How to Use Hostas in Your Landscape

Hostas may have been cultivated for centuries, but our love affair with these plants started when we turned to the darkest areas of our yard: beds in our house’s shadow and those tucked under tall trees. We needed plants that would thrive in low-light conditions while also creating a lush cover and visual interest. Hostas fit the bill and then some.

Although slugs and snails adore them, we’ve found hostas to be tolerant of assault and well worth the space. We’re not alone. Hostas are a gardening favorite thanks to their stalwart growth habits, long lasting foliage, and wide growing zone preferences (USDA zones 3 to 9). Read on to learn more about using these hardworking plants in your landscape.

What are hostas?

Hostas are hardy, low-maintenance perennials loved for their lush foliage and suitability in shaded gardens. Native to Asia, these plants come in a wide range of sizes, shapes, and colors. With their broad leaves and graceful mounding habit, there’s nothing quite like hostas to add texture, color and structure to garden beds, borders and containers.

One of the biggest reasons gardeners love hostas is their ability to thrive in low-light conditions where many other plants struggle. We have found that hostas, once planted, need little maintenance and outperform most of our other shade plants many times over. Given that they are also adaptable to different soil types, we consider them one of the most reliable plants to brighten up darker corners.

Understanding hosta basics

Hostas are beloved for their wide range of forms, colors, and textures, making them one of the most versatile plants in landscape design. To use them effectively, it helps to understand a few key characteristics that set different varieties apart.

Size

Hostas come in a huge range of sizes, from tiny miniatures just a few inches tall to massive varieties that can spread four to five feet across and reach four feet high. Miniature hostas like ‘Blue Mouse Ears’ are perfect for edging pathways or filling in tight spaces. Larger or giant hostas such as ‘Empress Wu’ make dramatic focal points or provide lush ground cover in wide beds. To choose the right size for your space, consider the plant’s mature size and ensure the plant won’t overcrowd surrounding growth or look lost in a large garden area.

Color and pattern

While traditional hostas are green, today’s selections include rich blues, bright golds, creamy whites, and intricate variegations. Blue-tinged hostas need adequate shade to retain their unique color. Variegated hostas with white, yellow or gold markings add brightness to shady areas but need more light to maintain vivid patterns. Mixing colors in a single bed creates striking contrasts and helps define different sections of your garden.

Leaf texture and form

Hosta leaves vary widely in texture. Some are smooth and shiny, while others are thick, ribbed, or puckered. Thicker, textured leaves are more resistant to common pests like slugs, but even smooth leaves can usually recover from the nibbling that occurs as they emerge in early spring. Those with large, broad leaves catch and reflect light beautifully, adding movement and softness to garden compositions.

Light preferences

Although hostas are typically considered shade plants, their tolerance varies. As noted above, blue and dark green varieties perform best in deeper shade, while gold and variegated varieties appreciate extra light to maintain vibrant color. All hostas need some light, preferably dappled light in the morning, but too much sun can scorch hosta leaves, causing brown edges or faded colors. Check the requirements listed on your chosen variety and use a sunlight calculator or an application on your phone to gauge how much sun your garden receives and when. Over the years, we’ve found Sun Seeker particularly helpful for this purpose.

Soil and water needs

Hostas thrive in rich, well-draining soil that holds moisture. While some clay in the soil is fine, be sure not to plant hostas in an area that stays soggy. These plants appreciate consistent watering, especially during dry spells, and aren’t suitable for dry, windy areas with little organic matter. Adding compost or organic matter when planting improves drainage and encourages healthy root growth. We also find mulching around hostas helps retain soil moisture and suppress weeds without crowding the plant base. Keep in mind, however, that mulch can harbor snails and slugs. Apply later in the season for best results.

Landscape design ideas for hostas

Whether you want a lush shade garden or a polished border, hostas can easily fit into almost any garden style. Here are some of our favorite shade garden design ideas.

