Giant Hostas For Shade

Hosta 'El Niño Green' Hostas are indispensable in deep shade. The white leaf edges on 'El Niño Green' will gleam out from dark borders. It produces spikes of pale lilac, bell-like flowers in summer. There are a huge range of other hosta cultivars to grow, too.

What is the Biggest hosta?

Shadowland® 'Empress Wu' Hosta

• The largest hosta, reaching over 6 feet wide!
• Massive blue-green foliage.
• Leathery texture is resistant to slug damage.
• Soft violet flowers in midsummer.
• Zones 3-9, part sun/shade, 4' tall x 6' wide at maturity.

How big does a giant hosta get?

Giant big leaf hosta cultivars exceed 30 inches in mature height. Several giant hosta cultivars are now in the 48 inch tall range. And some can grow to more than 6 feet in width.

Which hosta has the largest leaf?

Empress Wu Hosta. The largest hosta in existence!

Can you plant a hosta in full shade?

Generally speaking, most hostas prefer to grow in the shade; however, they can do just fine in partial or dappled shade. A few select varieties enjoy full sun exposure, so be sure to check the planting guidelines for whichever type of hosta you select.

Can hostas grow in total shade?

It's for good reason—hostas absolutely love shade. Indeed, they languish in the hot afternoon sun so your shady landscape will provide them just the right conditions.

How do you grow massive hostas?

To achieve maximum growth potential, Hostas need soil that's rich in organic matter, regular water (at least an inch of water every week), and the right amount of sunlight for the specific variety. If any of these pieces are missing – your Hostas will grow slowly and not get as large.

How long does it take for a giant hosta to grow?

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.

What is the lifespan of a hosta?

Hostas require little care and will live to be 30 or more years if properly cared for. While most known for thriving in the shade garden, the reality is more nuanced. The ideal situation is dappled shade.

What's the best time of year to plant a hosta?

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. To determine the right spacing in the garden, check the plant tag.

What to do with hostas when they get too big?

If your hostas are too large, use your shovel to cut the clump into divisions.

1. Carefully dig out the sections from the original hole.
2. Replant them in low light or shady areas.

What happens if you plant hosta too deep?

Plants that are too deep will need to grow up closer to the surface. Eyes may emerge further out from where the main clump was located so that you no longer have a tight clump. Stems may rot a little easier if they get buried in summer by mulch.

What is the most beautiful hosta?

One of the most elegant of all hostas, 'Tokudama Flavocircinalis' features heart-shaped blue leaves with a pale green edge. The leaves have an attractive corrugated texture that's a great contrast to hostas with smoother leaf surfaces. This hosta flowers in early summer with white blooms.

What does a Big Daddy hosta look like?

This attractive hosta boasts showy, blue leaves that are thick, cupped, and heavily textured as they mature. The large leaves become dark green as they age, generally in late summer. In summer, white bell shaped flowers emerge from the center of this low maintenance perennial.

What is the best tasting hosta?

The flowers and flower buds are also edible: the Montreal Botanical Garden lists all species as edible and Hosta fortunei as the tastiest.

What do hostas look like when they get too much sun?

Although they're known for their shade-tolerance, most hosta varieties perform well when exposed to a bit of morning sun and afternoon shade. Too much sun exposure will result in burned leaves, starting from the edges inward. The leaves will look brown, dry, and papery. Too much sun exposure also causes colors to fade.

What plants like complete shade?

For dry shade, you can plant:

• Alchemilla mollis (Lady's Mantle)
• Brunnera macrophylla (Siberian Bugloss)
• Dicentra (Bleeding Heart)
• Dryopteris filix-mas (Male Fern)
• Euphorbia amygdaloides (Wood Spurge)

Which plant grows best in shade?

10 Great Plants for Shade

• Heuchera (Coral Bells)
• Lamium Maculatum (Dead Nettle)
• Tiarella cordifolia (Foamflower)
• Pulmonaria (Lungwort)
• Astilbe.
• Digitalis (Foxglove)
• Hakonechloa (Japanese forest grass)
• Primula (Primrose)

How far apart should hostas be planted?

Soil Conditions: Hostas can survive in a wide range of soils but prefer a rich, moist soil, high in organic matter. Correct Spacing: Depending the variety, space plants 1 to 4 feet apart. Planting closer with allow the plants to fill in faster creating a ground cover of hosta.

How large do Patriot hostas get?

'Patriot' is a hosta cultivar that features a 12-20" tall mound of large, variegated, oval, basal leaves (to 7" long) which have deep green centers and wide irregular white margins. A sport of the long popular H. 'Francee'. Foliage mound will typically spread to 24-30" wide.