Hostas are highly collectible and offer endless choices for the shade garden. There are hundreds of different cultivars in different colors, sizes, shapes, and textures.
Leaves can be green, blue, yellow, or chartreuse, and many cultivars feature variegated margins in yellow, white, chartreuse, green, blue, and many shades in between. Leaves can also be streaked or mottled, and some cultivars will have contrasting petioles (leaf stalks) in reds or purples. Depending on cultivar, sizes range from a few inches tall to over 3 feet. Leaves can be smooth, puckered, wavy, or covered in a dusty powder (pruinose).
All this diversity makes for a lot of plants to collect. Below are some of the species and cultivars to look for the next time you are in the garden center.
Genus Information | Notable Species | Notable Cultivars | More Information
The Genus Hosta
The genus, Hosta, is comprised of about 42 species native to China, Japan, Korea, and eastern Russia. The genus name was assigned to this group of plants in 1812 and given to honor Austrian botanist Nicholas Thomas Host. Shortly after, in 1817, the genus was renamed as it was believed the Hosta name was invalid. The "new" name was Funkia in honor of botanist Heinrich Christian Funk. In 1905, after further review, the Hosta name was reinstated by the International Botanical Congress.
The former name of Funkia is still used as a common name in some areas, since it was the genus name for over 80 years. Plantain lily is also a common name occasionally used, as the leaves are plantain-like and the flowers are lily-like.
Nearly all hostas grown in the garden result from dozens of crosses between several different species. Because of these abundant crosses and frequent hybridizations, nearly all cultivars are simply referred to by the genus name, and no species name is noted.
Notable Species
While the species are not typically grown in the garden, they are the basis for the many cultivars found in the landscape today.
| Species | Native Range | Leaves | Flower Color | Size HxW (in) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H. capitata | Japan, Korea | green, deeply viened | white | 12-18x9 | |
| H. cathayana | China | glossy, dark green, lance-shaped, wavy margin | purple-violet | 12-24x12-18 | |
| H. clausa | Korea, Manchuria, eastern Russia | medium to dark green, glossy, lance-shaped | dark purple | 12-30x12-18 | sterile triploid plant that does not produce seed |
| H. densa | Japan | dark green, closely ribbed veins, larger ovate-shaped | white with purple tinged base | 18-24x18-24 | |
| H. hypoleuca | Japan | medium green, broader, light color leaf back | lavender | 12-24x36-48 | native to damp cliffs, and rocky ledges |
| H. kiyosumiensis | Japan | ovate, light green, wavy margins with very vine teetch | white | 12-18x9 | |
| H. lancifolia | garden origin | medium green, glossy green, light green under, lance-shaped, wavy margins | violet | 9-12x12-18 | somewhat stoloniferous; sometimes listed as a culitvar instead of a species |
| H. longipes | Japan | oval, glossy, dark green, deep-veined | lavender | 9-12x6-9 | |
| H. longissima | Japan | narrow, strap-shaped, dark green, glossy | lavender | 3-6x9-12 | tolerates boggy conditions |
| H. minor | Korea | lance-shaped leaves, bright green, wavy edge | dark lavender | 6-8x5 | |
| H. plantaginea | China | round, heart-shaped, glossy, large | white | 12-18x18-24 | very fragrant flowers |
| H. sieboldiana | Japan | large, thick, puckered, wide-oval-shaped, prominent veins | white | 18-24x48-60 | leaves often have bluish undertones, especially in spring |
| H. ventricosa | China, North Korea | large, broad heart-shaped, shiny, prominent veins, wavy margins | purple-violet | 24-36x24-36 | |
| H. venusta | Korea, Japan | smaller, heart-shaped, medium green | purple | 3-6x9-12 |
Notable Cultivars
With thousands of cultivars, it can be difficult to determine which to list here. The following cultivars are popular sellers, frequently found in garden centers. Many of these cultivars have also been recognized by the American Hosta Society, the American Hosta Growers Association, the Royal Horticulture Society, and other organizations as superior cultivars.
