Hostas are fantastic link plants within a garden, with lush, rubbery leaves sandwiching nicely between clumps of blooming perennials. But they also put up a splendid display themselves when planted en masse. The contrast between these sea-blue and lime-green cultivars when planted together is striking.
The only downside to these gorgeous blue-leaved plants is that they are plat du jour at this time of year for hungry slugs. The waiting lists for some hosta leaves among the slug cognoscenti are enormous, and once these hungry diners have slithered away, licking their slimy lips, a heavy rain or hail shower can leave the plant devastated.
So the best thing to do is firstly to make sure you are managing the slug population properly in your garden. Mulching the plants with sharp grit, diatomaceous earth, or bark chips can help as well. Planting hostas in the shelter of a wall or under trees and shrubs can shield them from any particularly vindictive weather.
Vital stats:
Location:
Well-drained soil which does not dry out
Light:
Partial or full shade
When to plant:
Early Autumn or late Spring to avoid frosts
What can I expect from this plant?
Height: Varies from 6in to 2ft
Spread: Varies from a few inches to 3ft
Flowers: June-July
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