Product Review

Hosta plants naturally take on a few different shapes once mature, and the type of shape will affect the overall look of a garden. Most hosta varieties create a mounded effect, with domed, flat and even cube-shaped mounds of leaves. Some hostas only create mounds in groups, with many different plants clumping together, close to the ground. Vase-shaped hostas have long, slender leaf stalks that curve outward, away from the base of the plant, adding height to a garden layout. Other, less common hosta shapes include irregular types, which follow no specific form, and rhizomatous types, which send out offshoot stems beneath the ground. Colors and Variegations Hosta leaves come in a wide variety of colors and patterns, with many plants in the blue, yellow, white or blue-green ranges. Although some hostas show only one solid color, many have variegated secondary colors in white, cream, gold or green tones. Variegations can be streaked, with leaves that look striped or mottled, show medial splashes of color or marginal outlines around the outside edges of the leaves. The difference in color is due to varying levels of chlorophyll in the leaves. The less chlorophyll, the lighter the leaf color.