Layered shade gardens

Looking to build a layered design in shady garden areas? Combine bold hostas like ‘Sum and Substance’ or ‘Blue Angel’ in the back of beds, and place medium and small varieties like ‘June’ or ‘Golden Tiara’ toward the front. This tiered effect creates depth and interest without relying on flowers alone. Adding a few ferns, astilbes, or heucheras among the hostas enhances the rich texture and keeps the garden active throughout the growing season.

Credit: istockphoto.com/erperlstrom

Edging paths and borders

We like using miniature and small hosta varieties as edging plants along walkways, patios or flower bed borders. Varieties like ‘Tiny Tears’ form neat mounds that define pathways while softening hard edges with rounded foliage. The tidy growth habit of mounding hostas keeps garden paths looking well-organized without requiring a lot of maintenance.

Credit: istockphoto.com/Solidago

In containers and patio gardens

Short on space? Hostas are not just for in-ground planting — they thrive in containers too. Plus, using pots or raised planters lets you easily control soil quality and moisture more. You can also move these around to highlight their beauty at different times of year, particularly if on wheels. Choose medium-sized hostas for containers to ensure balanced proportions, and pair them with trailing plants like creeping Jenny or sweet potato vine for a lush, layered effect. Avoid English ivy, which is invasive in many locations.

Credit: istockphoto.com/bigemrg

Planting hostas as focal points

As noted above, large hostas can easily serve as dramatic centerpieces in garden beds or under trees. Remember ‘Empress Wu’—one of the largest hostas available? This variety makes a bold statement with its towering height and massive leaves. Even mid-sized hostas can become focal points when used strategically in containers or surrounded by contrasting plants with finer textures or brighter colors.

Mixing hostas with other plants

Credit: istockphoto.com/onepony

While hostas are beautiful on their own, they really shine when paired with other shade-loving plants. Here are some of our favorite companion plants for hostas:

• Ferns: Their delicate, feathery fronds contrast with the broad leaves of hostas. Ferns add height and a soft, airy feeling to shady plantings.
• Astilbes: Known for their colorful, plume-like flowers, astilbes add bright pink, red, or white blooms that rise above hosta foliage, creating layers of color and texture.
• Heucheras (coral bells): With vibrant leaf colors ranging from deep purple to lime green, heucheras provide a striking contrast to the greens and blues of hostas. Opt for larger varieties so they don’t get lost beneath hosta foliage.
• Brunnera: Sometimes called “false forget-me-not,” Brunnera offers beautiful heart-shaped leaves (often variegated) and tiny blue flowers in spring, harmonizing nicely with hostas. We love how these brighten up shady spots.
• Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa): This flowing, grassy plant brings movement and a golden or variegated glow to shade gardens, contrasting with hosta’s solid shapes.
• Bleeding hearts (Dicentra): Their delicate, arching stems and heart-shaped flowers add a romantic element to a shady garden alongside hostas. We particularly love how long-lasting the blooms are on bleeding hearts.
• Azaleas: Their upright form, brilliant blooms and oval foliage contrast beautifully with the broad, mounding shape of hostas. Choose from a range of sizes to complement your hosta arrangement.
• Hydrangeas: Large, dramatic flower heads add bold structure and seasonal interest to gardens planted with hostas. Both plants appreciate moist, rich soil and benefit from dappled sunlight.

What about blooms?

While we grow hostas primarily for their striking foliage, these plants also produce delicate, lily-like flowers in summer. Bloom colors range from pure white to pale lavender or purple, usually rising on tall, slender stalks above the leaves. Some varieties, like ‘Royal Standard’ and ‘Guacamole,’ even offer fragrant blooms that attract pollinators.

Final tips

With their many colors, textures and sizes, hostas are a simple way to bring beauty and structure to your landscape. Bold focal points or graceful companions: hostas offer easy, long-lasting charm for gardeners of all experience levels. Here are some final tips for a cohesive look when landscaping with hostas:

• Vary leaf shape and texture (pair smooth hostas with finely cut or grassy plants).
• Combine different shades of green with pops of contrasting foliage or flower color.
• Group plants in odd numbers (3s or 5s) for a more natural, flowing design.
• Pay attention to bloom times and foliage color throughout the seasons to keep interest high even when hostas aren’t flowering.

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