What soil does Hosta grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil.

Hardy down to -40 °C (USDA zone 3, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

When does Hosta flower?

Flowering: June–September, white, purple.

How much water does Hosta need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: low.

How much does Hosta cost?

It sells for roughly €5.10 to €89 in local shops, depending on size.

Hosta

Hosta × hybrida

Hosta (Hosta × hybrida) is a perennial. Light: part shade, shade. Hardy down to -40 °C. Drought tolerance: low. Toxic to dogs and cats. Sold in local shops from about €5.10.

Illustration of Hosta — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

Hostas are the classic foliage plants for shady parts of the garden: broad, veined leaves in green, powdery blue, gold or with white or yellow variegation, plus spikes of white or lavender flowers in summer, scented in a few cultivars. Size varies enormously between cultivars, from hand-sized miniatures 10 to 15 cm tall to giants over a metre high and a metre and a half across, so always check the mature size before you buy (the ten-year size given here is that of a medium cultivar). They look best in part or full shade in evenly moist, humus-rich soil: blue-leaved forms need the most shade, yellow ones take some morning sun, and all of them scorch in strong sun and dry soil.

Watch out for

Slugs and snails are the main enemy: from spring on they chew ragged holes in the leaves and can ruin a plant in a short time; thick, tough-leaved cultivars (many of the blue ones) resist better. Leaves brown and scorch in strong sun and dry soil, and the waxy bloom of blue forms wears off. Late spring frost damages the newly emerging shoots, and hail shreds the leaves. Hosta virus X (HVX) cannot be cured: remove and destroy any plant with mottled, mosaic-patterned or distorted leaves, roots included, and disinfect your tools. Vine weevil grubs in pots and voles in the ground may eat the roots, and foliar nematodes also occur.

Key facts

Light: Part shade, Shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Medium
Size after 10 years: 50 cm × 80 cm
Hardiness: down to -40 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D June–September, white, purple

Group	Perennial
Light	Part shade, Shade
Size after 10 years	50 cm × 80 cm
Ultimate size	0.1–1.2 m × 0.2–1.5 m
Hardiness	down to -40 °C (USDA 3, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	June–September, white, purple
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Low
Maintenance	Medium
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no data
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	no data
Distance from paving	no data
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	60 cm
For dogs	Toxic
For cats	Toxic
For children	no data
Typical price	from about €5.10

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
size not stated	approx. €5.10 – €89

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 13, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Ground cover plants for shade Ground cover plants Plants for shade Perennials for part shade Plants for containers

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