Your cart is currently empty!
Light Pollution and the Importance of Darkness For Wildlife
Discover how artificial light affects migratory birds, nocturnal animals, and wildlife in your garden, and learn how to create a safe refuge with darkness.
Your cart is currently empty!
Photo:
Hans via Pixabay
Hostas are lush, leafy perennials that generally thrive in shade to part sun. They are sought after for their leaves, and their ability to thrive in shade, although, every year there are new introductions whose flowers are extremely fragrant, adding to the mix. These plants come in tiny form, like Hosta Blue Mouse Ears, or Hosta Tiny Tears, to gigantic, such as Hosta Blue Umbrellas, Hosta Sum and Substance, or Hosta Old Faithful. They can be used as edgers, or as large specimens, taking a special place of prominence in the garden.
In the deep dark corners of your garden, you can find some pretty shady characters! Hostas are a staple in this setting, but if you look carefully you will see some other interesting friends nearby.
Botanical Name: Hosta species
En français: Hosta
See More Plants in this Botanical Family:
Blooms:
Sun / Shade:
Watering:
Height:
Width:
The most striking feature of Hostas are the dramatic range of colour variation, and leaf type. They range through greens, blues, gold, and variegated forms. The leaves can be puckered, wrinkled, shiny, smooth, heavily veined and so on. Their stems can be green, or red. It is this immense range that drives collectors crazy, and starts one on the quest to have all the latest Hosta in your collection. Hostas love rich soil and moist conditions. They do best in shade, but some can tolerate sun if given continuous access to moisture .
One surprising fact is that certain Hosta that an tolerate both sun and shade, look like completely different plants when put in shade or sun. Try Hosta Paul’s Glory, or Hosta June. In each case they do well, but look very different, with creams and blues in the shade, and sharper contrast with gold in the sun. It is fun to experiment.
In a moist shady setting, Hosta, Ferns and Astilbe are a great combination, along with Heuchera, and various other woodland plants. Combinations of color and contrasting forms create real drama in the garden. Ferns can come in a surprisingly wide array. Ostrich Ferns are huge and lush adding an almost tropical feel to the garden. Japanese Painted ferns add a colour contrast that is sometimes ghostly. The Maidenhair Fern is refined and lacelike, adding texture, while the Autumn Fern adds a bronze glow. Who new ferns were such interesting characters? Heuchera also provide a range of colour and texture. While they flower, they are sought after for the impact of the leaf…adding a range of burgundy and red to the shade…..not the most retiring characters.
After you have populated your shady neighborhood with a cast of Hostas of all sizes, shapes and colours, and then broken up the “clique” with a few rowdy Ferns and showy Heuchera, you can begin the think of some of the other members of the family that will tolerate shade. Some grasses, such as Northern Sea Oats, and the Japanese (golden) Hakonechloa will do well in shade, as will some conifers. Add structure and impact with Japanese Yew, or a weeping Hemlock. Topping off the list of shady characters are a range of woodland plants, from trillium, to winterberry and more, add that final touch. The shady characters in our garden are the ones who bring it to life, give it mystery and surprise. So when you turn that dark corner, watch out for the surprising shady characters you may meet….they are all pretty interesting, and certainly all memorable!
Discover how artificial light affects migratory birds, nocturnal animals, and wildlife in your garden, and learn how to create a safe refuge with darkness.
Lucky Bamboo make a great addition to any household. This lucky bamboo guide shows how care can be a simple undertaking.
Indulge in a vegan Carrot Spice Cake with this easy recipe! Imperfect carrots can still make a delicious treat on a cold, snowy day. Grated carrots, spices, and golden raisins add a unique flavor to this lovely cake.
Here is a list of basics steps in gardening. The more natives you incorporate into your garden, the happier flora and insects will be.
Protect your backyard trees from damage with this guide to the most common threats – small insects & fauna, nutrient deficiencies, tree diseases, and invasive plant species. Get all the tips for keeping your trees healthy and happy!
Enjoy the health benefits of pineapple: it helps digestion, relieves inflammation, reduces mucous, and can protect against blood clots. Each scale on a pineapple is evidence of a different flower, and you can stop ripening the minute they are picked. Choose the best pineapple from its fresh, tropical, and sweet smell – the more scales, the smoother it is. Get all these benefits with a few simple tips from Vallarta Botanical Garden.
GardeningCalendar.ca gets some funding from advertisers. If you click on links and advertisements at no cost to you, the site may receive a small commission that helps fund its operation.
© 2025 J&S Calendars Ltd.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.