SPOTLIGHT ON PLANTS - HOSTAS, HOSTA HAVE EM!!!

To divide or not to divide that is the question! Hostas are one of those perennials that get better with time. By dividing your plants now you can till in organic matter and improve the soil around the original plant. The divisions you make may be spread about in the landscape.
Hostas are the preeminent perennials for shady gardens coast to coast. They are easy to grow and thrive with almost no care, forming larger and bigger clumps year after year. Planted in mass in a woodland setting, they provide a cool airy haven during hot, uncomfortable summer days.
Grow Hostas in well-drained soil amended with plenty of organic matter. Hostas do best if the soil is constantly moist. They survive short dry spells without permanent damage, but don’t do well in arid climates. Spreading a generous layer of mulch around the plants helps retain soil moisture. If you see holes eaten in the leaves of Hostas, suspect snails and slugs as the shady, moist conditions favored by most Hostas are also ideal for slugs and snails.
Hostas come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, Most can be classified into these seven categories:
Blue-leafed types: Examples of these are Blue Cadet, Blue Mammoth, Halcyon, Hyacinthina, sieboldiana ‘Elegans’
Gold to cream edged types: Include Abba Dabba Do, Bold Ribbons, Golden Tiara, sieboldiana ‘Francee Williams’
Gold Leafed Types: Includes ‘August Moon’, ‘Gold Edger’, ‘Sum & Substance’, ‘Sun Power’, and ‘Gold Regal’
Gold to White Center variegated Types: ‘Fire and Ice’, ‘Geisha’, ‘Gold Standard’, ‘Great Expectations’, and ‘Guacamole’
White to Cream Edged Types: ‘Allan P. McConnell’, ‘Fire and Ice’, ‘Francee’, ‘Patriot’, ‘So Sweet’, ‘Wide Brim’ ‘Ground Master’
Green Leafed Types:
‘Fiesta Verde’, ‘Royal Standard’, ‘Fortunei aurea’, ‘Honey Bells’
Miniature Types: ‘Allan P. McConnel’, ‘Blue Cadet’, ‘Gold Edger’, ‘Abby’, and ‘Gold Drop’
Notice that some Hostas will fit into more than one classification.
While it is true of most Hostas that they prefer full shade to part shade. There are varieties that are listed as being tolerant of shade to full sun conditions such as:
‘Allan P. McConnell’, fortunei ‘albo Picta’, fortunei “aurea’, fortunei ‘Aureo Marginata’, ‘Gingko Craig’, ‘Gold Drop’, ‘Gold Edger’, ‘Gold Regal’, ‘Hycinthina’, ‘Iron Gate Delight’, ‘Lancifolia’, ‘Lemon Lime’, ‘Little Wonder’, ‘Patriot’, ‘Royal Standard’, ‘Silver Crown’, ‘Sun Power’, ‘Twist of Lime’, ‘Vanilla Cream’, venusta ‘Vera Verde’.

I even uncovered one variety in my research that was listed as full sun only: ‘So Sweet’ which was awarded “Hosta of the Year” in 1996 by the American Hosta Growers Group.
So whatever your situation and wherever you need a striking accent plant, try one of these excellent Hostas.
Hasta La Vista.