Hosta - perennial flowers, a popular ornamental plant, appreciated for the variability of leaf colors. The host, whose flower is bell-shaped, looks very modest. Common leaf colors are light green, bluish-gray, golden yellow, white, speckled and striped. The size and shape of the leaves allows you to choose the look that suits the garden interior. There are heart-shaped, almost round, narrow, long and small leaves. The sizes of the plant itself vary from dwarf 10 cm forms to giant bushes exceeding 1.5 meters in height.

Historical reference

What is a host? The hosts are home to Korea, Japan, the regions of the Far East and China. Plants grow in natural conditions on mountain slopes. Hosta was highly regarded in Japanese culture. It was grown as elements of paintings near monasteries and in oriental gardens. In China, with the help of the hosts, they carried out the decoration of the banks and pagodas. For a long time, the export of both adult plants and seeds abroad was prohibited.

Hosta

The first transfer of seeds took place at the end of the 18th century by E. Kempfer. After this incident, everyone started talking about the host, which had spread to the botanical gardens of Europe.

There is another name for hosts - function. Both of them correspond to the names of the doctors, but the plant itself does not have medicinal properties.

An interesting fact is the complexity of the initial classification of the plant. The host belonged to the Lileyns, after - to the Asparazhevs. Over time, a separate Hostovye family was allocated.

The complexity of the classification is represented by a wide variety of types of funky. In addition, due to the ability of cross-pollination, both in nature and in breeders, over 4000 hybrid forms of hosts have been bred. Today, in 2018, everything is known about hosts. They differ in appearance:

  • leaf shape (oval, round, heart-shaped, narrow);
  • the texture of the leaf blade ("varnished", bronze-metallic, wavy, "waffle");
  • bush size (range - from 10 to 150 cm in height);
  • leaf color (a riot of colors from green to blue, a combination of three colors or chameleons).

Reasons for choosing hosts

Hosta hybrid

Everything is known about the host plant. Such undeniable advantages as the host have helped to achieve wide popularity among summer cottage plants:

  • The existence of an abundance of wild species capable of interbreeding with each other makes it possible to obtain new unusual varieties;
  • The plant is unpretentious and undemanding to the area. It multiplies easily and takes root during transplantation;
  • Long life span of 10-30 years does not require transplantation;
  • Adaptive plasticity to external conditions makes the plant unique;
  • High resistance to many diseases and pests;
  • No negative impact on neighboring plant species;
  • Minimum cash consumption during the growing period.

The plant is unpretentious and undemanding to the area

Among connoisseurs of landscape design, funkia is a versatile plant. Combinations of hosta sectors with flowering or decorative deciduous perennial plants look good. Hosta is often used when shaping street curbs. The combination of items that are different in color, size and texture will create a unique design. The dwarf varieties tolerate container and pot cultivation well in the city in homes.

Hosta is a plant in which no medicinal and healing properties have been identified. Considered sacred in Japan, leaf stalks were used as a food delicacy.

general characteristics

Hosta blue

Representatives of the Khosta genus are low rosette perennial plants. As a rule, these are dense bushes, consisting of basal leaves. The average height of the hosta is on average 50-80 cm. However, there are miniature forms (up to 5 cm) and giant specimens (two-meter varieties). The root system is formed by filamentous roots extending from the rhizome.

How does the host bloom? Hosta, whose flowers look like bells, they are collected in loose inflorescences, towering on peduncles. The color ranges from white to deep purple. The hosta blooms in July-August. Pollination of the host occurs with the help of intermediaries - insect pollinators. At home, you can use the manual method: with a brush. A couple of months after pollination, seeds begin to set in flowers. The fruit is a brown capsule filled with brown seeds. However, flowers are not the main decorative quality of the hosta. The hosta description is prized for the special beauty of the leaves.

Hosta is a short rosette perennial plant

A number of leaves are collected in basal rosettes with a diameter of 20-100 cm. The size of the leaf blade varies from dwarf (the size of a matchbox) to large forms (up to half a meter). In addition to the linear size, the leaves stand out in shape. Narrow, rounded, heart-shaped have a different texture. With a shiny surface or matte, smooth or wrinkled, with a waxy coating or metallic sheen, in combination with the colors, create a unique sight.

The color palette of the leaves includes dark blue-green, light green to cream shades. Especially popular are the fringed leaves painted with stripes or strokes. The edges can be wavy or smooth, the tip of the sheet is elongated or curled.

Note. Is the hosta plant poisonous or not? Pet owners should be wary of growing a host. The plant, with its mild toxic properties, can cause vomiting and diarrhea in pets when eaten.

Characteristics of certain species and varieties

Hosta white-bordered got the name because of the leaves decorated with a white border. It differs from other types of hosts in its poor tolerance to subzero temperatures.

White host

The inflated hosts can grow up to 120 cm in height. The leaves of this hosta species look like hearts, rounded near the base with a pointed upward. The color can be either one-color or two-color. Blue-violet flowers grow up to 5 cm long.

Aureum Maculata variety is characterized by variegated color of leaves. In the center - light, yellowish-green with stripes of cream or yellow, on the edge - with a dark green border. By the end of the season, the leaves turn green.

Note! When grown in the shade of the Aureum variety, the leaves lose their variegated color.

