April Plant of the Month

 Hostas

Hostas are popular in the garden for good reason - these beautiful hardy perennials add texture, form and color to the landscape and are very easy to grow. Hostas are adaptable plants that thrive in almost any climate and are low maintenance.
Best known as plants for shadier spots, Hostas will indeed brighten up a shady and wet corner but there are also varieties that will flourish in sunnier locations. Ideal conditions for Hostas tend to be rich moist soils in spots that get morning sun, or cooler sun. You will know your Hosta is getting too much sun because the leaves with start to show brown or burnt edges, the good news is that these garden wonders are also very easy to relocate. Here are some of our top picks for the landscape. All of these varieties are available at our Kent Washington Nursery location.
 

 

 

Hosta sieboldania 'Elegans'
This frosty blue variety has a beautiful mounding habit. Grows to an eventual 18-28" tall and 30-36" wide. The leaves are heart-shaped and have great textural appeal. The plants look great when planted with yellow leaved grasses and near rocks in the landscape. This variety will tolerate part-sun and full shade and tends to be more slug resistant than most.

 

Hosta 'Gold Standard'
These golden leaves are famous for brightening up a shadier spot. The leaf color provides an evolving show, starting from a pale green to an eventual gold in summertime. This is a great variety for the edges of your garden - against privacy fences and under taller plants. Grows 24-28" high, 32-36" wide, blooms are lavender-blue in late Spring. We love to see this plant paired with garden plants with foliage or blooms in shades of blue or orange.

 

 

 

 

Hosta 'Francee"
A hardy variety with an upright form and green leaves with spectacular and sharp white margins. Grows to 15-20" tall and up to 36" wide. This variety will tolerate more sun than most and makes a great focal point all by itself. Blooms are later and lavender-blue.

 

 

Hosta 'Royal Standard'
Fragrant white blooms on this bright green and lush Hosta are just one of the many reasons it is a top-choice for your garden. This variety is incredibly tolerant, of both the sun and the clay soils of our region. This variety grows 20-24" tall and up to 40" wide.