The cultivars listed below are organized by size. The American Hosta Society classifies hostas by leaf size in square inches (leaf length×leaf width).
- Miniature Leaved <6 square inches
- Small Leaved 6 to <30 square inches
- Medium Leaved 30 to <64 square inches
- Large Leaved 64 to < 120 square inches
- Giant Leaved 120 or greater square inches
Miniature Leaved
.
| Cultivar | Height (in) | Width (in) | Leaf | Flower Color | Year Introduced |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Popo | 5 | 9 | 1.75in long; 1.5in wide; slightly blue green; dull on top and underneath; with rounded base | lavender | 1993 |
| Pandora's Box | 1.75 | 5.5 | 2in long; 1.5in wide; creamy white with .75in wide, slightly blue-green, margins; dull on top and underneath; with flat base | purple | 1996 |
| Lemon Lime | 5 | 7 | 3in long; 1in wide; chartreuse-gold | light purple | 1977 |
| Cookie Crumbs | 5 | 16 | 2.25in long; 1.5in wide; medium green with .1in wide, pure white, slightly rippled margins; dull on top; slightly shiny underneath; ovate with rounded base; lightly wavy | pale lavender | 2002 |
| Mini Skirt | 7 | 14 | 2in long; 1.75in wide; slightly blue-green with .5 to .75in wide, creamy white, margins; dull on top; glaucous bloom underneath; broadly ovate with rounded base; intensely wavy | lavender | 2013 |
| Curly Fries | 5 | 16 | 5.5in long; .75in wide; greenish yellow with heavily rippled margins; slightly shiny on top; glaucous bloom underneath; lance with tapered base; moderately folded, intensely wavy | medium lavender | 2008 |
| Blue Mouse Ears | 5 | 9 | 2.8in long; 2in wide; medium blue green; dull on top; glaucous bloom underneath; with cordate base | pale lavender | 2000 |
| Frosted Mouse Ears | 7 | 18 | 2.5in long; 2.25in wide; blue-green with .25in wide, creamy white, flat margins; glaucous bloom on top and underneath; nearly round with cordate base; lightly cupped | pale purple | 2006 |
Small Leaved
| Cultivar | Height (in) | Width (in) | Leaf | Flower Color | Year Introduced |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Tiara | 5 | 12 | 3in long; 2.25in wide; green chartreuse and white margins | medium lavender | 1977 |
| Baby Bunting | 10 | 15 | 2.75in long; 2.5in wide; blue | pale lavender | 1982 |
| Cracker Crumbs | 6 | 12 | 3.5in long; 2in lwide; yellow with .03 to .06in wide, dark green, slightly rippled margins; very shiny on top and underneath; ovate with rounded base; lightly wavy | medium lavender | 2002 |
| Halcyon | 21 | 23 | 4in long; 3in wide; blue | pale lavender | 1988 |
| Ginko Craig | 4 | 10 | 6.25in long; 2.25in wide; dark green with white margins | medium purple | 1986 |
| Hadspen Blue | 8 | 10 | 5in long; 3in wide; blue; puckered leaf surface | white | 1976 |
| Praying Hands | 14 | 16 | 7in long; 2.25in wide; dark green with .6in wide, yellow gold heavy rippled margins; oriented nearly vertical; with tapered base | pale lavender | 1996 |
| Gay Feather | 14 | 12 | 7in long; 2.5in wide; creamy white with .5in wide, dark green | purple | 1983 |
| June | 15 | 20 | 6in long; 3.5in wide; light yellow with dark blue green margins | medium violet | 1991 |
| Rainbow's End | 11 | 21 | 6in long; 4in wide; yellow to creamy white with .25 to 1.25in wide margin in shades of medium and dark green; dull on top; slightly shiny underneath; elliptic with rounded base; flat | pale lavender | 2005 |
| Minuteman | 12 | 24 | 6in long; 4in wide;dark green with .75in wide, creamy white, smooth margins; slightly shiny on top; dull underneath; with rounded base | pale lavender | 1994 |
