Hosta
flower
The most popular shade perennial. Raised beds under trees are ideal — excellent drainage prevents crown rot. Slugs are the main pest; use iron phosphate bait. Young shoots in spring are edible (like asparagus). Divide in spring or fall every 4–5 years.
At a glance
- USDA Zones
- 3–9
- Sun
- Part shade
- Water
- Medium — water when top inch of soil is dry
- Soil
- Loam
- pH
- Acidic, neutral
- Spacing
- 24 in. between plants
- Space needed
- A 2×2 ft block of the bed
Planting & harvest windows
Northern Hemisphere timing. Adjust ±4–6 weeks based on your last/first frost dates.
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Harvest |
Plant Harvest
Good companions
Recommended varieties
- Sum and Substancestart
Giant gold-green hosta — leaves up to 20 inches across.
- Halcyonstart
Medium blue-gray with slug resistance — classic and elegant.
- Junestart
Gold center with blue-green margins — one of the most awarded hostas.
- Patriotstart
Dark green with wide white margins — bold contrast.
Add Hosta to your raised bed — the planner handles spacing and companion warnings automatically.
Open the planner →