Because Hosta species and cultivars perform best with at least three years of undisturbed growth, they may be the ultimate low-maintenance perennial. There are about 70 species and hundreds of cultivars from which to choose. Particularly striking when they form large clumps or are planted in large drifts, individual plants can be useful in garden settings as well.

For those concerned with Hosta Virus X, you may want to visit the In The Country Garden Site for useful information to answer many of your questions and concerns.

Whether you're looking for plants that might complement all types of Hosta or you have a specific cultivar you want a companion for, you are sure to find lots of ideas below. Be sure to check out the Hosta links at the bottom of the page. You can also visit our own Hosta Garden page to see the cultivars we are growing there.

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The best time and method to propagate plants can be found on our image-intensive PROPAGATION page.

To help your plants grow their best, check out our FERTILIZATION page.

To create your own plant partnerships based on tried and true color theory, check out our GARDEN COLOR page.

To see if a particular plant is on this page press Ctrl+F, type in the name, then click the Find button.

Hosta:  

where:  in varying degrees of shade (the darker the leaf, the shadier the habitat)
with wildflowers:  Dentaria, Claytonia, Erythronium, Hedyotis caerulea (Houstonia)
in shade under shrubs:  Cornus florida, Cornus kousa or Cornus mas
with shade-loving Ornamental Grasses:  Carex spp., Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola'
with shade-loving perennials:. Epimedium, Gentiana, Pulmonaria, Asarum
in shade with:  Phlox divaricata including the cultivar 'Laphamii', Phlox stolonifera, Polygonatum odoratum,
Tiarella cordifolia, Tradescantia x andersoniana
in shade with:  Digitalis grandiflora (synonym D. ambigua) or Digitalis purpurea
with shade-loving types of: Aster such as A. divaricatus
in light shade with:  Bergenia cordifolia, Campanula (low varieties), Dicentra, Tricyrtis hirta
in part shade with:  Iris x germanica, Iris sibirica, Aconitum, Brunnera macrophylla, Galium odoratum,
Lamium maculatum
in dappled shade with:  Aquilegia
in woodland areas with:  Arisaema triphyllum,, Sanguinaria canadensis, Polemonium caeruleum,
Mertensia virginica, Smilacina racemosa
in woodland areas with bulbs:  Scilla hispanica (Endymion hispanicus) - Spanish Bluebells,
Scilla non-scripta - English Bluebells, Scilla sibirica - Siberian Squill
in boggy areas or dappled shade with:  Rodgersia
with other moisture-lovers:  Alchemilla mollis, Astilbe, Primula, including Primula denticulata 'Ronsdorf Mix',
Trollius, Lysimachia clethroides, Uvularia grandiflora
in moist soil with:  red Lobelia cardinalis or blue Lobelia syphilitica
in moist soil with:  Dicentra eximia or Dicentra spectabilis, Heuchera, Ranunculus
in sunny areas with:  Lilium, Lythrum salicaria 'Morden Pink'
for shape contrast with:  Cimicifuga, Hemerocallis, Crocosmia
with ferns:  Matteuccia struthiopteris, Athyrium filix-femina
with spring-flowering bulbs:  Narcissus, Tulipa
with early-blooming plants:  Helleborus
to hide gaps during dormancy of:  Anemone nemorosa, Erythronium
with low-growing plants:  Viola odorata, Houttuynia (variegated Chameleon Plant)
with taller plants:  Anemone hupehensis 'September Charm', Thalictrum aquilegiafolium,
Veronicastrum virginicum (synonym Veronica virginica)
with:  Saxifraga stolonifera, Persicaria bistorta (formerly Polygonum)
with:  Euphorbia epithymoides (synonym E. polychroma), Campanula poscharskyana, Hemerocallis fulva
between:  Dicentra 'Luxuriant' & Heuchera sanguinea
combined with:  Heuchera x 'Chocolate Ruffles', Heuchera 'Ruby Veil', Astilbe & Pulmonaria
behind:  Geranium sanguineum striatum (formerly G. s. lancastriense)

interplanted with:  dwarf Narcissus, Fritillaria meleagris to hide their withering foliage during die-back
with:  Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae (for foliage contrast)
with:  Ligularia dentata or Ligularia stenocephala (L. przewalskii) 'The Rocket'

where:  as bold accents to create drama
with:  Hydrangea

for foliage contrast with:  Astilbe

with:  Anemone blanda
under:  shrubs or trees as ground cover

in shade with:  Dodecatheon meadia
with:  Polypodium virginianum (Polypody Fern)

