Varieties of Hostas
Hosta is a beautiful foliage plant that gives you a bloom in the summer time. There are more than one hundred varieties of Hosta that are of different shapes, sizes and color variation. The bloom is a really tall stalk with little purple trumpet shaped blooms on the end. Hosta is considered a bulb type plant. It is a perennial which means it comes back year after year. By the book, it states that a hosta is a shade plant. I agree, because in the shade, the plant will hold good color and not have many problems. But, my mom puts hers in the full sun and the plants get absolutely huge! The only down fall to full sun is the foliage will get sun burned in the heat of the summer. The leaf edges will turn brown and shrivel a little because of the stress, but the plant just thrives in the sun. So you can make your own decision about sun or shade, in my opinion.
If you are planting a hosta that is been rooted in a pot, transplanting it to your yard is no big deal. The plant probably won’t even know that is moved. Even planting it in the winter is fun, because with no foliage, you are planting a dirt and root ball. Try it sometime just to see what it is like to plant dirt!
If you are wanting to divide an existing clump of hosta, whether it be from your own house, or someone else’s yard, you want to know a couple of things. I say it is easier to divide them in the summer because you can see each ‘eye’ and can cut the roots according to how big of a plant you are wanting to remove. Just know that when you replant the division, the plant will probably not fully recover and look good the same season. It will need to go through the winter (its dormant season) and develop a strong root system and will be an awesome new plant next year. When I divided my mom’s clumps years ago, I was able to get about 150 new plants from just 4 of her clumps of hosta. Dividing them in the winter is just more difficult because you do not have the foliage to judge your cuts by.
Happy Dividing
#1 by hostageek on July 29, 2009 - 1:07 pm
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Tip-I find it easier to divide hosta in the spring when they are just starting to emerge and you can clearly see all the different eyes. If you dig in spring and replant they will do not even go through the shock of being transplant and will look good that year. Hostas only grow roots during the warm summer months.
#2 by KevinPigg on July 29, 2009 - 1:16 pm
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That is a great point, if you can divide them in the spring! It would make it much easier, and less stress on the plant.
I disagree with the roots not growing in the winter. It depends on where you live, but roots will grow and develop during the winter for most all plants. That is why I always say that a fall planting is the best planting because of the root development in the winter.
#3 by hostageek on July 30, 2009 - 3:14 pm
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Hostas go completely dormant in winter here in Wisconsin. They only grow roots after spring when their spring leaves have hardened off. They need warm soil and humidity to grow roots. You can divide hosta up until about 30 days before frost.
#4 by KevinPigg on July 30, 2009 - 3:17 pm
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That's interesting. I am glad to be learning about other climates! Keep the education coming!
#5 by Butch Ragland on July 30, 2009 - 4:36 pm
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If they do not go dormant, I mean stop doing anything they will not grow properly or even be a perennial.
More here; http://www.bloomingtononline.net/forum/showthread…
It is true that spring division may be easiest but they can be divided anytime even during the winter (don't recommend it). The secret to division other times is water, lots of water that is true for hosta anytime.
Hosta are not "Shade Tolerant" they are "Heat Intolerant" and water is the main and necessary cooling mechanism! AND, they love the sun just can't stand or don't perform well in the heat.
#6 by KevinPigg on July 30, 2009 - 4:58 pm
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Excellent!! Thanks for the info.
#7 by Yates Sprinklers on November 29, 2011 - 1:36 pm
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It is always hard for me to tell when to transplant plants. I think I get excited too often and end up switching them before I should.
#8 by KevinPigg on December 2, 2011 - 12:06 am
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