One of the most versatile and easy-to-grow perennials, hostas offer nearly endless design possibilities in the landscape
Anyone who has created a shade garden knows the growing challenges that shade can present. Hostas, which are grown primarily for their decorative foliage, are one of the most fool-proof plants for shady areas. Also known as plantain lily, these reliable long-lived perennials come in a wide range of colors, patterns, textures, shapes and sizes, performing well in most growing zones.
Hostas complement many other shade-tolerant plants, whether used as a background plant or assuming a starring role. They make an invaluable addition to beds, mixed borders, woodland settings, containers, foundation and mass plantings. With hundreds of varieties to choose from, some gardeners will even design an entire shade border using nothing but hostas.
Here are some hosta garden design ideas, along with basic principles to consider, to get you started.
Hostas are gorgeous foliage plants that add vibrant pops of color and texture to shady garden beds, But did you know these shade lovers also grow beautifully when planted in containers?
Pictures of potted hostas showcase how lush and happy these plants can be when given the right care and environment in pots. If you have a shaded patio, balcony or deck that needs some ornamental greenery planting hostas in pots is a fantastic idea.
Why Grow Hostas in Pots?
There are several great reasons to try container growing your hostas
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Convenience – Pots are mobile so you can move hostas around your yard or patio to optimize sunlight and arrange decorative displays. Hostas can be positioned in prime spots through the seasons.
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Size control – Regular division helps contain fast growing hosta varieties. Pot restraints prevent them from overtaking a garden bed.
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Slug protection – Elevated pots can protect hostas from slug and snail damage.
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Design flexibility – It’s easy to change a container garden by swapping plants. Hostas mix nicely with other potted plants.
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Overwintering – Pots make it simpler to protect hostas from extreme winter cold by moving them to a sheltered location.
Best Hostas for Growing in Containers
While all hostas can grow in pots, some compact varieties are particularly well suited:
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Mini hostas – Dwarf cultivars under 1 foot wide, like ‘Mouse Ears’, are ideal for small pots.
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Slow growing – Larger hostas that spread slowly avoid outgrowing pots too quickly.
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Sun tolerant – Varieties like ‘Sum and Substance’ and ‘Stained Glass’ handle more light exposure.
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Heat tolerant – ‘Blue Cadet’, ‘Blue Mouse Ears’, and ‘Crispula’ resist dry pots.
Getting Started with Potted Hostas
Follow these tips to get your container hostas off to the best start:
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Pick pots at least 12 inches deep and wide for mature plants. Go much larger for giant varieties.
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Ensure containers have drainage holes to prevent soggy soil. Add gravel at the base for extra drainage.
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Use a quality potting mix, not garden soil. Hostas need lightweight, fast draining medium.
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Mix in slow release fertilizer at planting time. Feed with liquid fertilizer monthly during growth.
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Set pots in a spot with morning sun and afternoon shade. Dappled light is ideal.
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Water whenever the top inch of soil dries out. Hostas are prone to crown rot if overwatered.
Caring for Hostas Growing in Pots
A few simple maintenance practices keep potted hostas healthy:
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Water thoroughly when the soil begins to dry out. Hostas need consistent moisture.
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Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly during the growing season.
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Remove spent flowers and damaged foliage to encourage new growth.
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Watch for slugs and snails. Remove any pests found on plants.
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Repot when roots fill containers. Divide congested clumps in early spring or fall.
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Move pots to a protected spot for winter or bury in leaf mulch once they die back after frost.
Beautiful Hosta Container Design Ideas
The wide variety of hosta forms, colors, and sizes open up endless design possibilities:
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Combine mini hostas in a hypertufa trough for a lush, tropical look.
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Use tall, vase-shaped hostas as thriller plants in large mixed containers.
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Underplant large hostas with creeping plants like ivy and dichondra.
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Create soothing all green container gardens with several hosta varieties.
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Accent hostas with pots of bright flowering annuals like begonias.
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Display stunning specimen hostas solo in simple ceramic or metal planters.
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Mix hostas with ferns, impatiens, and other shade perennials in a window box.
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Nestle hostas among boulders in a mini rock garden container design.
Satisfying Shade Gardening in Pots
If you have a shady porch, balcony, or deck with no garden beds, growing hostas in containers opens up gorgeous foliage options. With smart variety selections and proper care to meet their needs, hostas thrive beautifully in pots.
The pictures of potted hostas in this article showcase just how lush and colorful these shade garden favorites can be when grown as container plants. Hostas are an easy way to add vibrant texture and contrasts to small outdoor living spaces.