| Island Breeze | 12 | 28 | 6inlong; 4in wide; greenish yellow with .625 to 1.25in wide medium green, flat margins; dull on top and underneath | medium lavender | 2014 |
| Fire and Ice | 16 | 24 | 6in long; 4in wide; pure white with 1in wide, dark green margins; slightly shiny on top and underneath; with rounded base | pale lavender | 1999 |
| Night Before Christmas | 18 | 30 | 8in long; 3in wide; creamy white with .75in wide, medium green, smooth margins; slightly shiny on top; dull underneath; with rounded base | pale lavender | 2000 |
| Autumn Frost | 20 | 28 | 6in long; 4in wide; intensely blue-green with .75in wide, yellow, flat margins; glaucous bloom on top and underneath; broadly ovate with cordate base; flat | pale lavender | 2009 |
| Striptease | 20 | 36 | 6in long; 4in wide; chartreuse with dark green margins; satiny on top; with cordate base | pale violet | 1991 |
| Touch of Class | 7 | 16 | 5.5in long; 4.5in wide; yellow with 1.5in wide intensely blue-green margins; glaucous bloom on top and underneath; with cordate base | pale lavender | 1999 |
| Maui Buttercups | 10 | 14 | 5in long; 5inwide; medium yellow, puckered leaf surface; cup shaped | white | 1991 |
| Rainforest Sunrise | 10 | 16 | 5in long; 5in wide; golden yellow with .5in wide, medium green, flat margins; dull on top and underneath; nearly round deeply cupped and intensely corrugated | medium lavender | 2003 |
| Love Pat | 14 | 16 | 5in long; 5in wide; intensely blue | white | 1978 |
| Fragrant Bouquet | 18 | 26 | 6in long; 4.3in wide; apple green streaked with yellow and white margins | white | 1982 |
| Great Expectations | 22 | 33 | 6in long; 4.5in wide; chartreuse with dark green margins | white | 1988 |
| Janet | 15 | 24 | 7in long; 4in wide;chartreuse with green margins | white | 1981 |
| Paul's Glory | 17 | 26 | 6.3in long; 4.5in wide; 1yellow with blue green margins | lavender | 1987 |
| Fire Island | 14 | 34 | 6.5in long; 4.5in wide; greenish yellow with bright red petioles; slightly shiny on top; dull underneath | medium lavender | 1998 |
Medium Leaved
| Cultivar | Height (in) | Width (in) | Leaf | Flower Color | Year Introduced |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revolution | 18 | 24 | 7.5in long; 4in wide; creamy white and green speckled with dark green margins; slightly shiny on top; with rounded base | medium lavender | 2000 |
| So Sweet | 14 | 22 | 7in long; 4.5in wide; green with white margins | white | 1986 |
| Patriot | 12 | 30 | 7in long; 5in wide; dark green with 1in wide, white margins; glossy on top | medium violet | 1991 |
| Flamboyant | 14 | 18 | 7in long; 5in wide; streaked green, cream out to margins | 1978 | |
| Snake Eyes | 15 | 36 | 7in long; 5in wide; light green with 1.5 to 2in wide, medium green (with white line between center), flat margins; dull on top; glaucous bloom underneath; ovate with rounded base; tip twisted | medium lavender | 2005 |
| First Frost | 16 | 36 | 7in long; 5in wide; intensely blue green with .4 to .5in wide, yellow becoming white, flat margins; glaucous bloom on top and underneath; broadly ovate with cordate base; moderately flat | pale lavender | 2002 |
| One Man's Treasure | 14 | 24 | 6.5in long; 5.5in wide; dark green with slightly rippled margins and burgundy-spotted petioles; very shiny on top; slightly shiny underneath; with cordate base | medium lavender | 1999 |
| Shade Fanfare | 14 | 22 | 7.5in long; 5in wide; green with white margins | light lavender | 1986 |
| Lakeside Paisley Print | 10 | 30 | 6.5in long; 6in wide; green cream markings shoot out from petiole; green, slightly rippled margins; slightly shiny on top; dull underneath; broadly ovate with rounded base; moderately cupped, moderately wavy | pale lavender | 2006 |
