Description

Our “Fire and Ice” Hostas are incredibly striking. Their twisting leaves have large, white flames bordered by dark green edges. An excellent choice for shaded areas of the garden.

Hostas are one of the easiest perennials to care for and do well here in Alaska. They are widely adaptable; they thrive in partially shaded and sunny locations here in the far north. Hostas can also tolerate a variety of soil conditions, though it prefers well-drained soil and about an inch of water a week.

Hostas are edible! You can harvest leaves from the ‘hoston’(the rolled up leaf as it emerges in the spring) and either saute or boil them. Leaves are also edible when they are larger, though not as tender or tasty.

Planting:

Dig a hole three times the width of the pot, add compost or any other soil amendments, and plant at the same level as it was grown in the nursery. Hostas appreciate mulch in the summer after the soil has warmed.

Pruning:

Hostas are virtually maintenance-free, though you can cut off the flowers they produce in the summer, and some gardeners cut down leaves to the ground in the fall if slugs have been a problem. You can also dig up and divide the roots every few years to gain even more hostas!

Pests:

Hostas have few problematic pests. Slugs like hostas, but beer traps, eggshells, or diatomaceous earth are all natural solutions.