With thousands ofhosta varieties, it has an enormous range of sizes, shapes, colors, and textures.

It’s one of the most popular choices forshade gardens, although many hosta varieties can tolerate full sun.

These plants make themselves at home in containers, in the garden andpaired with companion plants.

Hosta plants and flower garden lining front porch near steps

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Popular companion plants for hostas include hydrangeas and azaleas.

Be sure to plant them towards the front of your bed or border so they can be seen.

Get a Cohesive Look With Solid Colors

The color range of hosta foliage is truly astounding.

Blue leafed hosta alongside ferns and variegated hostas in a garden at sunset

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Solid colors include light to dark greens, blue, yellow-green, gold, and even white-leafed varieties.

Some gold varieties have red stems, including ‘Lipstick Blonde’ and ‘Fire Island."

Hosta flowers also sometimes come in attractive colors: ‘Aphrodite’ has large, fragrant double white flowers.

hosta with blue-green leaves and pale lavender flowers

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Add Companion Plants

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Companion plants can provide wonderful colors and textures alongside hostas.

For annuals, try impatiens, dusty miller, coleus, vinca vine and strawberry begonias.

For large patches of creamy white coloring try ‘Liberty’, ‘Patriot’, or ‘Amazone’.

Large blue hosta in front of various yellow-green garden plants

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It mixes well with the shapes and textures of the ferns, perennial geraniums, and alliums nearby.

In a large hosta planting, a mix of leaf shapes adds interesting visual texture.

For rippled leaf edges, try ‘Wiggles and Squiggles’ or ‘Neptune.’

Hosta garden with heucheras, impatiens and ferns

@paintedleafhostagarden/ Instagram

Stems can be short or long.

It’s easy to experiment with placement because hostas are robust enough to dig up (carefully!)

and replant even during the height of the growing season.

Assorted variegated hostas and brunnera plant in garden

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Try Different Textures

Hosta leaves have a wide range of textures.

This texture affects the way the hosta reflects sunlight (or moonlight!)

or how it glistens after a rain shower.

Garden border with blue heart shaped hosta and alliums

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The term substance is often used to describe hosta varieties which have a somewhat thicker leaf than others.

This thickness can be found in smooth or corrugated leaves and it provides resistance to slugs.

Achieve Balanced Design

Once you start planting hostas, it can be hard to stop!

Pale bluish green hosta spilling over raised bed

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For a visually pleasing look, incorporate different types of hostas into your garden.

As long as you give the roots enough space to spread, the plant will thrive.

you could group potted hostas of different varieties together or add in other leafy plants for texture variation.

Several hostas planted near a pale blue evergreen

@paintedleafhostagarden/ Instagram

Incorporating pots of different heights, colors, and textures will create an eclectic look.

Especially in the case ofvariegated hostaplants, the eye-catching leaves offer lots of curb appeal.

Plant them in containers or beds that border the space.

Mixed hosta garden with deep purple heuchera

@paintedleafhostagarden/ Instagram

Tips for Growing Hostas

There are a few things to consider when choosing and growing hostas.

Hostas will not typically multiply on their own.

You should divide sections from your plant to help foster spread, dividing from the root ball each time.

Hostas in pots in a garden

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Hostas along a front pathway

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Small pond with hostas surrounding it

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