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Gums & Maples......Planting Hostas

14 years ago

I have been told from many in this forum that maples and hostas do not mix. From my experience I do very much believe that this is a botanical truth.

When I was taking a walk the other day, I noticed two huge hostas that were thriving at the base of a gum tree (yes one of those horrible trees that produces those nasty gum balls).

What's everyone else's experience with hostas vs maples, and hostas vs. gums.

I have a huge gum tree in my front yard that I am threatening to murder (because of the gumballs), but if hostas can reliably thrive under these things I will certainly give it a second thought. I really do love the tree....I just hate the gumballs.

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Comments (5)

mjjones453
14 years ago
I have two maples that give me shade. That said, I am planting hostas, but watching them closely. I have had some that have gotten smaller, I move them, so I don't lose them. I refuse to give up my hobby because of them, so I work around them. I guess it is a challange, but I am not going to cut the trees down and lose the shade they provide. I guess that what I can't figure out is why anyone would plant Maples around houses with septic fields. What were they thinking when they built the house! I guess it was shade quickly. Mary
lindac
14 years ago
I grow hosta under maples with no problems....They are sugar maples not silver maples....and I have a big hosta bed under an amur maple and all are doing well.
Yes there are roots in the soil when I dig to plant them.....but they are doing just fine!
The only places I have dwindling problems is at the base if the privet hedge.
Linda C
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if the tree is basically destroying the invasive weed known as GRASS ... odds are .. its going to be a battle to SUCCESSFULLY grow hosta under it ... now maybe some of the workhorses.. like undulatas.. might work.. and compete .. but dont waste a lot of money with foo foo ones ... can it be done.. sure.. why not.. with a lot of hard work.. anything is possible ... will it be easy.. no ... frankly... kill all the grass.. throw down a bed of mulch.. install some garden chairs.. pot up some hosta.. and use it as a seating area.. with potted hosta .. and avoid battling the tree altogether ... and most likely.. the tree will figure out how to grow roots into the pots on the surface ... ken
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The type of trees you have your hostas planted under will make a difference. My sister and I share a passion for hostas. I started her out with sharing what few kinds I had almost 30 years ago. She collected more then shared with me when we moved here in '93. All my hosta have grown larger than hers as I have my neighbors oaks to grow under + white pine and cedar. Hers are grown under spruse and they fight each other for water. She has to water I try not to unless it is super dry. The standards you read about for each hosta you buy will not always be what you get at the maturity of your plant. Just enjoy and don't worry! Connie
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Carol_from_ny
14 years ago
I have hostas growing under sugar maples too. My maples are fairly old perhaps close to 100 yrs old. They seem to be doing just fine.
bama_gardener
14 years ago
I have hostas planted where a maple once grew-had to be removed because of disease-and my hostas have been growing and increasing in size for 5-6 years. I haven't had any problems.
thisismelissa
14 years ago
I also grow hosta under maples and have no problems. I mean, yeah, I lose a few every year, but I don't think any more than most. I think I lost about 2-3% this year. Others are in decline, but I cannot directly attribute that to maples, since we had a very dry spring here (we're like 12" below normal.
As a point of reference, the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum has an extensive hosta grove. And by and large, the canopy is comprised of maples!

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