Hosta varieties

Hostas are shade perennials grown for their leaves, sorted by clump size from miniature to giant and by leaf color. Use the filters to narrow the list by size, leaf color and height, then open a variety for its full record and where to buy.

All hostas

42 hosta varieties

Leaves of Abiqua Drinking Gourd hosta up close Abiqua Drinking Gourd Blue-green hosta with deeply cupped, seersuckered leaves and white early summer flowers. MediumEarly summerMedium height
Leaves of August Moon hosta up close August Moon Gold-leaved hosta with seersuckered leaves in a 20 to 24 inch mound and pale lavender to white flowers. LargeLate summerMedium height
Leaves of Autumn Frost hosta up close Autumn Frost Sport of First Frost with blue leaves and extra wide yellow to cream margins in a 12 inch mound. MediumMidsummerMedium height
Leaves of Big Daddy hosta up close Big Daddy Large hosta with thick, chalky blue, cupped and puckered leaves and white late summer flowers. LargeLate summerTall
Leaves of Blue Angel hosta up close Blue Angel Giant blue-green hosta forming a 3 by 4 foot mound, with pale lavender to white summer flowers. GiantMidsummerTall
Leaves of Blue Cadet hosta up close Blue Cadet Compact hosta with heart-shaped blue leaves in a round 12 inch clump and lavender flowers. SmallLate springMedium height
Leaves of Blue Hawaii hosta up close Blue Hawaii Vase-shaped hosta with large, heart-shaped, powdery blue leaves and pale lavender summer flowers. GiantEarly summerTall
Leaves of Blue Mouse Ears hosta up close Blue Mouse Ears Miniature hosta with thick, round blue-green leaves in a symmetrical 8 inch mound. MiniMidsummerCompact
Leaves of Bressingham Blue hosta up close Bressingham Blue Sport of Hosta sieboldiana Elegans with large, corrugated blue-green leaves and white summer flowers. LargeMidsummerTall
Cat and Mouse Mini hosta with firm yellow-green leaves edged in blue-green, a sport of Blue Mouse Ears. MiniMidsummerCompact
Leaves of Church Mouse hosta up close Church Mouse Miniature hosta with ruffled blue-green leaves and a subtle lighter green margin. MiniMidsummerCompact
Leaves of Dancing Queen hosta up close Dancing Queen Large hosta with bright yellow, pie crust edged leaves that stay yellow all season. LargeMidsummerMedium height
Dragon Tails Mini hosta with narrow, wavy bright gold leaves in a fast multiplying rosette. MiniMidsummerCompact
Leaves of Earth Angel hosta up close Earth Angel Large to giant hosta with blue-green heart-shaped leaves and wide creamy white margins. GiantMidsummerTall
Leaves of Elegans hosta up close Elegans Hosta sieboldiana selection with huge, rounded, corrugated blue-gray leaves and white summer flowers. LargeMidsummerTall
Leaves of Empress Wu hosta up close Empress Wu Giant hosta with huge, deeply veined dark green leaves forming a clump 3 to 4 feet tall. GiantEarly summerTall
Leaves of Fire and Ice hosta up close Fire and Ice Reverse sport of Patriot with white-centered, green-edged leaves in a compact upright mound. MediumMidsummerMedium height
Leaves of First Frost hosta up close First Frost Sport of Halcyon with blue-green leaves and gold margins that turn white, in a 16 inch mound. MediumMidsummerMedium height
Leaves of Fragrant Bouquet hosta up close Fragrant Bouquet Large sun tolerant hosta with apple green leaves and creamy white margins. LargeLate summerMedium height
Leaves of Francee hosta up close Francee White-margined hosta with dark green heart-shaped leaves in a dense arching mound. MediumEarly summerMedium height
Leaves of Frances Williams hosta up close Frances Williams Giant hosta with corrugated blue-green leaves and wide chartreuse to yellow margins. GiantMidsummerMedium height
Leaves of Guacamole hosta up close Guacamole Medium hosta with glossy apple green leaves edged in dark green, tolerant of sun. MediumLate summerMedium height
Leaves of Halcyon hosta up close Halcyon Mid-sized Tardiana hosta with frosty blue-green pointed leaves and pale lilac-blue summer flowers. MediumMidsummerMedium height
Leaves of June hosta up close June Tardiana hosta with gold-centered, blue-green edged leaves in a 9 to 12 inch mound. MediumMidsummerCompact
