Hosta varieties are the perfect outdoor plants for any budding landscaper with gorgeous, wide leaves and dense foliage. They look mighty attractive as border plants or combined with their companion plants.
But many people ask what to plant with Hostas?
How much sun you get in your garden and how much sun Hosta companion plants like drive the answer to this question. But, Hosta leaves provide the perfect shade for variegated plants that need protection from the harsh sun.
Carry on reading to find out which plants make the best companions for Hostas.
What should I put around my Hostas: 8 great options
Knowing what to plant with Hostas is easy. A shady garden doesn’t faze them. As plenty of perennials love a bit of shade, Hostas are their best companion plants.
Hostas and their companion plants come in vivid and contrasting colors, textures, shapes, and heights. What’s more, you can use early-blooming perennials and spring bulbs in combination with your slow to emerge Hostas. A combo that gets your garden looking great bright even in the season.
Even when your Hostas have barely begun to shoot in early summer, you can add exciting colors and textures with these early-blooming companion plants. Then, come midsummer, your Hostas will be the main attraction when these early season plants disappear.
Some of these early blooming perennials include:
1. Euphorbia (Spurge)
If you’re after another bright and colorful companion to your Hostas, then the Euphorbia (Spurge) is a great option. The bright leaf color pop next to the lush foliage of your Hostas.
The Spurge’s tidy, mounding habit and bright foliage include chocolate brown, chartreuse, blue-green, and orange.
2. Epimedium (Barrenwort)
Another perfect spring-blooming perennial is the Epimedium (otherwise known as the Barrenwort).
While your variegated Hostas are still asleep, the Epimedium will give your garden some life and color with delicate, colorful flower clusters and decorative heart-shaped green leaves.
3. Spring-Flowering Bulbs
Spring bulbs are the absolute ideal companion for Hostas. Flowering early in the spring, these bulbs will add color to your garden. But don’t worry, they’ll still leave plenty of room when your Hostas are ready to bloom.
As the broad, decorative colorful foliage of the Hosta cover up any fading spring bulb foliage, your garden will look as lovely as ever.
Some of the most popular spring bulbs include:
- Daffodils
- Tulips
- Snowdrops
- Trillium
- Anemone
- Crocus
- Caladiums
- Scilla
- Muscari
- Alliums
- Fritillaria
4. Dicentra (Bleeding Heart)
The bright and tiny pink hearts of the Dicentra plant make a visually stunning contrast to your Hosta plants. Otherwise known as the Bleeding Heart plant because of their flowers, their soft, feathery leaves also look lovely next to extravagant Hosta foliage.
Once it emerges in early spring, the Bleeding Heart plant will quickly grow into an impressive three or four feet. Then, come mid-summer, your neighboring Hostas will have plenty of room to spread its wide leaf when the Dicentra fade until next spring.
5. Perennial Geraniums
If you have a sunny spot that you’re looking to fill and wonder what to plant with Hostas in the sun, Perennial Geraniums are a great choice. They like to be planted in full sun, but most varieties will do well in partial shade, meaning they can thrive next to Hosta plants.
Not only are these the most challenging and most reliable perennials to grow, but they also grow pretty loose and mounding. Perennial Geraniums are perfect for an early-growing season start as they flower from late spring through fall. Their flowers are also bright and varied in color.
6. Tiarella (Foam Flower)
If you’re still wondering what to plant with Hostas in the sun, the Foam Flower is another top option. Tiarella does well with heat and humidity, perfect for southern areas.
Many gardeners choose the Foam Flower due to its decorative dark green foliage that sits nicely next to the Hosta. Look out for creamy white bottle-brush or pale pink flowers in late spring.
7. Lamium (Spotted Dead Nettle)
Choose Lamium maculatum as a gorgeous ground cover for the edge of your Hosta garden. Not only does it boast super silvery foliage, but the lamium also sprouts bright purple, pink, or white flowers come late spring.
Always check with a reputable nursery, though, as some lamium types can be aggressive growers and challenging to control when planted in the right conditions.
8. Periwinkle
Vinca minor, otherwise known as Periwinkle, is perfect for shady spots in gardens where other plants don’t fair so well. This rugged, vigorous trailing plant will brighten your garden with pretty blossoms as it covers the area around your Hostas.
Again, always check your local nursery to see which ground covers are the least aggressive, or you might make a maintenance nightmare for yourself.
Where should you not plant Hostas?
So, now you know what to plant with Hostas, you might want to consider your basic Hosta care. But, first, you need to know where you shouldn’t plant Hostas.
Because Hostas work well in shady spots, your best bet is to grow your Hostas in full shade or sites that get less harsh, morning sun.
If you put your Hostas out in too much sunlight, their leaves may become bleached, scorched, and eventually will dry out.
Because they replicate so quickly, you’ll also want to avoid planting your Hosta in an exposed location. If not, you’re at risk of tattered foliage. Ideally, choose a spot protected from the wind, pets’ paws, or children’s trampling feet.