We have always said with the hundreds of varieties we hold, there's always a hosta for every garden now matter how big or small. With varieties ranging from compact and colourful to bold and architectural, choosing the right one comes down to space, light, and the look you want to achieve.
Not all hostas need a large border. Hosta 'Appletini' is a small, bright yellow variety that's perfect for small gardens, balconies, and containers. Its vivid foliage adds a pop of colour in shade and works especially well in pots where space is limited. Growing and collecting small and miniature hostas has become extremely popular in recent years. With so many new small and miniature varieties available, there are so many to choose from and you don't need a huge amount of space to hold a good size collection, so even people who only have a balcony may have enough space for a good number of plants.
For something in between, Hosta 'El Nino' is a medium-sized hosta with attractive blue leaves edged with stunning creamy white margins. It's a great all-rounder, ideal for shaded gardens of any size, and brings gentle contrast without overpowering surrounding plants. 'El Nino' is a tardiana variety, a very popular group of hostas known for there excellent growth habits, beauty and versatility. For more information on tardiana varieties, see our article - Tardiana Varieties, Why Are They So Popular?
If you're filling a larger border, go bold. Hosta 'Flemish Tradition' is a large hosta with thick, substantial leaves that hold their shape well. It's an excellent choice for borders where you want strong structure, texture, and impact. Choosing larger varieties with thicker leaves will also help protect against damage from slugs and snails that can be more prevalent in hostas planted in the ground.
Small hostas suit containers and tight spaces, medium varieties are perfect all-rounders either in the ground or pots, and large hostas shine when given room to spread out. Most importantly, all hostas thrive in dappled shade, making them invaluable for tricky shadier areas in your garden.
Choosing the right hosta is about balancing size and style, and with so many beautiful options there's one for every garden.
