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Hosta, Lance Leaf

Herbaceous Perennial Flower

Hosta lancifolia
Liliaceae Family

Has a somewhat plain appearance, but is reliable and hardy. Leaves are long, pointed, and glossy, and plants bear purple flowers in late summer that last into fall.

	Site and Plant Characteristics
	Growing Information
	Varieties

Site Characteristics

Sunlight:

part shade
full shade

Prefers part shade. Tolerates heavy shade. Full morning sun is usually beneficial.

Soil conditions:

requires well-drained soil
tolerates damp soil

In addition to being well-drained, soil must also be kept moist. If allowed to dry out hostas produce smaller leaves which turn brown and papery around the edges.

Hardiness zones:

3 to 8

Plant Traits

Lifecycle: perennial

Ease-of-care: easy

Height: 1 to 1.5 feet

Spread: 1.5 to 2.5 feet

Bloom time: late summer

Flowers stay through autumn.

Flower color: violet

Foliage color: medium green

Leaves are pure green, glossy on both sides and are about 4 to 7� long.

Foliage texture: medium

Shape: cushion, mound or clump

Shape in flower: flower stalks with upright spikes

Special Considerations

Special characteristics:

non-aggressive
non-invasive
not native to North America - Japan

Growing Information

How to plant:

Propagate by division or separation - Divide in spring when the leaves are first coming up. Divide only if necessary, after the plant has matured in 4 to 5 years.

Maintenance and care:

Hostas are generally easy to take care of as long as they are given partial shade and lots of moisture.
More growing information: How to Grow Perennials

Pests:

Slugs -- Remove dead leaves and weed around plants to reduce problems.
Black vine weevils

Diseases:

Leaf spot and crown rot -- Minimize moisture on leaves by avoiding overhead watering and watering early in the day so the leaves dry quickly.

Varieties

var. viridis marginata is smaller with yellow leaves and a narrow green margin.