Hosta - Groundcover

These Hostas are the workhorses of the shady areas of the garden. They spread well to smother the weeds and cover the ground while adding bold textures and colours.

Hosta 'Abiqua Moonbeam'

Height 30cm. (1') Spread 60cm. (2'). This sport of Hosta 'August Moon' is a great addition to the Hosta world. It has a fir green center and a gold edge. The heavy substanced foliage and vibrant colouring make this one stand out over time as an excellent all round landscape plant. (Walden West)

Hosta 'Abiqua Recluse'

Height 45cm. (1 1/2') Spread 75cm. (2 1/2'). This medium size lime green Hosta gets all fired up by the time late summer rolls around and becomes an amazingly rich gold. It has good foliage substance as one of the parents is Hosta 'Sum and Substance'. It has very nice colour to add to the sombre areas in the garden. (Walden-West 1992)

Hosta 'Antioch'

Height 45cm. (1 1/2') Spread 70cm. (2 1/2'). A great showy Hosta which holds it's leaves up individually so you can admire the cream to white irregular edge with the mat green center. AHS multiple award winner. (Tompkins-Rue-Hofer)

Hosta 'August Moon'

Height 50cm. (1 1/2') Spread 75cm. (2 1/2'). The green-gold leaves become harvest gold as the summer progresses. This Hosta can tolerate the sun. It is a very dense circular mound with large round seer-suckered leaves. The flowers are white with a touch of lavender produced in mid-summer. A very robust grower. (Langfelder/Summers 1968)

Hosta 'Candy Hearts'

Height 40cm. (1 1/2') Spread 70cm. (2 1/2'). This Hosta is a hybrid of Hosta nakaiana with round puckered leaves that are somewhat cupped. Water drops pearl up on the frosty deep green leaves. The leaves do look somewhat heart-shaped. It is excellent as a specimen in a smaller garden or can be used as a groundcover for focal areas of the garden. (Fisher 1971)

Hosta 'Christmas Tree'

Height 50cm. (1 3/4') Spread 90cm. (3'). This Hosta is known for it's Christmas Tree effect on the flower stalks that shows up occasionally. The soft lavender flowers are the lights and the creamy-white edge is the dusting of snow on the dark forest green center. The heavily corrugated foliage holds water droplets like pearls. A MUST! (Vaughn l982)

Hosta 'Crowned Imperial'

Height 65cm. (2') Spread 70cm. (2 1/2'). This is a sport of the very elegant Hosta fortunei 'Hyacinthina'. The glaucous grey-green foliage has a delicate creamy white coloured edge. An elegant Hosta providing just that touch of variegation. (Walters 1988)

Hosta 'Cynthia'

Height 45cm. (1 1/2') Spread 90cm. (3'). This Hosta is relatively rare as it quickly reverts to solid green leaves if the divisions are done too tightly. The spring foliage is marbled and spotted frosty green on gold, turning green in the summer. It is highly effective as a specimen or groundcover plant and is a real conversation piece, catching everyone's eye.

Hosta 'Ellerbroek'

Height 50cm. (1 1/2') Spread 90cm. (3'). The leaves have a fine narrow gold edge with a dark rich forest green center making this Hosta very regal in appearance. The medium size clump fills out fully smothering unwanted guests. (Krossa)

Hosta 'Francee'

Height 60cm. (2') Spread 90cm. (3'). This is one of the best fortunei type white margined Hosta around! It is a very reliable variety that looks good no matter what the weather. 1976 AHS Eunice Fisher Award winner. (Klopping) AGM

Hosta 'Fringe Benefit'

Height 70cm. (2 1/2') Spread 90cm. (3'). The blue-green spear-shaped leaves have a nice cream margin. It has good thick leaves and a quick growing habit that make it an asset in the garden. (Aden)

Hosta 'Frosted Jade'

Height 50cm. (1 3/4') Spread 90cm. (3'). The glaucous sea green leaves have a frosty white edge. The horizontal growth pattern of the foliage makes it an ideal groundcover. The lavender, striped flowers bloom in summer. This Hosta prefers shade as the summer heat or sun will burn off the glaucous coating on the leaves.

Hosta 'Gold Standard'

Height 50cm. (1 3/4') Spread 75cm. (2 1/2'). This Hosta is a multiple AHS Award Winner! A definite standard among Hosta. The foliage starts off light green with a deep green edge turning to almost cream with a green edge by the summer (if given some sunlight). It is a wonderful groundcover as the leaves are horizontal. (Banyai 1976)

Hosta 'Halcyon'

Height 35cm. (1') Spread 70cm. (2 1/2'). This is the best one of Eric Smith's unmistakable Hosta tardianas. The chalky bright blue, heavy substanced broad lance shaped leaves are always an eye catcher. It is durable and good for smaller gardens as it is not as quick to overwhelm as other groundcovers often are. It also looks good in containers too. AGM, Award of Merit RHS, 1987 AHS award winner.