Hosta wavy

Hosta wavy got its name from the elongated ellipsoidal wavy leaves. Depending on the variety, the color of the leaves can vary from monochromatic to multi-colored.

Erromena hosta prefers wet areas. Blossoms with lavender flowers. Especially tenacious, picky about the composition of the soil.

The white middle of the leaf, bordered by light green stripes of the Univitata variety, attracts the attention of gardeners. A wide bush, 60-90 cm in diameter, blooms with purple-lilac flowers.

Tall hosta can grow up to 1 m in height, with a diameter of 1-1.5 m. Dense, elongated, heart-shaped leaves are twisted along the edges. The veins on the leaf plate are depressed. Light purple flowers open in July.

Khosta Siebold is distinguished by large (35x25 cm) leaves. Matte, bluish-green heart-shaped, reminiscent of plantain leaves.Peduncles are small, often hidden among the foliage. Almost white flowers open for 2 weeks at the end of July. During this period, the leaves turn dark green.

Lanceolate hosta is characterized by narrow leaves, 7-8 cm wide, on a long grooved petiole. The leaf blades are located in different planes. It blooms in late August with purple flowers.

Hosta-like plants

There are plants that resemble hosta in appearance. Drimiopsis has become widespread as a houseplant in an apartment. Unlike the root system, the hosts have well-developed roots. It is also an unpretentious and beautiful plant, blooming twice a year with a dense inflorescence, with a rapidly growing crown.

Stemless evening primrose, before blooming, is similar to the miniature hosta variety. Evening primrose blooms at dusk. Like hosta, it prefers partial shade, and is also hardy and drought-resistant.

Features of agricultural technology

Suitable for host bushes are moist, humus-rich loams. Choosing the right light level will allow the bushes to grow quickly. You can get dense outlets by following the rules of care. It is preferable to plant the hosta in shaded areas, however, it can withstand direct sunlight for a short time.

Attention! When growing varieties with golden leaves, a brighter color can be achieved by choosing an area illuminated only in the morning.

Host grows slowly

The pH balance of the soil should be neutral or slightly acidic. For harmonious growth, hosta shrubs need a high content of organic matter in the soil. The optimal solution for applying manure is to create a layer of mulch with a thickness of 5-7 cm. In spring, mulch can be embedded shallowly into the soil. The formation of mulch in the summer will allow, in addition to the fertilization function, to keep the moisture of the soil layer. In addition, covering the ground with mulch reduces the growth of weeds. As mulch, you can use a broken shell brought from the sea after a vacation.

The host grows slowly. Up to 4-5 years of age, the bushes have a small decorative function. Mullein infusion can be used as a top dressing. It stimulates the rapid growth of leaf mass.

After the end of the summer season, dead leaves must be cut off with a pruner. Sprinkle the bushes with peat, especially in areas with harsh winters.

Reproduction occurs by dividing the overgrown bush. It is better to replant the planting in the spring, before the leaves open. Despite the love of the hosta for quiet growth, it is recommended to plant the bushes every 5 years. After dividing, young plants must be watered regularly until rooting is complete.

Important! It is inappropriate to carry out reproduction using seeds. In this case, there is no guarantee of inheritance of parental traits.

Diseases and pests

Hosta is one of the most resistant plants. However, despite a strong immune system, there are diseases that attack the plant.

The danger for the development of hosts are snails and slugs

The HVX virus manifests itself in irregular spots on the leaves. In addition, deformation of the leaves occurs, and individual parts become dehydrated. The transmission of the virus is the sap of the plant. To prevent the spread of infection, it is necessary to disinfect garden tools before working with plants.

Root collar rot is common in excessively thickened gardens in damp and clayey places or with an excess of applied fertilizer. Leaf dieback (becoming sticky and soft) is the first sign of infection. The affected plant must be dug out by cutting off the injured tissue, and the roots must be treated with fungicidal agents. When landing in the planting pit, you can add several tablets of glyocladine and sand.

Fungal infections are also not uncommon for hosts. An overabundance of nitrogenous fertilizers, moist soil and moist air can provoke the development of a fungus. The appearance of brown, merging spots is observed with phylosticosis. The affected tissues die off and fall out.Diseased leaves must be cut and burned. For the remaining bush, reduce the abundance of watering and treat with commercial preparations. This can be Vetktra (3 ml per bucket of water), Abiga Peak (50 grams per bucket of water) or Strobi (4 grams per bucket of water). The treatment must be repeated after 10 days. For preventive purposes, you can spray the flower with copper sulfate or sulfur.

Gray rot is manifested with decay of the tips of the leaves, spreading to the entire leaf blade. In the early stages, you need to treat the bush with Bordeaux liquid or purchased products (Cuproscat, Topaz or Champion). Severely damaged plants must be destroyed.

Snails and slugs pose a danger to the development of hosts. Injury to the leaves occurs before they open, leaving a white slime coating. To control pests, ash, lime or tobacco should be poured onto the ground. The creation of mulch from the needles will also reduce the risk of infection.

Summing up, we can say that the hosta will be a wonderful decoration of the garden. The creation of optimal conditions for maintenance and care will allow you to get a plant densely overgrown with decorative leaves. The hosta's unpretentiousness and resistance to most common diseases make the species popular among both beginners and experienced gardeners.