Six Of The Easiest Hostas To Grow.
- John Plant
- Jul 25
- 4 min read
I am often asked which Hostas are the easiest to grow, with the smallest amount of care, that will look after themselves.
Sometimes all that people want is to put their favourite Hosta in the ground or a container and virtually forget about them.
There are a few that almost fit the bill. Sadly, all Hostas will need some care, at some point.
What I will endeavour to do is list half a dozen ‘bulletproof’ varieties that will reduce the effort needed to look after them.
There are 3 main elements that usually need to be addressed when choosing a certain variety of Hosta. You need to consider whether or not they will be able to tolerate sunshine. Whether or not they are slug resistant and if they will tolerate drier conditions than others.
The following choices of easier to grow Hosta address all three of these questions. All will be sun tolerant, to a greater or lesser degree, they will all be slug resistant and each will tolerate a little less watering than others.
These are a few of our suggestions. Of course there will be many more, but these are a few of the varieties that have been around for a while now and are still popular. They have year of growth, showing us exactly what they can do.
Hosta June
Hosta June is a good looking medium Hosta that doesn’t mind the sun, doesn’t really get bothered by slugs & snails, and will tolerate the odd day without water. You can plant almost anywhere in a border where it will stand out and is just as happy in a container. It also grows well meaning that you can split this variety readily, once established every 4 or 5 years, to produce new babies to add to your collection, or give to friends. It is also popular with customers where the name June is particularly relevant. Yes! Almost bulletproof.
Photograph courtesy of Betty of Tadcaster.
Hosta Liberty
A fabulous all-round medium to large Hosta, with great looking variegation in its foliage and a great shaped leaf. Always one of my favourites over the years. It will grow almost anywhere, whether containers or open ground, it will not disappoint. A standout Hosta in a border, with its fabulous colouring. Slugs don’t seem to bother it much, and is happy to be neglected a little, if you can’t spare the time to mollycoddle it.
Wouldn’t be without it.
Hosta Autumn Frost
Another would be ‘bulletproof’ Hosta. A medium sized yellow leaved Hosta with green middles, is a beautiful sight amongst others in a border or in a container. Waxy leaves make it almost impervious to slugs & snails, and easier to grow in a bit of sunlight. Can tolerate being left with less water than desirable and will always recover if left too long. It forms a wonderful shape, showing off its beautiful foliage variegation.
Hosta Love Pat
The first of two good solid ‘blues’ in the collection. This one is extremely tough, in all conditions. As a blue it prefers light to slightly heavier shade, but I have been growing this for several years in a sunny position, and it does not scorch like you would expect. The leaves are rounded, cupped and very blue. The texture is slightly mottled and the leaves are thick. Making this one more sun tolerant than expected and almost slug free. Definitely one of my favourite blues.
Hosta Blue Angel
If you want a larger blue, the Hosta Blue Angel will not disappoint. Tough as old boots, and easy to grow. Grow it in a border for its full potential, but is still happy in a pot, providing the pot is big enough. A fast growing, slug resistant Hosta, that prefers shade, but will tolerate some sun, for a blue Hosta. I have grown this variety at the base of a tree where it is quite dry. It has been there for 4 or 5 years now and is still healthy. Its size is greatly reduced because of the lack of water, but still a great plant.
Hosta Devon Green
A small to almost medium Hosta, by the time it gets to maturity. Its spear-shaped dark green pointed shiny leaves look beautiful, especially in a container. Again, slug resistant and quite happy in a bit of sunshine. Forms a lovely tight mound, producing lavender flowers above the crown around July & August. A good grower enabling division, once mature, every 4 to 5 years.
These Hostas are not in any particular order of preference, but do stand out as almost ‘bulletproof’.
It will always be preferable to pay full attention to your Hostas throughout the growing season, to get the best out of them. However, these six show that you can get away with it sometimes…. Just a little.
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John Plant
Rewela Hostas
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