Hosta is a perennial grown for its white blooms, which open in summer and return year after year. Notably, it grows just as well in a container as in the ground. Its summer flowers are a modest draw for honeybees and hummingbirds.
Zones
Data not available
pH Range
6-7.5
Sun
Shade
Days to Maturity
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What Hosta is
Hosta grows as a perennial and reaches around two feet at maturity. It blooms white in summer. It's also well suited to containers.
How to grow Hosta
Hosta does best in shade — at least 2 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 6 to 7.5, on well-drained ground.
USDA Zones
Data not available
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
6 - 7.5
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Shade
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
2 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant hosta in shade with at least 2 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Hosta prefers pH 6 to 7.5 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at its peak
Cut hosta blooms in the cool of the morning, just as they open, for the longest display.
Good to know
One caution for pet owners — hosta is toxic to dogs and cats (mild severity). Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: ASPCA.)
Hosta offers low value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Hosta thrives
Whether hosta thrives on a given site comes down to its soil pH, drainage, sun, and frost dates — the conditions that vary parcel to parcel.
See if Hosta will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether hosta actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Hosta in my zone?
Zone data for hosta is being finalized. A Growable Ground report checks your parcel's full suitability against federal soil, climate, and zone data.
When should you plant Hosta?
Most growers plant hosta after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Hosta need?
Hosta is shade-tolerant — it gets by on as little as 2 hours of direct sun, so it earns a place most vegetables can't use. A north-facing strip or the ground under a leafy canopy is right where it belongs. A Growable Ground report shows which corners of your land stay shaded through the day, turning those dim spots into planting spots.
What soil does Hosta need?
Hosta prefers soil pH 6 to 7.5, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Hosta attract pollinators?
Yes — hosta's flowers are a modest nectar source for honeybees and hummingbirds (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Hosta safe for pets?
Hosta is toxic to pets (dogs,cats) with mild severity. Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency.