Growing Hosta in the Southern United States

By M Fitzgerald (MitchF) September 9, 2007

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I have seen wonderful stunning green leaves peeking through the shade in so many gardens in the northern and central United States. The puny things that I have seen in so many gardens in the south have left me with a deep feeling of longing for the north in order to grow wonderful hosta in the shade under trees. All this changed when I met Sylvia Butler of Sissinghurst Hosta.

It was a hot August afternoon when I pull into Sissinghurt Hostas. The charming little gardens are young – only having moved to the current location last fall – but they are already filling in with wonderful hosta, bugleweed, and ferns all tucked into tropical plants and a wonderful mix of young trees. The mix of colors and tones is stunning and you are left with an impression that yes, hosta can be grown here and they would be stunning under my front tree.
	Meeting with Ms. Butler over coffee, she unlocked the door to growing hosta in my area and put my mind at ease with the fact that this can be done. Her very first statement when I made it in the door was, “Every plant needs sun and don’t let anyone tell you different.” She fearlessly planted hosta in full sun, half sun, and full shade in the garden. She went on to explain that every plant needs some sun but some plants are more shade tolerant. Hosta is one of those plants. She told me it differs from type to type how much sun and how much shade they need and can take.   Water is the key to unlock hostas in the south Ms. Butler repeated in so many different ways during my visit. She waters from February or March until September or early October. It is daily, deep watering during the heat of the summer--- twice a day deep watering---that keeps the 200 plus hostas in the Sissinghurst Gardens growing and blooming. At 6 in the morning and 6 in the evening the water starts and runs for about one hour unless there is rain two times a day.
Soil is another factor Ms. Butler said is vital to the growth of hosta. Whenever you are preparing a new bed for hosta, it is of major importance for you to mix the soil with a good amount of compost and peat moss. This will give the hostas the food they need for the long years ahead. Along with a handful of food Ms. Butler adds some root stimulator in the hole. Then Ms. Butler adds the little hosta to the hole.
	Ms. Butler told me that most of the hosta she has started their lives as a bare root plant. She went on to tell me that bare root plants often do better in the south, and told me of the excitement of seeing the first leaf rise out of the dirt and waiting for it to unfurl. Then there is the next excitement of waiting for the bloom stalk to rise up from the dirt and slowly waiting for the blooms to open. She acknowledged that some growers would rather have a growing plant to add to the garden but for her the bare root plants have been growing much better.   Mulch is a major key to the growing of hosta in the south. Pine straw mulch will keep the soil moist and the ground free of weeds. This is the biggest key to growing hosta---keeping the soil moist at all times. When the roots stay moist, they will grow bigger and look stunning in the garden most of the year.
My time with Ms. Butler at the wonderful gardens at Sissinghurst was wonderful. Although I do not have any plans to grow a large hosta garden in the near future, I now am equipped with the knowledge that it will take to add a few hosta to the base of a tree I have been thinking about. The moist soil is the biggest challenge in the south but, meeting that need, you will find these wonderful plants will grow and prosper in our heat too. They are a great addition to our gardens where the soil permits. You can find out more about hosta growing in the Daves Garden Hosta Forum.

About M Fitzgerald   I am a pentecostal preacher, gardener,husband, and a father. I love natives, daylilies, iris, and roses. I love teaching others, be they children or adults, about the garden and plants.

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Subject: Great Job

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Posted by Aunt_A (from Tulsa, OK) on December 18, 2007 at 10:48 PM:

Mitch,

This is Aunt A. Really!

I'm proud of you!

Ever since you were just barely able to walk, you loved to hold my hand and toddle through Grandma's Gardens. You were maybe 5 when you could name almost all the flowers and plants that she had. Frankly, you were amazing. Guess you still are!

You soon learned as much about plants as I knew. Then you knew more than I...and you still do.

Blessings,
Your Aunt A

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Posted by MitchF (from Oklahoma City, OK) on December 18, 2007 at 11:01 PM:

Thanks! You can click on my name and there will be a list on the side with all the articles I have written. You cannot beat this place.

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Posted by Gabrielle (from Washington, IL) on September 9, 2007 at 12:23 PM:

Another bonus to pine straw mulch is that it deters snails ... and it smells wonderful after a rain!

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Posted by mittsy (from Cicero,, NY) on September 9, 2007 at 5:22 AM:

Oh Mitch, If I had only known. I thinned my hostas in August and have three garbage cans full to run through the chipper/shredder and add to the compost bin. I could have sent you bare root plants from my four varieties. Check out Wedgewood Blue, Francee, Ginko Craig, and I have the one with the big pure white flowers and solid green foliage. Maybe next year we can do a trade, we'll have to compare TB iris too.

I so enjoy your articles, keep up the writing. I learn something new every time. My pine trees have been dropping the perfect mulch for my Hostas and I didn't even know it. Thank you.

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Posted by MitchF (from Oklahoma City, OK) on September 9, 2007 at 8:51 AM:

They are stunning, hosta are a wonderful plant I am just starting to unlock the door to.

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Posted by melody (from Benton, KY) on September 9, 2007 at 9:25 AM:

Great article Mitch...I loved the way you wrote it.

I also love hosta....but alas, I have none on this full sun, no shade, piece of property...guess you've shown me that it can be done.

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Posted by KyWoods (from Melbourne, KY) on September 9, 2007 at 11:46 AM:

Thanks for great information, and the link to their terrific website! Love the way you laid out the article with the pictures, too--very attractive. Perfect plants for out here in the woods.

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Posted by Islandshari (from Kwajalein
(Marshall Islands)) on September 9, 2007 at 3:03 PM:

Great article Mitch! I adore Hostas, and now I have the courage to try them out here.

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Posted by MitchF (from Oklahoma City, OK) on September 9, 2007 at 3:50 PM:

Thanks all!

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Posted by Dea (from Frederick, MD) on September 9, 2007 at 3:59 PM:

Watering really is the key then, eh? I've lost quite a few and think now I know why - thanks Mitch.

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Posted by debnes_dfw_tx (from Fort Worth, TX) on September 9, 2007 at 6:38 PM:

I have one lonely hosta specimin... It seems to get stronger every year.

Thanks Mitch and Sylvia!

Very inspiring article!

Debnes

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Posted by McGlory (from Southeast, NE) on September 9, 2007 at 11:37 PM:

Thanks, Mitch! I don't have any hostas yet, but have been admiring them.... They're on the ever-growing list.

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Posted by azreno (from Mesa, AZ) on September 10, 2007 at 11:45 AM:

Shari, careful there, the article seemed to leave out the part about dormancy, hosta require a chill to be dormant and will not thrive without it.

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Posted by City_Sylvia (from Dallas, TX) on September 10, 2007 at 2:09 PM:

Great Article Mitch!!! I love it ... Thank you!

Sylvia

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Posted by Islandshari (from Kwajalein
(Marshall Islands)) on September 10, 2007 at 4:28 PM:

Ahhh, thanks for the warning Azreno. I wondered why there were none on island....now I know.

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Posted by nolafwug (from Metairie, LA) on October 9, 2007 at 6:31 PM:

My mom sent me a hosta clump from up North. (She's in 5B I'm in 9A). I'm thinking I should dig it up in a month or two and stick it in the fridge or freezer or else it's likely not to get the temps it needs to thrive (we rarely have frosts and average winter month temps are in the 50's). Has anyone ever tried this? I think the hostas would enjoy my swampy yard otherwise.

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Posted by azreno (from Mesa, AZ) on October 9, 2007 at 6:39 PM:

It's something I've considered but decided I didn't want to put forth the energy. Good luck!

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Posted by MitchF (from Oklahoma City, OK) on October 9, 2007 at 8:07 PM:

dmail city_sylvia she can tell you about someone in FL who grows them in water in the house...

it can be done.

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Posted by KyWoods (from Melbourne, KY) on October 9, 2007 at 8:41 PM:

Really?! Hydroponic hosta? Shhhh-don't tell the deer, but I may just have to try that! Thanks for mentioning that, Mitch!

Hello to nolafwug from a Metairie native! Welcome to Dave's Garden, you'll love it here.

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Posted by City_Sylvia (from Dallas, TX) on October 10, 2007 at 10:39 AM:

Nola I put Hostas it the fridge all the time. Right now I have 25 or 30 in the fridge. First cut the leaves off, clean the roots really good with a mild solution of bleach water, rinse well,wrap in a paper towel, then wrap in newspaper and place in the crisper part of the. Your Hostas could last up to four months in the fridge, the roots actually grows and you should have an abundant plant to place in the ground come springtime.
The person who moved to florida was so in love with her her Hostas she took them with her. So she decided to put them in water. She said they SURVIVED in water, but a Hostas cant reach its full potential in water or a pot ... it need the all the elements to sustain itself.

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Posted by azreno (from Mesa, AZ) on October 10, 2007 at 11:34 AM:

Well that's good to know!

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