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garden
Hosta
Hosta tsushimensis
Overview
The undisputed queen of shade gardens, hostas offer an extraordinary diversity of leaf sizes, shapes, colors, and textures — from tiny mouse-ear varieties to enormous 'Sum and Substance' with leaves the size of dinner plates. They are long-lived, low-maintenance perennials that improve with age, and their late-summer flowers are sweetly fragrant and loved by hummingbirds. In Japan and Korea, hostas are also grown as a vegetable.
Growing Conditions
Hardiness Zones5 — 9
Height0.4m
Spread1m
Growth HabitForb/herb
Pollinator Valuemoderate
Companion Planting & Soil
Good Companions
Soil pH6 — 7.5
Soil TypeRich, moist, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter
Planting Calendar
When to sow, transplant, and harvest by growing zone.
| Zone | Action | Months | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cool (3-4) | Transplant | May — Jun | Plant after frost; shade garden essential |
| Moderate (5-7) | Transplant | Apr — May | Plant in spring or fall; morning sun OK in cooler zones |
| Moderate (5-7) | Divide | Apr — May | Divide in spring as eyes emerge; each division needs 3+ eyes |
Uses
Culinary
- Young shoots (hostons) eaten in Japan like asparagus
- Flash-fried or pickled in Japanese cuisine
Other Uses
- Premier shade garden perennial with thousands of cultivars
- Ground cover for suppressing weeds under trees
- Fragrant late-summer flowers attract hummingbirds
