Hostas transplant easily, so if you end up with something you don't like you can move the plants. However, I wouldn't use more than three different kinds. Honestly, two might be enough. I'm not sure how big an area you're talking about, but you should have plants other than hostas also. There are a lot of pictures on Houzz of landscapes using hostas if you want to get some ideas.

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I tried to reply to this earlier and included lots of pictures but Houzz seemed to lose it all *sigh* I’ll try again now with a briefer, no-photo version….

I have lots of hostas here as important components as a general part of the garden - e.g. there are hostas in many beds but only one bed that could be called a hosta bed! In the hosta bed, I considered both the color and size of the plants, with the goal of having both continuity of general shape and diversity in color. So, for example, a smaller ’blue’ hosta like Halycon beside a big blue hosta like Elegans, followed by a smaller blue and yellowish-green hosta like June and then a big two-colored hosta like Francis Williams. A big blue and white hosta like Northern Halo is behind the various sized blue hostas. White flowered perennials like Persicaria polymorpha, Veronicastrum and white Columbine are also in the same bed, as is a white-flowering Fringetree and a Milky Way dodwood tree is nearby. Since the hostas are slow to ’wake up’ in spring, early spring bulbs are perfect in the bed too.

When I look at your hosta pictures, I wonder where the matching solid-colored ones were that would both blend with and highlight the fancy ones…

Have fun. Don’t be afraid to experiment and move them around until you are pleased with them in the bed.

I agree with both comments above. If something doesn’t work out right, move it. I have moved at least 5 this season due sunlight issues (too much or too little). Also, if you do have maples nearby, it will be an ongoing battle with roots. I have one bed that needs redoing because of this reason. The hostas have been shrinking……also consider heucheras astilbes, grasses and other perennials that will add splashes of color throughout the bed. As ken said, it takes time for hostas to mature and gain size so

don’t over plant unless you plan to move or split down the road. Good luck and have fun AND keep us posted!

debra

p.s. I love your idea of using Blue ME around the border. I have several MEs and place them near the border where they are less likely to be stepped on.

I have moved lots of my hostas this year. I do not have good visual in my head as some talented people do so I have to literally see it in front of me to know if it pleasing or not.

But overall moving big hostas is hard so anchor your large ones including shrubs, hardscape etc.

Small stuff just shovel away from moving....

We plan God laughs comes to mind. If this is a place YOU see a lot, put in the plants you love the most. As you have been warned sooo many things enter into how your plants will look/grow over time. Hosta's may not NEED to be divided but in a front bed they often out grow their surroundings so be ready for more maintenance than if you have them in a spot away from your house.

Hi Everyone,

Thank you so much for responding to my post. Each one of you gave me such great tips and helped me think about things I missed.

I live in Kansas City, zone 6a. My username is somewhat misleading. I do have maple trees however, Maples is kind of a nickname I have used for years. My house faces north and I have a huge 50 year old pin oak in the front and my entire front yard is in partial to full shade. The pin oak has been trimmed by the previous owners to allow light in and the front of the yard receives about two hours of morning sun.

The bed I am working on is in my front yard along a 4 foot tall retaining wall. The bed is 21 feet long and 4 to 6 feet wide. I decided to create this bed because I have been unsuccessful at getting grass to grow under the pin oak. I am also experiencing an issue with guests walking on the retaining wall instead of walking on the driveway and using the stairs.

After reading through the comments, it helped me realize that I was attempting to fit in way too many hostas in such a small space, selecting too many varigated hostas and not leaving enough room for companion plants. I decided to remove June, El Nino, Autumn Frost, Drinking Gourd as well as the tiny hydrangea. I have added two solid color hostas, halcyon and maui buttercups. Hoping the Japanese forest grass and buttercups compliment the edges of Regal Splendor although I think the edges fade to cream. Next spring, I would like to add purple heuchera, a darker heuchera such as timeless night or obsidian, a pink or purple astilbe and lamium as a ground cover.

The plan is to plant the hostas this weekend! Thanks again for taking the time to help me with this project!

- Jennifer

One more thing to consider…….if the retaining wall gets a lot of sun, it can heat up, so plants too close could be affected by this. I love the choices you made. Those combinations should be beautiful. Show us your progress…….remember next spring/summer when your plants start growing their 1st year, you can always add to the bed, though they won’t mature for 3 years or more.

debra

Good point, Debra! I may need to add extra water in that area or swap out a plant. I hope to show some progress pictures nexr week.