Hostas, often called plantain lilies, are perennials known for their diverse foliage and ability to thrive in shaded environments. Their wide range of leaf colors, textures, and sizes makes them a popular choice for woodland borders or container displays. Acquiring healthy hostas requires understanding the different purchasing channels available and knowing how to assess plant quality. This guide will navigate the pathways for buying these shade-loving plants.
Local and Retail Garden Centers
Physical retail locations offer the immediate benefit of visually inspecting the hosta before purchase. Large chain home improvement stores provide the most accessible option, offering common cultivars at lower prices throughout the spring planting season. However, their variety is often limited, and quality control can be less rigorous than specialized locations.
Independent local nurseries tend to offer a more curated selection and a higher standard of plant health. While prices might be slightly higher, these nurseries often stock cultivars better suited to the local climate and growing conditions. Staff typically possess localized horticultural knowledge, offering advice specific to regional pests, diseases, and soil needs. This immediate access to expert guidance and the ability to personally examine the foliage and container is a significant advantage.
Specialty Nurseries and Online Mail Order
For gardeners seeking rare or newly introduced hosta varieties, specialty nurseries and online mail-order retailers are the primary source. These vendors focus exclusively on hostas, offering access to thousands of unique cultivars that local garden centers cannot stock. This avenue is essential for acquiring plants with specific, uncommon characteristics like unique variegation patterns or unusual leaf textures.
When ordering plants remotely, investigate the vendor’s reputation concerning packaging and shipping methods. The success of a mail-order hosta depends heavily on how well the plant is protected from damage and desiccation during transit. Reviewing customer feedback about the condition of delivered plants is a sensible step before placing an order. Specialty retailers often ship hostas either potted or bare-root, requiring immediate planting upon arrival.
Understanding Purchase Formats and Timing
Hostas are typically sold in two primary physical states: containerized plants or bare-root divisions. Containerized plants are grown in soil within a pot and are the most straightforward option for planting, suffering minimal transplant shock. These potted hostas are generally more expensive due to the cost of the medium, labor, and container, but they can be planted any time the ground is workable.
Bare-root hostas are dormant divisions shipped without soil, consisting only of the crown and attached roots. This format is significantly cheaper and is often the standard for mail-order purchases, especially in early spring. Bare-root plants require rehydration, often by soaking the roots in water for 30 to 60 minutes before planting.
The optimal time for purchasing and planting hostas is generally in the spring, allowing the plant the entire growing season to establish. Purchasing in early autumn is also favorable, especially for bare-root varieties. Cooler temperatures and regular moisture aid root establishment before the winter freeze.
Inspecting Plants for Quality and Health
A thorough inspection of any hosta plant, regardless of the source, is necessary to prevent introducing pests or diseases into the garden.
Hosta Virus X (HVX)
Examine the leaves closely for signs of Hosta Virus X (HVX), a non-curable pathogen that spreads through contaminated tools and sap. Symptoms may include mottled or “ink-bleeding” patterns along the leaf veins, puckering, or an unusual lumpy texture on the foliage. Since an infected plant will not recover and can spread the virus, plants showing these signs must be avoided entirely.
Beyond viral concerns, look for physical damage and common pests such as slugs and snails, which leave irregular holes in the leaves. Foliar nematodes, microscopic roundworms, can also be present, leaving distinct brown or yellow streaks between the leaf veins. If buying a containerized plant, check the drainage holes to ensure the plant is not severely root-bound. For bare-root purchases, the roots should be firm and pliable, not brittle, mushy, or dried out. If a mail-order hosta arrives damaged or diseased, document the issue with photographs and contact the vendor immediately.