Leaves of Krossa Regal hosta up close Krossa Regal Upright, vase-shaped hosta with frosty blue-green leaves and very tall lavender flower scapes. GiantMidsummerTall
Leaves of Lakeside Paisley Print hosta up close Lakeside Paisley Print Small hosta with wavy green margins around a feathery creamy white center, 10 inches tall. SmallMidsummerCompact
Leaves of Liberty hosta up close Liberty Sport of Sagae with blue-green leaves and wide yellow margins that fade to creamy white. MediumEarly summerTall
Leaves of Love Pat hosta up close Love Pat Hosta with round, intensely corrugated deep blue leaves in a 3 foot clump and white flowers. MediumEarly summerMedium height
Leaves of Mighty Mouse hosta up close Mighty Mouse Miniature hosta with thick blue-green leaves edged creamy yellow, then creamy white. MiniEarly summerCompact
Leaves of Minuteman hosta up close Minuteman Sport of Francee with very dark green leaves and wide pure white margins in an 22 to 24 inch mound. LargeEarly summerMedium height
Leaves of Pandora's Box hosta up close Pandora's Box Tiny mini hosta with quarter sized blue-green leaves centered in white, 3 inches tall. MiniMidsummerCompact
Leaves of Paradigm hosta up close Paradigm Large sun tolerant hosta with gold leaves edged in blue green. LargeMidsummerMedium height
Leaves of Patriot hosta up close Patriot White-margined hosta with deep green leaves in a 12 to 20 inch mound and lavender summer flowers. MediumMidsummerMedium height
Leaves of Royal Standard hosta up close Royal Standard Large hosta with glossy, wavy green leaves and white flowers in late summer. LargeLate summerTall
Leaves of Sagae hosta up close Sagae Large hosta with frosted blue-gray leaves edged in margins that turn from gold to cream. LargeMidsummerTall
Leaves of So Sweet hosta up close So Sweet Vigorous hosta with green leaves and narrow creamy white margins, 9 by 12 inches. MediumMidsummerCompact
Leaves of Stained Glass hosta up close Stained Glass Gold hosta with wide dark green margins, a 15 by 48 inch mound and pale lavender late summer flowers. MediumLate summerMedium height
Leaves of Sum and Substance hosta up close Sum and Substance Giant hosta with glossy chartreuse to gold leaves and more sun tolerance than most hostas. GiantMidsummerTall
Leaves of T Rex hosta up close T Rex Giant hosta with matte, slightly wavy green leaves up to about 18 inches long. GiantEarly summerTall
Leaves of Tiny Tears hosta up close Tiny Tears Very small venusta hybrid hosta with tiny green heart shaped leaves in tight clumps. MiniEarly summerCompact
Leaves of Twist of Lime hosta up close Twist of Lime Mini hosta with chartreuse yellow leaves edged in green, 4 to 8 inches tall. MiniLate springCompact
Leaves of Wide Brim hosta up close Wide Brim Medium hosta with rugose dark green leaves and wide creamy margins, pale lavender summer flowers. MediumMidsummerMedium height

How to choose

  1. Pick a size class for the space. The National Garden Bureau lists the American Hosta Society classes from Mini under 6 inches to Giant over 28 inches tall.

  2. Match leaf color to the light. NC State Extension notes that blue-leaved forms require deep shade, while green-leaved types will accept partial shade.

  3. Check where deer feed in your area. The National Garden Bureau calls hostas a highly desired food source for deer, particularly when they are emerging in spring.

Frequently asked questions

How much shade do hostas need?

Clemson Extension says hostas thrive in partial to full shade. NC State Extension adds that they perform well in morning sun and dappled shade, and that in southern regions it is best to plant them in full shade or dappled shade.

How do I keep slugs off hostas?

Clemson Extension calls garden slugs the most common problem of hostas. The National Garden Bureau says slugs tend to overwinter in hosta foliage, so cutting plants back in the fall can help reduce damage, and that thicker or crinkled-leaf varieties resist slugs better.

Browse every tag

Leaf color

Variegated leaves

Sun tolerance