This popular genus of about 70 different species can be found adding luxurious foliage and spears of delicately coloured flowers to many gardens in the UK.
The plants range in size from the tiny to the giant leaved and come in every combination of lime green, blue-green, cream and deep green.
Hostas are fully hardy and love the shade and damp but these are adaptable plants that will find happiness in the sun…even in drought.
Slugs and snails are the biggest enemies to hostas but there are a variety of methods out there to keep these slimy pests at bay!
29 Jun, 2008
I only found two entries for your blog...one about the hedgehog and and the other about old garden pics. Am I not looking in the right place? Ever use bran? A friend of mine says the slugs eat it and their gut explodes because it expands. Also it is harmless to other creatures.
On photo - Untitled
24 Jun, 2008
I love all the different colors of hostas. Never really grew them in England but now I always make sure to have them in a garden.
On photo - hosta Frances Williams
5 Jun, 2008
This is real nice. I hope that someone can name it for yoy Chris. I would love a couple to add to my collection.
On photo - Pale leaved Hosta with flowers j...
5 Jun, 2008
Chris Here is another good hosta site
http://www.mickfieldhostas.co.uk/collection.htm
On photo - Hosta with yellow edged leaves.
4 Jun, 2008
/www.hostaplants.co.uk/index.htm here's another good site Chris with loads of pics and descriptions.Like your hosta,is it hosta sagae
On photo - Hosta with yellow edged leaves.
4 Jun, 2008
Chris I came across an excellent site on hostas this week. It has great photos of all kinds of hostas.
http://hostalibrary.org/
On photo - Hosta with yellow edged leaves.
18 May, 2008
Eggbox - I'm open to suggestions for names for the fish - see my blog :-)
On photo - New Pond Residents
18 May, 2008
Hi Jacque - thanks, yes the plants have grown loads - and so have the WEEDS! I'm sure the Hosta will recover very soon - thats one of the good things about plants - they grow back!
On photo - New Pond Residents
18 May, 2008
Its looking Fab sarah your plants have grown loads :O hope the Hosta will b ok?
On photo - New Pond Residents
17 May, 2008
awwwwww i know what that feels like,,,,, hope the hosta recovers
On photo - New Pond Residents
10 May, 2008
The hostas all look healthy Grammazoo. Those in my garden seem pretty tolerant as long as they have some shade. I just moved one and it did not flnch.
On photo - Hosta Aureomarginata
8 May, 2008
Are now i know the Name of my Hosta that i got from the Plant sale :) Thanx Gammazoo :)
On photo - Hosta 'Albo - marginata'
23 Mar, 2008
I have one that looks like this - but I know is as H. 'Wide Brim'
On photo - Hosta Snow Cap
22 Mar, 2008
Yes, very nice combo, the Pulmonaria looks a particularly good one, not heard of the cultivar 'Wogon in the UK
On photo - Hosta Dream Weaver
21 Mar, 2008
Lovely mix of healthy looking plants. I like the foliage contrast.
On photo - shade garden
21 Mar, 2008
If you click on the right-hand link 'This photo was taken at .....' you will see where I'm located. Follow the link and then just below my address is the link 'Garden Website' which will take you to my own web pages and forums. You can also type 'slugs' in my search window and find all that I've written on the subject.
On photo - Hosta Albopicta
21 Mar, 2008
so, do you mean night patrols with a torch and a bucket of salt water ?
nice pic - more photos of Hostas please !
On photo - Hosta Albopicta
19 Mar, 2008
I love this lamium, and I'd love to have those mayapplestoo. I have the himalayan mayapple, but not the native variety. I sure it multiplies much faster than mine.
On photo - Hosta On Stage
19 Mar, 2008
What a lovely tribute to your father. Somewhere you can go to feel close to him. Very special .
On photo - Hosta Angel Feathers, Memorial G...
19 Mar, 2008
Just for the record, toads are the 'acknowledged champion slug chompers' compared with frogs. At least that's what I read somewhere, though I wouldn't like to do the definitive survey. LOL. I much prefer listening to the thrushes bashing their snail cousins on a stone!
On photo - Monster Slug
18 Mar, 2008
Some hostas are pretty tough and can stand being dry. The past 2 summers we've had a period of drought and I didn't water them at all. I don't think they could go all summer being dry though. Certain hostas can stand a lot of sun too, but most of them need at least afternoon shade. There are some that have to have some morning sun to do well. I was once told that every hosta has to have at least a little sun or dappled light to do well. You just have to research ones you're interested in to see what each specific one likes.
On photo - June Rain
18 Mar, 2008
Yep, that's the ticket Sid. I wasn't sure about frogs so glad you mentioned them. I have many frogs, toads and treefrogs here.
And I'm glad to know that I'm a proper gardener !
On photo - Monster Slug
18 Mar, 2008
Dirty nails + handling slugs = proper gardener!!
I grow all my hostas near a pond and I never have a problem with slugs because the frogs eat them all.
On photo - Monster Slug
18 Mar, 2008
Hi Chrispook, You must have misunderstood me or you have me confused with someone else because once frost hits the hostas in the fall they're done for the winter, here in Ohio. They all die completely back until some time in March when I start to see new growth on some. The coldest it's gotten here in the past 14 years was -13F.........13 degrees below zero. I don't have my conversion chart handy to tell you what that is in centigrade. I'm sorry for the confusion. Anyway thanks for the nice comment. I have collect over 200 different varieties in the past 8 years and I'm still adding a few each year. Some people thing they're just too plain for the garden but I love the different colors and textures. Others cut the flower stalks off thinking they're ugly but I let mine bloom because the hummers love them !
On photo - Hosta Dress Blues
18 Mar, 2008
You have an incredibly good Hosta collection. They all look so healthy and slug free. Well done. Also I'm amazed that you say some have leaves in winter. Our's do not grow back till April/May. How cold does it get in Ohio?
On photo - Hosta Dress Blues
18 Mar, 2008
Hi Di, What are you doing up! at this time of the morning, it's only 4.30am in Ohio......seriously though, I have been to the states and Ohio a few times and have always been impressed with how well Hostas grow over there. I still say we have a much bigger problem than you do with slugs and snails....our snails eat plenty! I also take your point about deterrents, not so effective here with our sometimes wet summers, in my experience the only times Hostas look good here is when we have dry periods making the slugs and snails retreat and stay hidden.... that usually, does not last for long.
On photo - Monster Slug
18 Mar, 2008
I'll add on here........have you tried sprinkling sand around the base of your hostas? Slugs/snails don't like moving over the rough, grainy texture of sand and they'll stay away. Sawdust will work too but won't last as long as sand. Then there's the beer in the cup trick. Shallow cup or tray of beer attracts them and then they drown, but you have to replace it when it rains.
Please excuse the dirty fingernails. I dig right in.
On photo - Monster Slug
18 Mar, 2008
Great plant ,this is one of the few I do have.
Joined 2 Jul, 2008
North Lincolnshire
Janey
18 Jul, 2008
Beautiful!
On photo - Hosta in flower.