Medium hostas are where most gardens start, and where many of the classics live. With a leaf mound of about 30–50 cm, they fill a border without taking it over, edge a path, cover the ground under shrubs and grow happily in a large container.
Medium hostas
Halcyon, Patriot and Francee are all medium-sized. Because the size suits almost any spot, every colour and pattern is represented here: blue, gold, plain green, white-edged and white-centred, as well as fragrant and slug-resistant varieties. Most mature clumps end up wider than they are tall, roughly 60–100 cm across, and they reach their full size sooner than the giants, so a new border looks finished within a few seasons.
Plant them about 50 cm apart in shade or partial shade, in humus-rich soil that stays moist. Every pack contains 2 plants of the same variety and comes with our 100% growing guarantee. We ship from 1 March to 1 July.
In our range no size offers more choice, so start with the colour you want.
If you are not sure where to start, choose a proven classic: Patriot for a white edge, Halcyon for blue and Stained Glass for a gold centre. All three are Hosta of the Year winners, forgiving and easy to combine with each other. More are in our Hosta of the Year collection.
In a shady border, medium hostas belong in the middle: miniatures and small hostas in front, large and giant ones behind. That is where most of the colour sits, so it is the place for your favourite pattern. Repeat two or three varieties along the border rather than planting one of each, and vary the leaf texture: a glossy green, a puckered blue and a white-edged variety look good together without competing.
Planted about 50 cm apart in a grid, medium hostas close into a continuous carpet within a few seasons and keep weeds down under shrubs and trees. A single variety gives the calmest effect. For more life, combine two that share a colour, such as a plain blue and a blue with a cream edge.
Most medium hostas want shade or partial shade, and the leaf tells you which. Blue ones keep their colour best in shade, gold ones colour up with a little morning sun, and white-centred ones need shelter from strong sun. Plain green and white-edged varieties are the most adaptable of all.
A medium hosta usually looks established in its second summer and reaches full size in about three years. In the first year, leave the gaps open or fill them with spring bulbs or annuals rather than planting closer than 50 cm: crowded hostas soon compete for water.
A medium hosta is the right size for a pot of 30–40 cm across: big enough to make an impression, small enough to move. Choose one with a strong outline, such as Fire and Ice or Patriot, and give it a pot with drainage holes, good compost and regular water. After a few years, divide it or move it to a bigger pot in early spring.
Two medium hostas of different colours, one on each side of a path, frame it neatly, and three planted in a triangle make a small, complete scheme. Try a blue, a gold-centred and a white-edged variety together, for example Halcyon, Stained Glass and Patriot.
A medium hosta forms a leaf mound about 30–50 cm high and usually spreads to 60–100 cm across when mature, with flower stems rising higher. Patriot, for example, reaches about 30–45 cm high and 75–90 cm wide, and Halcyon about 40–45 cm high and 80–100 cm wide.
Sunny Halcyon, Hi-Class, Undulata Albomarginata, Whirlwind and Banana Kid cope with more sun than most, as do the fragrant Sugar and Spice, Venus and Aphrodite. Keep the soil moist and avoid hot afternoon sun. More are in our sun-tolerant hostas.
Halcyon, Devon Green and Bullet Proof are good choices with thick leaves, together with Praying Hands, Smash Hit and Sunset Grooves. See all slug-resistant hostas.
Planting
Hostas grow best in moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Dig plenty of compost or well-rotted manure into the whole bed before planting: it helps clay drain and sandy soil hold water. Avoid ground that stays waterlogged, mulch every spring and feed lightly, because good soil matters more than fertiliser.
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