for shape contrast in front of:  Cimicifuga

with:  Carex glauca

with:  Anthemis tinctoria

with:  Heuchera sanguinea 'Irish Mist' (a red, variegated form)

with:  Campanula portenschlagiana (a spreading groundcover)

in front of:  Cimicifuga racemosa

with:  Geranium clarkei 'Kashmir White'

under:  Cornus controversa 'Variegata'
under:  any Dogwood with green leaves with narrow white margins

note:  the form above is 'Carnival', heavily-textured with crinkled leaves
with:  Hydrangea (Lace Cap)

combined with:  Heuchera americana 'Eco-Magnififolia' & Athyrium nipponicum 'Pictum'

in front of:  Cimicifuga racemosa

in front of:  Allium aflatunense

with:  Alchemilla mollis

behind:  Scabiosa graminifolia 'Pincushion', Scabiosa caucasica including 'Perfecta Alba'
beside:  Solidago 'Golden Shower'

note:  the first Hosta in cultivation in the West, it has the largest flowers of any Hosta
look for cultivars:  'Aphrodite' (double-flowered, 18"x24"), 'Honeybells' (26"x46", pale green foliage)
beside:  Convulvulus sabatius (Synonym: C. mauritanicus)
in front of:  Iris pallida pallida (Synonym: Iris pallida dalmatica)

synonym:  Hosta sieboldiana var. elegans
Rosemary Barrett:  "It has a majestic presence all its own."
where:  dry shade, perfect for large gardens
behind:  Astilbe chinensis 'Pumila'
foliage contrast with:  Alchemilla mollis
in shade with:  Athyrium nipponicum (goeringianum) 'Pictum'
in front of:  Sedum 'Autumn Joy', both in front of Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracillimus'
with:  Iris x germanica (yellow)

in front of:  Hosta 'Sum & Substance'

interplanted with:  Galanthus nivalis (for early bloom)
in front of:  taller ferns

in part shade with:  Adiantum pedatum & Galium odoratum

where:  excellent as a background planting
with:  green and gold-leaved Hosta for emphasis

with:  a golden-variegated Salvia officinalis
with:  blue Penstemon heterophyllus 'True Blue', deep purple Campanula 'Kent Belle'

uses:  as a garden edger
where:  best in light shade
to follow:  spring wildflowers

where:  provide some sun to prevent gold colouration from turning white late in the season
awards:  American Hosta Eunice Fisher Award, Midwest Gold Award
with:  Alchemilla mollis

uses:  perfect as a garden edger
where:  along edge of shady border
with:  ferns, green or gold-leaved plants

note:  one of the most popular blue hostas
where:  as edger in a shady garden
in front of:  Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola'
with:  Astilbe, Cimicifuga, Dicentra, Helleborus, Heuchera including, among others, the cultivar 'Palace Purple'
with:  Tiarella, Primula vulgaris, Liriope, Lamium
combined with:  Helleborus foetidus & Asarum canadense

combined with:  Muscari armeniacum, Tulipa (magenta-red double early), Astilbe x arendsii &
Pachysandra terminalis
where:  under deciduous trees for spring sun and some summer shade

with:  Trillium grandiflorum

in front of:  Campanula persicifolia 'Alba'

see link to image at Mickfield Hostas site below
where:  will take full sun (more sun = brighter leaves)
with:  Alchemilla mollis, Geranium 'Ann Folkard'
with:  Heuchera 'Palace Purple', Lamium maculatum 'Beedham's White' or Campanula persicifolia 'Yellow Leaf'
(chartreuse colour echoes in partial shade)

uses:  groundcover, specimen planting

For valuable information and pictures galore, follow the links below. Bookmark this page first so you can come back to us.

