Hosta is another of my favorite easy to grow perennials. If you are looking for a perennial for your shady spots, you cannot go wrong by chosing hosta. You can propagate hosta by dividing the clumps in summer, but if you don’t want to divide hosta it can grow in the same place for 20 years or more, only improving with age.

Hosta is available with varying leaf patterns and coloration. Leaf texture may be smooth, ribbed, or seersucker and may be flat, wavy, or twisted. Leaf color includes light green, dark green, gray, and bluish-green. Variegated hosta are also available. Although most hosta is grown for the beauty of the foilage hosta does bloom with white or lilac lilylike flowers. Some hostas, like hosta “ Royal Standard” have fragrant blooms.

Hosta performs best in shaded areas with moist, rich soils, but hosta can take some sun in the morning, if watered well and shaded from the hot afternoon sun. The only problem with hosta is chosing which ones to plant.