HOSTA GARDEN DESIGN IDEAS
1. Plant Hostas in ContainersShowcase a single specimen in a decorative container and display in a prominent shady spot. Place the container on a deck or patio, use as a lawn accent, as a welcoming entryway specimen, or a focal point at the end of a pathway. Since plants in containers dry out more quickly than those in the ground, check moisture levels frequently during hot spells. Shadowland® Diamond Lake is a larger variety, with thick corrugated blue-green leaves that make a bold statement in the garden. |
2. Combine With Other Woodland PlantsWhen gardening with hostas in a woodland setting, combine with other shade lovers. Include trees, shrubs and perennials with foliage in different sizes, colors and shapes, as well as flowers that bloom at different times. This engaging shade border features Shadowland® ‘Waterslide hosta, Let’s Dance® Rave® reblooming hydrangea, Primo® ‘Black Pearl’ coral bells, and Primo® Pistachio Ambrosia coral bells. |
3. Group Potted Hostas on a PatioAdd elegance to a shaded patio by planting hostas in containers or as edging. For months of color, choose companion plants with different colored foliage and flowers. The hostas growing on this patio include Shadowland® ‘Hudson Bay’, ‘Autumn Frost’, and ‘Coast to Coast’, plus varieties of coleus, sedum, coral bells, foamy bells and begonia. |
4. Create a Focal Point with a Large HostaFeature a large hosta specimen in an island bed or underneath a shade tree. Hostas come in many foliage colors, including shades of green, blue, blue-green, chartreuse, and gold. In this serene backyard, the fine green leaves of ferns provide a contrasting backdrop to showcase the blue-green textured foliage of Shadowland® Empress Wu. Other hostas with chartreuse and variegated foliage add pops of bright color for additional contrast. |
5. Plant a Row of Hostas as a Bold BackgroundMass a medium to large hosta variety at the rear of a woodland border as a background plant. Here, the bold variegation and large puckered foliage of Shadowland® ‘Seducer’ provides a stunning backdrop to the colorful hues of Heart to Heart® ‘Raspberry Moon’ caladium, Heart to Heart® ‘Scarlet Flame’ caladium, and Catalina® Midnight Blue wishbone flower. |
6. Brighten Deep Shade with Variegated or Gold TypesLighten up a deeply shaded fence line with variegated or gold foliaged hostas and other brightly colored perennials. Mass 3 to 5 varieties of the same plant together so the design doesn’t become too busy. Use tall varieties in the back, with short plants at the front. This spacious backyard shade border is planted with Shadowland® ‘Coast to Coast’, ‘Hudson Bay’, ‘Seducer’, and ‘Wheee’ hostas, along with Dolce® ‘Wildberry’ coral bells, and Fun and Games® ‘Eye Spy’ foamy bells. |
7. Edge a Path or BorderUse a small to medium-sized hosta such as Shadowland® ‘Coast to Coast’ as pathway or border edging. Mix in other hostas and shade perennials with contrasting colors, foliage patterns and shapes to create depth and drama. Add neutral-colored green plants such as ferns and vinca to help tie it all together. |
8. Contrast Foliage Colors in PlantersGroup containers together on a patio, deck or porch for a more impressive display. Use hostas with gold or creamy white variegated foliage as punctuation marks against serene green or chartreuse foliage to make the hostas stand out more. This artful arrangement includes Shadowland® ‘Autumn Frost’ and ‘Coast to Coast’ hostas, Proven Accents® Sweet Caroline Bewitched Green With Envy™ sweet potato vine, Colorblaze® Lime Time® coleus, and Lemon Coral® sedum. |
9. Soften the Edge of a Water FeatureAdorn the edge of a pond, pool, or stream with hostas and other shade lovers. Use a mix of green, silver, variegated and colored foliage, as well as white flowers to illuminate deeply shaded spots. This pond rimmed with rocks is softened with shade-loving perennials, annuals, tropicals and groundcovers. Plants include Shadowland® ‘Wheee!’ hosta, wormwood, dichondra, euphorbia and sedum. The bold tropical foliage of elephant’s ears and caladium add pops of color and texture. |
10. Mass for a Mosaic of ColorsMass different hosta varieties in shade gardens or along a slope for a mosaic of color. For a captivating display, use varieties with different sizes, leaf color, shapes, textures, and variegated patterns. This hosta planting includes the large bold leaves of Shadowland® ‘Empress Wu’ in the background and the small variegated crinkled leaves of Shadowland® ‘Wheee’, which is massed in the foreground. Hostas have the added benefit of flowers that bloom in summer, with some varieties being fragrant. |
How To Grow Hostas In Containers
FAQ
Do hostas grow well in containers?
Small varieties of hostas work excellent in containers. Whirlwind works great, but there are other varieties as well.
What does Epsom salt do for hostas?
Epsom Salt is full of magnesium. It will give your hostas a great boost if applied to the ground or the leaves.
How many hostas to plant together in pots?
Design tips. Mass 3 to 5 plants of the same hosta variety for greater visual impact. Don’t combine too many different variegated hostas together, which can make the design feel chaotic. Do mass a single white variegated or other patterned variety, or surround a single variegated specimen with solid colors.
What not to plant next to hostas?
While shade is important for your hostas, do not plant your hostas under trees whose roots will compete directly with the roots of your hostas. For instance, beeches (Fagus), birches (Betula), cherries (Prunus), large maples (Acer), poplars (Populus), and willows (Salix) should be avoided.