| Fortunei Aureomarginata | 16 | 24 | 8in long; 5in wide; deep green to olive green with thin golden yellow margin | lavender | 1987 |
| Gold Standard | 20 | 36 | 8in long; 5in wide; creamy yellow with variable width dark green margins | pinkish lavender | 1976 |
| Orange Marmalade | 18 | 42 | 7.5in long; 5.5in wide; yellow with .5in wide, medium blue-green, flat margins; glaucous bloom on top and underneath; ovate with rounded base; lightly corrugated | pale lavender | 2002 |
| Blue Shadows | 14 | 24 | 7in long; 6in wide; dull, gold center, blue green margins; with cordate base | white | 1980 |
| Moonlight | 12 | 18 | 9in long; 5in wide; green gold with white margins | pale lavender | 1977 |
| Antioch | 18 | 26 | 10in long; 4.5in wide; light green with creamy white margins | pale lavender | 1979 |
| August Moon | 16 | 38 | 7in long; 6.75in wide; yellow gold with slightly rippled margins; dull on top; dull underneath; with rounded base | lavender | 1996 |
| Guacamole | 10 | 18 | 8in long; 6in wide;yellow gold with .75in wide, dark green, smooth margins; very shiny on top and underneath; with rounded base | white | 1994 |
| Piedmont Gold | 24 | 36 | 8in long; 6in wide; deep yellow | pale lavender | 1982 |
| Wide Brim | 18 | 45 | 8.5in long; 6in wide; medium to dark green with 1 to 2in wide yellow turns creamy white, wavy margins; moderately corrugated | pale lavender | 1979 |
| Whirlwind | 19 | 40 | 8in long; 6.5in wide; white with green veining with 1.5 to 2.5in wide dark green, flat margins; slightly shiny on top; thin glaucous bloom underneath; lightly folded and wavy, moderately corrugated, some leaves have elongated twisted tips. | lavender | 2017 |
| Francee | 14 | 36 | 9in long; 6in wide; dark green with white margins | lavender | 1986 |
| World Cup | 19 | 39 | 9in long; 6in lwide; lgolden yellow slightly rippled; glaucous bloom on top and underneath; deeply cupped, moderately wavy, deeply corrugated | very pale purple | 2006 |
| Captain Kirk | 20 | 36 | 8in long; 7in wide; pale yellow with 3in wide, dark green margins | pale lavender | 1999 |
| On Stage | 14 | 24 | 10in long; 6in wide; white with green margins | lavender | 1986 |
| Abiqua Drinking Gourd | 16 | 14 | 7.5in long; 8.25in wide; dark blue; glaucous bloom on top, cup shaped | white | 1989 |
| Sharp Dressed Man | 15 | 36 | 10.5in long; 6in wide; pure white with 1.5 to 2in wide medium green, flat margins; dull on top; glaucous bloom underneath; ovate with cordate base; moderately folded | pale lavender | 2005 |
| Spilt Milk | 20 | 36 | 9in long; 7in wide; slightly blue green streaked with white; glaucous bloom on top and underneath; with cordate base | white | 1999 |
| Royal Standard | 26 | 63 | 9in long; 7in wide; medium green with slight undulations in margins; glossy sheen on top | white | 1986 |
Large Leaved
| Cultivar | Height (in) | Width (in) | Leaf | Flower Color | Year Introduced |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas Tree | 9 | 18 | 11in long; 6in wide;green with yellow margins | lavender | 1982 |
| Fortunei Albopicta | 26 | 45 | 11in long; 6in wide; golden yellow with dark green margins | lavender | 1987 |
| Stained Glass | 15 | 32 | 10.5in long; 7in wide; golden yellow with 2in wide, dark green margins; dull on top and underneath; with cordate base | white | 1999 |
| Sun Power | 24 | 36 | 10in long; 7.5in wide; light chartreuse with large undulations along margins | light lavender | 1986 |
| Cathedral Windows | 19 | 34 | 10in long; 9in wide; yellow with 2 to 4in wide, green, flat margins; slightly shiny on top; glaucous bloom underneath; broadly ovate with cordate base; domed | white | 2005 |
