plant the hostas so that on a sunny day they are in the shade of trees, shrubs or the rose bushes themselves. More often, in flower arrangements with roses, the hosta serves as their edging.