Live Hosta Plants

The Hostas are native to China, Japan and Korea. They grow in moist woodlands, open grasslands and thrive along rivers and stream banks.

Also known as Plantain Lily and Funkia.

They emerge late in the Spring but then quickly fill-out. It takes 2-4 years to grow to their full size (longer for the largest species.) When planting, be sure to leave enough room for the hostas to grow and spread out.

Light:

Hostas prefer shade and/or filtered sun; especially the more colorful varieties; this will allow them to look their best, especially the blue and gold forms. The green-leaved varieties are  more shade tolerant.

Soil:

Plant your hosta in humus-rich, evenly moist soil. 

Water:

Provide a slow, deep soaking each week throughout the growing season; about an inch of water. By not stressing the plant out from lack of water, it will grow faster, bigger and will look nice longer into the season.

Fertilizer:

Nutrients: Use slow release fertilizer or 10-10-10 granular fertilizer around the base of the clumps as the hostas come up. If using a liquid fertilizer, apply weekly as soon as the first leaves start to unfurl. 

Note:

For extra lush, healthy Hosta Plants, provide foliar feeding for your hosta plants with 2 tablespoons of Epsom Salt in a 1 gallon container of water. Spray once a month onto the foliage during their primary growth period. 

This is an easy plant to take care of.

Pests:

Remove any slugs you find  before the hosta leaves emerge. Check regularly and remove promptly.

Hostas are a shade-loving plant. They can grow to be about 2 feet high and can spread as much as 5 to 6 feet wide!

Some of my research shows that hosta plants may be poisonous, so I would highly recommend you research yourself before feasting on this plant.

However, according to the Heritage Garden website (4), hostas are rarely used for medicinal or culinary purposes; it’s young leaves and leaf stems can be cooked and eaten (boiled for about 20 seconds.) Although the leaves are edible they are sometimes used in salads, more for their texture than flavor.

According to Arwin Moore in “You can Eat Hostas! And They’re Tasty!” (2), The flowers are edible, with a pepper-like flavor, and may have an anticancer benefit.

And, according to “How to Eat a Hosta.” Garden Web. 24,  April 2012 (3), hosts can be used as a substitute for zucchini, and it cooks similar to zucchini.

1.) http://heritagegarden.uic.edu/hosta-hosta-plantaginea

2.) Moore, Arwin. “You can Eat Hostas! And They’re Tasty!” Backyard Cooks. 16, May, 2011. http://backyardcooks.ca/?p=145

3). “How to Eat a Hosta.” Garden Web. 24, April, 2012. http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/hosta/msg042312139346.html

4). Heritage Garden UIC Edu http://heritagegarden.uic.edu/hosta-hosta-plantaginea

According to my experience and the US Department of Agriculture, hostas need very little as long as they are watered regularly. However, as with most plants, occasional fertilizing  will enhance the plants growth.

Gail’s Tip:

For grown plants, lightly apply 10-10-10 slow-release fertilizer. Don’t fertilize after mid-July or August. By applying ferilizer late in the year, you are encouraging the plant to produce new, tender growth which can be damaged by any potential frost.

When fertilizing, apply to the soil under the plants and don’t let the fertilizer touch the stems of the plants. Soak after fertilizing.

If you over fertilize, your plant will produce new, small leaves with less intense variegated patterns than the rest of the plants’ leaves. To correct the issue, stop fertilizing.