Hosta 'Honeybells'

Height 65cm. (2') Spread 75cm. (2 1/2'). This is an offspring of Hosta plantaginea with fragrant milky mauve flowers produced in summer. The olive-green, glossy, oval leaves have prominent veins and are very durable and hold up well. (Cumming 1950) AGM

Hosta 'Marilyn'

Height 45cm. (1 1/2') Spread 60cm. (2'). This is a New variety with Hosta 'Green Piecrust' breeding. The bright gold foliage has a slightly wavy leaf edge. The lavender flowers bloom in summer. (Zillis l992)

Hosta 'Mildred Seaver'

Height 40cm. (1 1/2') Spread 50cm. (1 3/4'). This Hosta is named after a very prominent U.S. Hosta breeder. The foliage is boldly variegated with a one inch creamy white edge with shades of light green and a grass green center and is nicely quilted for that extra touch. It makes a great specimen!

Hosta 'Pearl Lake'

Height 35cm. (1') Spread 70cm. (2 1/2'). This is a compact plant ideal for the smaller garden especially noted for its profuse bloom. The lavender blossoms are produced mid summer on top of the blue green heart shaped foliage. 1982 AHS A.J. Summers Distinguised Merit Award. (Piedmont l 974)

Hosta 'Piedmont Gold'

Height 50cm. (1 1/2') Spread 90cm. (3'). This Hosta has received multiple AHS Awards! It is a classic gold leaf Hosta which starts off lime green, quickly turning to gold. It is considered to be the best gold Hosta. It can tolerate some sun. (Piedmont 1974)

Hosta 'Spritzer'

Height 45cm. (1 1/2') Spread 45cm. (1 1/2'). The leaves of this Hosta have a bright lime green center with a marbled deep green edge. They are smooth, shiny and lanceolate. The purple flowers bloom in mid summer. (Aden 86.)

Hosta 'Wide Brim'

Height 50cm. ( 1 3/4') Spread 70cm. (2 1/2'). The very bright grass green leaves have a broad irregular creamy white edge and are deeply veined, round, and quilted . Use this Hosta as a groundcover or a specimen plant as it is a standout for its clean bright variegation. The lavender flowers bloom in mid summer. (Aden 1979) AGM

Hosta 'Yellow River'

Height 60cm. (2') Spread 1M. (3 1/4'). The deep pine green leaves are highlighted with a very clean lemon-cream edge. They are held upright in a graceful arching manner. These smooth lines and a vertical look makes it stand out from the others. 1989 AHS Benedict Award winner.

Hosta 'Zager Blue'

Height 50cm. (1 1/2') Spread 70cm. (2 1/2'). This flat top mound has great round heavily puckered blue leaves. It has a neat appearance and good leaf detail. A rather different cross of Hosta sieboldiana x Hosta montana.

Hosta fortunei 'Aurea'

Height 40cm. (1 1/4') Spread 60cm. (2'). The leaves of this Hosta emerge creamy-yellow with green veining and then darken to dusty green by mid-summer. They look like torches emerging out of the groun! This is an excellent Hosta for spring colour! AGM

Hosta lancifolia

Height 30cm. (1') Spread 60cm. (2'). This is the grandfather of Hosta groundcovers. The lushly tropical green lance-shaped leaves are among the first to rise in the spring and close to the last to bed for winter. It has tremendous groundcovering ability. AGM

Hosta undulata 'Albo-marginata'

Height 30cm. (1') Spread 60cm. (2'). The bright green centers with nice white edges of these broadly lanceolate leaves have a graceful arching habit. It is a fast grower, easy to please and tolerates most garden situations. It is a standard which is very popular as a landscape Hosta.

Hosta undulata 'Univittata'

Height 40cm. (1 1/2') Spread 60cm. (2'). This is one of the good standby Hostas of unusual foliage coloring. The leaves have a clear white irregular central stripe with mid green edges shading with light green marbling to the center stripe. The pale purple flowers are produced in early summer.

Hosta ventricosa

Height 50cm. ( 1 3/4') Spread 80cm. ( 2 3/4'). The deep glossy forest green foliage is almost leather-like in appearance. The flower stalks with beautiful large purple striped flowers reach up to 90cm (3') in height in mid-summer. It is an excellent performer in the garden in partial sun or shade! AGM

Hosta ventricosa 'Aureo-maculata'

Height 45cm. (1 1/2') Spread 60cm. (2'). The large creamy white centered leaves with deep forest green edges standout in the spring when they emerge. They go a deep glossy-green by late summer. These beautiful heart-shaped leaves are popular among floral artists because of their polished appearance. It is quite tolerant of drought and sun!

Hosta ventricosa 'Aureo-marginata'

Height 45cm. (1 1/2') Spread 70cm. (2 1/2'). These leaves have highly glossy deep green centers shading out to a brilliant and bold cream edge. Their lovely shape and neatness of habit makes it ideal for the smaller garden. This is a very popular variety among collectors. AGM