Choosing Voluntary Simplicity » Hosta

Hosta ‘Lancifolia’

Shirley — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 20:28:15 +0000

Hosta Lancifolia is an old and very common hosta. Some sources say it was the first hosta ever grown in this country. The medium green, lance-shaped leaves arch to form dense mounds of foliage, and for me the shape of the mound is this hosta's most attractive feature. Although Lancifolia is an extremely easy hosta to grow, the leaves are thin and slugs can be a huge problem. This is one hosta that seems to thrive in almost any growing condition, although I have noticed that the leaves become a darker green in shade. All of my Lancifolias are several years old and average around 44 inches in diameter... these older plants are much larger than the size standard for this hosta.

What Do Hostas Look Like When They First Come Up in the Spring?

Shirley — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 14:25:06 +0000

Reader question... "Last year was the first time I have ever grown hostas and I'm afraid they might have died over the winter. I haven't been able to find any of the three plants I had. My question -- what should I be looking for? What do hostas look like when they first start to grow the second year?" --Karlie

Can You Help Me Identify This Hosta?

Shirley — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:02:27 +0000

I received this hosta as a gift several years ago, and for some reason I have never been able to remember its name... which never mattered very much because I could always look it up on the nursery tag stuck into the soil.

Do Hostas Seed Themselves?

Shirley — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:33:05 +0000

Reader question... "I have what I think is a hosta seedling growing in my garden, but it is not near my other two hostas. I have not planted any seeds. Is there any way that one of my hostas seeded itself? Can you tell me how I could positively identify whatever this is? I have never actually seen a hosta seedling, but this does look like a baby hosta (I think). My other question is, is this seedling worth saving?" --Laurie P.

My Surprise Streaked Hosta Seedlings

Shirley — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 18:39:25 +0000

Here is some pictorial proof that you don't always have to have seeds from streaked hostas to end up with streaky seedlings. These little streaked beauties grew from seeds I had collected from a number of hostas... but none of those hostas were visibly streaked. I have also had many seedlings with variegated edges and some center variegation... again from seeds from solid color hostas. I wonder if it's possible that each hosta has many more possibilities in its genes than the readily accepted ones and that when seedlings are culled early, many of these possibilities are never realized.

How I Divide A Hosta

Shirley — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 20:14:24 +0000

Reader question... "I have a hosta that has gotten very big and is developing an empty area in the center. My neighbor told me it needs dividing, but I don't know how to do it. Can you share how you divide your hostas? I am new to growing hostas and don't want to kill it with my inexperience." --Sheila T.

Hosta ‘June’ And Its Seedling

Shirley — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:51:57 +0000

My June hosta has produced only one seed so far that had what looked like a viable bump. The seed germinated quickly and the little seedling thrived, but it was obvious from the beginning that this seedling was going to become a miniature hosta. Even now that it is two and a half years old, this little hosta is only about three and a quarter inches across, but it looks very sturdy and has a lot of leaves for its size. Although this photograph does not show it, the leaves have just a hint of a narrow dark blue edge.

Growing Hostas From Seed

Shirley — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:17:25 +0000

Not every hosta produces seed pods. Some hostas produce huge numbers of pods and seeds... others produce pods but very few seeds, and sometimes seeds are not viable and will not germinate. I have found that germination is often poor with purchased seeds, but the germination rate for seeds I collect from my own hostas is astonishingly high. Hosta seeds are ready to be harvested when the seeds have turned black, and for me, the best time to start seedlings is sometime in January. By the time I transplant them outside in late May, the seedlings will have a large, well-developed root system. Many will have already produced blossoms.

Hostas I Have Grown From Seed

Shirley — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:17:37 +0000

One of the things I like best about hostas is how easy it is to grow more hostas from seed. For the past several years I have been collecting seed each fall and growing seedlings under lights through the winter. By spring I have good-sized hostas that are as beautiful as any hostas I could buy, and each has amazingly different characteristics. It is commonly said that the only hostas you get from seed are the "plain green" variety, but this is just not true. No two seedlings will look exactly alike... a hosta seedling will not be a copy of the parent hosta... and seeds from the same hosta can produce very different looking plants. Often seedlings will show characteristics that seem to come out of nowhere, like twisted tips and scalloped edges on seedlings when I have no adult hostas with either. Many of my seedlings have developed into hostas that closely resemble many of the "named" varieties. Here are some of my seedlings planted in January of 2006... as you can see, they have some very different looks.

How To Harvest Hosta Seeds

Shirley — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 19:37:43 +0000

I like so many things about hostas... their differences in size, leaf texture, and color, how easy they are to grow, and how impressive they look all season long. But even more than growing the mature plants, I like the mystery and challenge of starting new hostas from seeds. Many people insist that hosta seedlings started from seeds from ordinary hostas will all turn out to be the "plain green" variety. That is so not true! The first year I tried growing seedlings, only a couple of my hostas had produced seed pods, and both hostas were a very common variety. I decided to plant some of the seed anyway, and now (many years later) those first seedlings have grown into giant hostas with the most pebbly leaves I have ever seen, miniature hostas, hostas with shiny leaves or round leaves or long pointed leaves, hostas with rippled-edged and twisted leaves, blue hostas, golden hostas, and even some hostas with variegation! When you plant hosta seeds, you never know what you're going to get!