• AMERICAN HOSTA GROWERS ASSOCIATION
• HOSTA LIBRARY
• MICKFIELD HOSTAS

• 1996:  'So Sweet' - small, 14x22", glossy green leaves, wide white margin, will take some sun, near white fragrant flower
• 1997:  'Patriot' - medium, 12x30", deep green leaves with very wide, almost pure white, margin, violet flowers
• 1998:  'Fragrant Bouquet' - large, 18x26", apple green with wide light yellow margins, fragrant white flowers
• 1999:  'Paul's Glory' - large, 17x26", dark blue-green leaves with gold centre, light lavender flowers
• 2000:  'Sagae' - giant, 20x26", upright clump, large blue leaves, yellow margins, light lavender flowers
• 2001:  'June' - medium, 15x20", blue leaves with bright gold center in spring, fading in summer, violet flowers
• 2002:  'Guacamole' - medium-large, 10x18", rounded gold leaves, dark green margins, takes sun, fragrant white flowers
• 2003:  'Regal Splendor' - giant, 38x40", upright clump, large blue leaves, creamy yellow border, pale lavender flowers
• 2004:  'Sum & Substance' - giant, 36x60", satin-gold leaves, massive specimen with white flowers
• 2005:  'Striptease' - large, 20x36", dark green leaf, white strip down center, pale violet flowers
• 2006:  'Stained Glass' - large, 15x32", shiny gold foliage, 2" wide dark green margin, near white fragrant flowers
• 2007:  'Paradigm' - giant, 46x20", shiny gold leaves, blue-green margin, variegation intensifies, near white flowers
• 2008:  'Blue Mouse Ears' - mini, 5x9", rounded cupped blue leaves, pale lavender flowers
• 2009:  'Earth Angel' - giant, blue-green leaves, yellow margins, pale lavender flowers
• 2010:  'First Frost' - medium, 16x36", intensely blue-green leaves, yellow margin turns white, pale lavender flowers

All of our own Gardens By The Bay pages can be accessed by clicking on the links below.

HOME

GARDEN POETRY  |  GARDEN POETRY MUSE

GEORGIAN BAY VIEW

BOTANICAL LATIN - BASICS

COLOR THEORY

THE GARDENS

CORNER GARDEN CONSTRUCTION  |  CORNER GARDEN PLANTING  |  LONG GARDEN

EAST GARDEN  |  HOSTA GARDEN  |  NORTH GARDEN  |  WINTER GARDENS

PLANT PARTNERSHIPS

BLUE PERENNIALS    Aconitum - Geranium  |  Iris - Vinca

BULBS    Allium - Hyacinthus  |  Narcissus only  |  Tulipa only  |  Minor Bulbs

BUTTERFLY MAGNETS    Anaphalis - Hemerocallis  |  Liatris - Veronicastrum
DAYLILIES      Spider & Unusual Form

EDGERS    Arabis - Iris  |  Nepeta - Veronica

FOLIAGE PERENNIALS     Alchemilla - Tanacetum

HOSTA    Hosta - all

HUMMINGBIRD-FRIENDLY PERENNIALS    Alcea - Salvia

ORANGE PERENNIALS    Achillea - Tulipa

ORNAMENTAL GRASSES    Acorus - Imperata |  Miscanthus - Spodiopogon

PINK PERENNIALS    Achillea - Lilium  |  Lychnis - Veronica

PURPLE PERENNIALS    Aconitum - Liatris  |  Polemonium - Veronica

RED PERENNIALS    Achillea - Veronica

SHADE PERENNIALS    Aegopodium - Erythronium  |  Ferns - Polemonium  |  Polygonatum - Vinca

SILVER FOLIAGE PERENNIALS    Achillea - Cerastium    |    Cornus - Limonium    |    Lunaria - Veronica

SIMPLY SPECIAL PERENNIALS    Acanthus - Saxifraga

WHITE PERENNIALS    Achillea - Iris  |  Kalimeris - Yucca

YELLOW PERENNIALS    Achillea - Hypericum  |  Inula - Verbascum

VARIEGATED-FOLIAGE PERENNIALS    Acorus - Erythronium  |  Hakonechloa - Lysimachia  |  Miscanthus - Yucca

PLANT PROFILES

Dianthus 'Tiny Rubies'  |  Geranium  |  Geum coccineum  |  Kerria japonica  |  Knautia macedonica

Paeonia tenuifolia  |  Papaver somniferum  |  Rudbeckia  |  Salvia 'East Friesland'

Trollius  |  Veronica 'Sunny Border Blue'

PROPAGATION

DIVISION - SPRING ONLY  |   DIVISION - FALL ONLY  |   DIVISION - SPRING OR FALL  |   DO NOT DIVIDE

FERTILIZATION

BULBS  |   ORNAMENTAL GRASSES  |   PERENNIALS  |   SHRUBS  |   VINES

LINKS

GARDENS  |   LOCAL GARDENS  |   BOTANICAL TERMINOLOGY

GARDENING BOOKS  |   NON-GARDENING

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