I agree, it's what YOU prefer. Some folks like beds with nothing but different hostas in it, and those are stunning in their own right. Others like a mixed border, heavy on the hostas in the shade. Those are also full of interest due to the different bloom times and colors. The basics for any border are to put the large/ tall plants to the back and work your way forward like stadium seating. Artfully combining colors, textures and leaf shapes is just that, an art! But the forgiving part of gardening is that if you don't like how it looks one year, you can just move plants next year! That way there is no real failure, you know? Just have fun, take notes of what styles of borders you like, then emulate them.

First I take into account their size. I want them all to show. I did pretty well with height, but really underestimated how wide some spread.

Next I think of putting some solid colors in between all the variegated ones to help them all stand out better. I like them all mixed, but too many variegated sometimes looks too busy so I like to add in a blue, yellow, or solid green.

I like the ones with slightly arching leaves along the edge of paths. That looks elegant to me.

But like has been said, it is really all up to your tastes, and expect to have to move some again. Someone here showed an all blue bed, which I would have never thought to do, but it was really pretty.

And you might want to consider putting fragrants closer to where you walk so you can enjoy their scent when they flower.

You might consider planting the larger hosta at the back of the bed (as has been suggested), but keep ones that will go nearer to the front of your border in pots. Then you can place the pots on the soil and keep changing the arrangement until you find the one you like. Bear in mind, if you do this, that you may want to tie up the leaves with masking tape to keep them from getting damaged when planting. Keeping some hosta in pots will let you easily mix and match and visually "see" what you will be creating. That could be of benefit.

You should consider how large they will get. Many people prefer to plant in a 'Wave' pattern where the plants overlap. Others prefer to have them as specimens as Sandy does.

Large in the back is another basic.

If you plant all the same type, darker blue or green, variegated or lighter colors they will all blend in together and they will get 'lost in the crowd'. If you have a variegated in between mostly greens or blues it will stand out and pop; another way to highlight 'specimens'.

If you have multiple smaller hosta then I would suggest using them as a border. That is not to say that larger hosta don't make stunning borders. I think everyone's favorite border is Liberty which is big and bold.

If you are big into flowers then you might consider how the blooms will look from a color / height basis and bloom times. If smell turns you on, then a grouping of fragrants might please you.

Don't forget basic rules, such as, if you plant multiples then they should be in groups of 3, 5 and not even until you get to 6 when it just doesn't matter.

With hosta another consideration is amount of light they need. Darker blues and greens with thick leaves go in the shade while lighter greens, variegated hosta need more light. The lighter a hosta is the less chlorophyll it has and the more sun it needs. They also need more water. Thicker leaves with less sun need less watering and less sun.

Then you should consider the trees that provide shade. Some, like maples are tough on hosta and only large, tough hosta will survive without extra-ordinary efforts like spin out bags.

Jon

Too many wavy edged hosta planted together is hard to look at, imo. There's too much movement or something.

Jon, am I missing something or did you mean chlorophyll not cholesterol?

If you google 'hosta garden' and filter by images, you will see lots of beautiful pics. I recommend looking through them to find the look you want to achieve in your garden.

Connie

dgegory, yes. An easy slip for an old guy. ;-)

Here's a really great article about garden design and hostas: http://www.finegardening.com/designing-hostas

I also like to look at lots of photos - here on GW - and on a few blogs that are particularly good, like at Carolyn's Shade Gardens: http://carolynsshadegardens.com/tag/hosta-tokudama-flavocircinalis/

and at Three Dogs In a Garden: http://threedogsinagarden.blogspot.com/search?q=hostas

windymess, I enjoyed the links!

Jon, as a sister member of the 'old guy/gal' club, I hear ya brother ;-)

simply by size ... huge in back.. large closer.. etc .. up to minis up front ...

then generally .. never two of any type next to each other ... e.g. no two green together.. no two yellow edged green next to each other.. etc ...

when scanning the bed ... you dont want 2 alikes which stop your eye.. and make you think... what was i thinking ... but even that said.. go move them if you have a brain fart .. lol ..

and i always like a blue next to a yellow ...

take a gander at the link.. and see if you can understand what i mean ...

ken

https://www.google.com/search?q=hosta+beds&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiP4uS3gYLMAhVCmoMKHUbVDJUQsAQIPg&biw=999&bih=745&dpr=0.9#tbm=isch&q=hosta+plant+beds

Thanks for all the words of wisdom. Looking at the last website from the post above has given me a craving to increase my hosta beds and add other plants. I have 4 small 'tree' beds and the bigger bed in front of the porch. Maybe I can merge 2 of the tree beds into a peanut shape and have more planting room. Will have to see what the sun does there in the afternoon.

"given me a craving to increase my hosta beds" .....Yes! All us enablers have done our job, heehee. :-)