How to Design With Different Hued Hostas
Hostas, a shade-loving foliage plant distantly related to lilies, is known for a wide variety of sizes, leaf colors and textures. Hosta leaves range in size from just a few inches in diameter to over a foot and can be diamond- or heart-shaped. Colors include dark blue-green, light yellow and striped. A critical factor to planting hostas is the amount of sunlight; most plants prefer shady areas such as under a tree. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Determine the total amount of light your shade garden receives daily. Hosta plants vary in shade tolerance; no hosta will grow well in full shade or full sun. Generally deeper-hued hostas are less tolerant to sunlight, while plants with gold, yellow or white leaves can tolerate partial sun.
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Measure the size of your shade garden. Hostas come in different sizes--from just a few inches in diameter up to 6 feet wide. A hosta reaches its mature size in about 4 years, so plant hostas that will not overwhelm the space allotted.
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Examine hosta leaves when you purchase them. Select hostas for darker gardens based on their ability to be seen. Yellow or white hostas or plants with variegated leaves will stand out in deeper shade.
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Plant hostas in uneven numbered groupings of three, five or seven. Choose different types to provide a range of textures and colors. Dark blue-green hostas mix well with all types of hosta plants. Variegated hostas such as green with yellow margins mix well with yellow hostas with green margins.
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Plant hostas with companion plants that that do well in shade. These include ferns, lily of the valley and white impatiens. Hostas also do well when planted around the trunks of the trees that provide shade for them.
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