| Elegans | 20 | 40 | 10in loong; 9in wide; bluish grey green; irregularly undulate margins; glaucous, very pruinose on top; broadly ovate with cordate and abrupt tip base | white | 1987 |
| Dancing Queen | 18 | 30 | 13in long; 7in wide; yellow with pale yellow margins | pale lavender | 2009 |
| Neptune | 24 | 47 | 13in long; 7in wide; medium blue-green with rippled margins; glaucous bloom on top and underneath; ovate with flat base; lightly wavy | pale lavender | 2006 |
| Aureomarginata | 18 | 28 | 12in long; 8in wide; dark emerald green, yellow margins | purple | 1986 |
| Regal Splendor | 38 | 36 | 14in long; 7in wide; bluish gray with creamy white to creamy yellow margins | light lavender | 1987 |
| Paradigm | 46 | 20 | 11in long; 9in wide; light green with 1.75in wide, dark green margins; slightly shiny on top; glaucous bloom underneath; with cordate base | white | 1999 |
| Earth Angel | 16 | 39 | 12in long; 9inwide; slightly blue green with .5 to 1in wide, creamy white, blue-gray where margin overlaps center, flat margins; dull on top; glaucous bloom underneath; broadly ovate with cordate base; flat | pale lavender | 2002 |
| Seducer | 26 | 36 | 12in long; 9in wide; dark green with .75 to 1in wide, golden yellow, slightly rippled margins; slightly shiny on top; dull underneath; broadly ovate with cordate base; moderately wavy and lightly corrugated | white | 2004 |
| Brother Stefan | 22 | 35 | 11in long; 10in wide; yellow with .5 to 3in wide, medium green, slightly rippled margins; dull on top; glaucous bloom underneath; with cordate base | white | 1998 |
| Sagae | 20 | 26 | 12.5in long; 9.5in wide; dull yellow green with bright pale yellow, irregular undulating margins; glaucous green underneath | white | 1996 |
Giant Leaved
| Cultivar | Height (in) | Width (in) | Leaf | Flower Color | Year Introduced |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frances Williams | 18 | 36 | 12in long; 10in wide; blue green with chartreuse to yellow margins | white | 1986 |
| Krossa Regal | 36 | 36 | 15in long; 8in wide; blue gray large undulations on margin | lavender | 1980 |
| Clear Fork River Valley | 30 | 56 | 11in long; 11in wide; intensely dark blue-green; glaucous bloom on top and underneath; nearly round with cordate base; lightly cupped, lightly wavy, intensely corrugated | white | 2007 |
| Liberty | 39 | 39 | 12.6in long; 9.8inwide; medium blue green with 2.5in wide, golden yellow, flat margins; glaucous bloom on top and underneath; with rounded base | pale lavender | 2000 |
| Niagara Falls | 20 | 36 | 15in long; 9in wide; dark green with deep undulations along margins; glaucous bloom on top; with cordate base | pale violet | 1991 |
| Leading Lady | 23 | 40 | 14in long; 10in wide; dark green with .75in wide, gold, slightly rippled margins; slightly shiny on top and underneath; with cordate base | light lavender | 1995 |
| Victory | 30 | 70 | 14in long; 10in wide; medium green with 1in wide creamy yellow, flat margins; very shiny on top and underneath; broadly ovate with cordate base | white | 2003 |
| Blue Umbrellas | 36 | 54 | 14in long; 10in wide; blue | white | 1978 |
| Blue Angel | 36 | 48 | 18in long; 12in wide; blue with several undulations along margins | white | 1986 |
| Sum and Substance | 36 | 60 | 18in long; 15in wide; chartreuse gold; waxy sheen on top; with cordate base | white | 1980 |
| Empress Wu | 50 | 108 | 28in long; 25in wide; dark green; slightly shiny on top; glaucous bloom underneath; broadly ovate with cordate base; moderately flat | pale lavender | 2008 |
More Information
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