Hostas: 7 ideas for successful combinations

For a woodland garden in a very natural style

As they thrive in cool and shaded conditions, hostas are perfect at the base of trees to recreate natural forest atmosphere. This sense of nature and freshness is enhanced by delicate foliage of ferns, such as Dryopteris wallichiana, which bears large, feathery, bright green leaves. Solomon’s seal will find its place alongside them, with magnificent foliage and trailing white bell-shaped flowers. You can also create carpets of Sweet woodruff, a lovely small perennial with star-shaped foliage and delicate small white flowers. Also enjoy blooms of Epimedium, Geranium nodosum, Allium ursinum, foxglove or Montia sibirica. Also discover the bluebell, prized for its delicate blue bell-shaped blooms. Regarding hostas, I recommend a variety whose leaf margins are delicately highlighted by a white or cream-yellow edging to bring a touch of brightness to this shaded garden: for example ‘Shade Fanfare’ or ‘Twilight’. Planting these together will ensure a fresh, lush atmosphere, ideal for recharging!

Dryopteris wallichiana, Montia sibirica and Hosta ‘Twilight’, bluebell (photo Olivier Pichard), Sweet woodruff, and Pachysandra terminalis (photo Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz)

For an exotic, lush style

It must be admitted that Hosta offers impressive foliage that fits very well into an exotic setting. Choose from giant hostas: for example the variety ‘Empress Wu’, which can reach up to 1.30 m in every direction. You can also opt for Hosta ‘Sum and Substance’, which takes on a lovely light green–yellow tone. The idea is to bring together plants with generous foliage to create a “jungle garden” atmosphere. Plant, for example, Gunnera, arborescent ferns, Datisca cannabina, Fatsia japonica… You can plant a hardy banana, such as Musa basjoo, which tolerates between -12°C and -15°C. Lianas or climbing plants will also have their place in this garden style: choose, for example, Akebia quinata or trumpet creeper. For flowering, favour warm hues (yellow, orange, red), with, for example, Hedychium, Canna, or nasturtium Tropaeolium tricolor.

Canna ‘Brilliant’ (photo Steven Bemelman – iBulb), Hosta ‘Sum and Substance’, Akebia quinata, Tetrapanax papyrifer ‘Rex’, Campsis radicans (photo Dinesh Valke), Datisca cannabina

In an Asian garden

Originating from China, Japan and Korea, hostas are perfect for creating an Asian or zen garden. You can place a border of bamboos at rear or around garden to add strong graphic lines and verticality. Japanese maples will bring a poetic touch with elegant silhouettes and finely divided leafage that develop beautiful autumnal colours. Also consider installing bushes pruned into cloud shapes (niwaki). Take advantage of very nival zone-like habit, formed of horizontal branches, of Cornus kousa, a dogwood that bears an elegant flowering in late spring made up of four large white petals. You can also include ferns such as Coniogramme emeiensis, whose fronds are striate with yellow. Use groundcover plants like Helxine or Sagina subulata, to cover soil like moss. For hostas, I recommend variety ‘Stiletto’, for its nicely tapered leaves edged with a white rim.

For more ideas and inspiration, consult our advice sheets “10 perennial plants for Japanese garden” and “7 ideas for combinations in Japanese garden”.

Hosta ‘Stiletto’, Acer palmatum ‘Atropurpureum’ (photo Jean-Pol Grandmont), Coniogramme emeiensis (photo Cephas), Cornus kousa ‘Venus’ (photo De Nolf), Phyllostachys nigra

For a graphic ambience

Hostas fit beautifully into a clean, graphic scene, for example in a contemporary city garden. Choose a variety such as Hosta tardiana ‘Halcyon’, which bears superb grey-blue leaves. To structure the flowerbed, plant horsetails, Japanese maples and some neatly pruned bushes. They will create a formal, understated setting. You can also define beds with edging of Ophiopogon planiscapus or Liriope muscari. For flowering, choose neutral, chic tones such as white, blue-grey, black, burgundy, purple… but avoid colours that are too bright such as pink, orange or yellow. You could opt, for example, for Echinops ritro, Agapanthus or Alliums, which produce beautiful spherical flowerheads. Finally, ferns such as Athyrium niponicum also have a place in this garden style! They will bring incomparable graphic interest and plenty of lightness.

Horsetail Equisetum hyemale, Athyrium niponicum ‘Pewter Lace’, Agapanthus ‘Black Magic’, Hosta tardiana ‘Halcyon’

In a cool, shaded rockery

You can certainly plant hostas in a shaded rockery. In that case, preferably choose a dwarf variety, such as ‘Blue Mouse Ears’, which bears small grey-blue leaves. Create a raised bed in the shade of trees, and place large stones to help retain the soil. Plant Epimediums, Corydalis, Liriope muscari between the stones… Opt for small plants that form clumps or tapetum. Also make use of ferns such as Hart’s-tongue or Cyrtomium falcatum. Variegated foliage of the grass Carex morrowii ‘Variegata’ will add a touch of brightness. Also discover the delicate Saxifraga umbrosa ‘Variegata’, which bears imbricate leaves in rosettes and reveals small, very delicate white flowers in spring. Don’t hesitate to cover the soil with Sagina subulata, a small perennial resembling moss that hugs the shape of the soil. For more ideas and inspiration, see our advice sheet: “10 plants to create a shady rockery”

Epimedium franchetii (photo SB Johnny), Cyrtomium falcatum (photo Denis Prévôt), Carex morrowii ‘Variegata’, Hosta ‘Blue Mouse Ears’ (photo Andy Mabbett), Saxifraga arendsii ‘Adebar’ (photo Natali Krmpotic Kolic)

Variegated hostas and white flowering

Many varieties of hostas offer variegated white foliage. They are perfect for creating an elegant display alongside white-flowering plants: for example, combine the hosta ‘Silver Crown’ with the tulip ‘Hibernia’ and the pansy ‘Matrix White’. Bright flowering of tulips and pansies will echo the variegated foliage of hostas to create a chic, elegant border that reflects light. You can also plant Digitalis purpurea ‘Alba’, Astrantia major ‘White Giant’, columbine ‘Snow Queen’, white-flowering astilbes, or Aegopodium podagraria ‘Variegata’. For bushes, choose Cornus alba ‘Ivory Halo’ or Philadelphus coronarius ‘Variegatus’. These white-flowering plants and variegated foliage will beautifully brighten a shady corner of your garden!

White border with Hosta ‘Silver Crown’, Tulip ‘Hibernia’ and pansy ‘Matrix White’ (photo Clive Nichols – MAP), Dicentra spectabilis ‘Alba’, Hosta ‘Cascades’ and Anemone coronaria ‘The Bride’ (photo anneheathen)

To create contrast with dark foliage

Hostas with light green or variegated leaves create contrast with perennials with dark foliage. Choose for example hosta ‘Morning Light’, to plant alongside Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’, heuchera ‘Obsidian’ and Ajuga reptans ‘Black Scallop’… For bushes, include elder ‘Black Lace’, Cotinus ‘Grace’ or ‘Royal Purple’ and Physocarpus ‘Midnight’. Also add small bright touches to accompany hosta with Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ or Lysimaque nummularia ‘Aurea’. You will achieve a striking border with dramatic contrast !

Hosta ‘Morning Light’, Physocarpus ‘Midnight’, Heuchera ‘Obsidian’, Hakonechloa macra ‘Alboaurea’ (photo Cillas), and Cotinus ‘Grace’