Ideas for Flower Gardens With Hostas

Expanding the Number of Hostas

• A hosta garden always looks better with more hostas in the collection -- as long as there is ample space in the landscape. While it may be tempting to acquire one of everything at the plant nursery, the visual effect of a small grouping of the same hosta cultivar bolsters its aesthetic effect in the garden. Balance out the collection so variegated, blue- and yellow-foliage types all occur. Don't go wild and scatter the variegated and bright yellow and chartreuse colored types, as it make the garden design look chaotic. Use basic green and cooler hued blue hostas to balance the visual business of variegated and yellow hostas nearby.

Hardscape

• A massive bed of hostas may look mundane as it is a grouping of low, mounding plants. After fall frosts, the garden becomes brown and barren. Using interesting hardscape features -- rock, concrete or wood components -- can bring structure to the garden in any season. A wooden or fiberglass composite wood deck walkway through the garden provides access and looks like a dock jetting out into a lake of hosta leaves. A meandering dry stream bed through the hosta collection showcases change in elevation and rocks and pebbles to contrast the hosta leaves.

Statuary Accents

• Bring elements of whimsy or surprise into the hosta garden by using statuary or other ornamentation. A religious icon, ornate birdhouse on a post, durable outdoor art piece or classical statue placed in a sprawling bed of hostas looks soothing and elegant. Don't go overboard, as too many pieces looks like clutter or a junkyard. Even something so cliche as a lone garden gnome or a pink flamingo sitting above the hostas can generate conversation or fun story associated with your hosta garden.

Showcase Other Plants

• A hosta garden doesn't need to only showcase hostas. Use other perennial plants or small woody shrubs in the same area that share similar light and soil conditions. Other plants bring color into the garden where hostas cannot. Coral bells (Heuchera) and fern foliage introduce contrasting colors among hostas, and ferns in particular texturally contrast against the coarse, larger hosta leaves perfectly. Seasonal floral color arises from companion plants such as corydalis, bloodroot (Sanguinaria), trinity flower (Trillium), Lenten rose (Helleborus), columbine (Aquilegia), snowdrop (Galanthus), daffodil (Narcissus), tulip (Tulipa) and foamflower (Tiarella). Summer annuals like impatiens and wishbone flower (Torenia) also look nice blooming among hostas.

Resources

• Visit other people's gardens and look for plant combinations or ornamental features you like. Copying is the sincerest form of flattery. Also visit local botanical gardens and see how they present hosta and other shade garden collections. The American Hosta Society has a series of national display gardens, mainly in the eastern U.S., that are set in woodlands and glens. Note the feature and designs used in these large hosta collection gardens and employ those ideas in your own backyard.