Green Hostas with Striking Purple Flowers: A Stunning Combination for Shady Gardens

Hostas are among the most popular perennials for adding beauty and versatility to shady garden areas. With their wide diversity of leaf shapes sizes and colors, hostas can fit any design need. But while hostas are prized for their foliage, many varieties also produce lovely blooms on tall scapes that rise above the leaves in summer.

If you want to add some punchy color to your hosta collection look for varieties with rich purple flowers that provide gorgeous contrast against the green leaves. This eye-catching color combination is sure to make these hostas the stars of your garden beds, borders and containers.

Why Grow Green Hostas with Vibrant Purple Blooms

Most hostas bear flowers in soft lavender, pale purple, or white that tend to fade into the background. But over the years, hybridizers have developed special hosta cultivars that bloom in deeper, richer purple hues that really grab attention.

These vibrant purple blooms look absolutely striking paired with green hosta foliage. The color contrast makes the flowers seem to glow and pop against the green background.

The rich purple flowers also provide an important nectar source for pollinators like hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees, bringing more wildlife to enjoy. Blossoms in darker shades are especially attractive.

Finally, the right purple provides the perfect accent coloring for the diverse range of available hosta leaf types. Whether you have blue-green, chartreuse, variegated, or even black foliage, purple is a fantastic complement.

Eye-Catching Varieties to Try

If you want to incorporate some purple magic into your hostas, here are some top green varieties to consider that have beautiful rich purple flower scapes:

Purple Sensation – This aptly named variety has rounded, heavily rippled green leaves. Its outstanding characteristic are the deep violet-purple bell-shaped blooms on tall scapes. The gorgeous flowers are unique for hostas.

Roy Klehm – Huge blue-green leaves create a bold specimen plant. Fragrant purple flowers bloom in midsummer on tall scapes above the cascading foliage.

Autumn Frost – A sport of the popular ‘June’ hosta, it has glowing chartreuse leaves with yellow margins that turn creamy white. Pale purple blooms top the foliage in summer.

Blue Angel – One of the largest hostas, it has huge blue-green corrugated leaves. Near-white purple flowers appear on 5-foot scapes above the imposing foliage.

Guacamole – Gold leaves with dark green margins make a perfect backdrop for the purple tubular blossoms on red scapes.

Sugar Plum – A medium variety with light green leaves bearing plump purple blooms that match the foliage well when planted in partial shade.

Patriot – Dark green leaves with pure white margins set off the pale purple flowers beautifully.

Paradigm – Dramatic gold leaves with deep green edges complement the delicate purple blooms perfectly.

Growing and Caring for Green and Purple Hostas

Hostas are among the easiest perennials to grow, perfect for beginner and busy gardeners alike. Here are some tips for success with green hostas that have fabulous purple blooms:

Site – Hostas need a site with partial shade to full shade. Dappled light or morning sun with afternoon shade is ideal. Too much direct sun will scorch the leaves.

Soil – Hostas will tolerate varying soil types but thrive best in evenly moist, rich soil. Incorporate compost or other organic material to improve heavy clay or sandy soils before planting.

Planting – Set out potted hostas or divisions in spring or fall, spacing smaller varieties 12-24 inches apart and larger types 3-4 feet apart. Plant crowns level with the soil.

Watering – Provide at least 1 inch of water per week for the first season to establish plants. Then water established hostas deeply only when the top few inches of soil become dry.

Fertilizing – In spring, work a balanced organic fertilizer like Plant-Tone into the soil around hostas, avoiding high-nitrogen types.

Maintenance – Cut off spent bloom scapes in midsummer. Divide crowded clumps every 3-5 years in early fall. Monitor for slugs and apply bait as needed.

Winter Care – After the first hard frost, cut back hosta leaves and discard any diseased foliage. Mulch plants to protect crowns from temperature extremes.

Designing With Green Hostas and Purple Blooms

Hostas pair beautifully with other shade plants and are endlessly versatile in garden designs. Here are some ideas for showcasing green hostas with fantastic purple flowers:

• Plant in sweeps and drifts in woodland gardens and shady borders. Use the larger purple hostas as dramatic focal points.

• Display smaller purple hostas in patio containers. They add pops of color to shady sitting areas.

• Surround purple hostas with cool-colored plants like ajuga, brunnera, pulmonaria, and lamium.

• Underplant purple hostas with white or pink shade perennials like astilbe, coral bells, and turtlehead.

• Nestle hostas with purple blooms under Japanese maples, birch trees, and dogwoods.

• Use low-growing purple hostas like ‘Blue Mouse Ears’ as edging along paths, patios, or foundations.

• Mass hostas of varying sizes and purple shades together for colorful, textural appeal.

• Highlight purple hostas in rock gardens, cottage gardens, and perennial beds.

Add Vibrant Purple to Your Shade Gardens

If you want to energize the shady areas of your landscape with vibrant pops of color, look no further than hostas with rich purple blooms. Their eye-catching flowers and easy care make them perfect additions fit for any garden space. It’s time to start collecting these beauties to light up your shaded beds, borders, and containers with their gorgeous color combination.