Astilbe vs Hosta

Astilbe and Hosta are often considered for the same spot in the garden (ground cover, container). The data below shows where they differ: size, hardiness, care, toxicity and price.

Astilbe

Astilbe × arendsii 90 cm × 60 cm after 10 years

A splash of colour for shady, damp corners: feathery plumes in white, pink, red or purple rise above ferny foliage in early summer. Plant it only…

Perennial

Part shade

Shade

from about PLN 17

Hosta

Hosta × hybrida 50 cm × 80 cm after 10 years

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…

Perennial

Part shade

Shade

from about PLN 21

Key differences

Astilbe grows taller, Hosta spreads wider: 90 cm × 60 cm and 50 cm × 80 cm after ten years (an estimate: sources differ).
Hosta needs less water than Astilbe.
Astilbe also takes heavy clay, Hosta needs a loose, free-draining soil.

Which one to choose?

Astilbe is the better choice if the soil is heavy clay.

Hosta is the better choice if you cannot water regularly.

Watch out for

Astilbe

Hot, dry Central European summers are the main problem: when the soil dries out the leaves brown and curl, and the clump weakens year after year. It will not survive in a sunny, dry bed without irrigation, and even in part or full shade it needs mulching and watering several times a week in drought. Powdery mildew, leaf spot and vine weevil occur occasionally.

Hosta

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.

The data side by side

Feature	Astilbe	Hosta
Group	Perennial	Perennial
Size after 10 years	90 cm × 60 cm	50 cm × 80 cm (uncertain)
Ultimate size	0.4–1.4 m × 30–60 cm	0.1–1.2 m × 0.2–1.5 m (uncertain)
Growth rate	no data	Medium (uncertain)
Light	Part shade, Shade	Part shade, Shade
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay	Average garden soil
Hardiness	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)	down to -40 °C (USDA 3, RHS H7)
Heat tolerance	Low	Medium (uncertain)
Foliage	Deciduous	Deciduous
Flowering	May–August, white, pink, red, purple	June–September, white, purple
Water need	High	Medium
Drought tolerance	Low	Low
Maintenance	Medium	Medium
Planting distance	40 cm	60 cm
For dogs	no data	Toxic
For cats	Non-toxic (uncertain)	Toxic
For children	Non-toxic (uncertain)	no data
Typical price	approx. PLN 23	approx. PLN 21

Prices are rounded, indicative values. Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor. Data updated: October 17, 2026

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