Hosta Alternatives for the Shaded Garden
Discover which foliage plants to use instead of or in addition to hostas in the landscape
Curtis Adams
June 29, 2017
Houzz Contributor. Landscape designer, native plant enthusiast and blogger located in west-central Maryland. I have always had an interest in things botanical, especially species that are native to a particular locale. When it was time to start a second career I decided that the best way to build on this interest and to educate others about the wonderful plants that grow in their own region was to train to become a landscape designer. I completed the Landscape Design certificate program at Harvard's Landscape Institute and launched my own business, Adams Garden, in the Boston area. In 2012 I moved to Knoxville, MD where I am continuing to evaluate native plants, work on removing invasive plants and continue my design business. You can find my blog at http://adamsgardennativeplants.blogspot.com/...
Houzz Contributor. Landscape designer, native plant enthusiast and blogger located... More
For all the wonderful things that hosta offers, it does have downsides that limit its use. Hostas are a favorite food for deer, and they often are severely disfigured by slugs and a viral disease. Their large leaves are subject to sunburn if not kept moist, and they can be damaged in a hailstorm. Hostas require a period of winter dormancy of at least 30 days where the temperature remains below 43 degrees Fahrenheit, or 6 degrees Celsius. Climates above USDA Zone 9 (find your zone) aren’t reliably chilly enough to trigger this dormant period. All types of hostas have their origins in east Asia. For those who want to use native plant species to support the indigenous ecosystems, hostas don’t fit the bill.
In my garden designs, I use primarily North American native species, but I still find myself turning to hostas to fill some roles. I tend to do this because it’s so easy, not because of a lack of alternative plants that can serve the same purpose. What I would like to do here is provide you with substitutes to use in a variety of garden design situations where hostas often are chosen by default.
The main features of hosta that I’m considering here are its attractive foliage (usually broad and smooth), winter hardiness, shade tolerance and generally low maintenance. One feature I really like about hosta is that it totally retreats below the soil surface during the winter, making bed maintenance and snow removal a snap. While most of these alternatives won’t look identical to hosta, they will function in much the same way and expand the diversity in the garden.
Here are some garden design situations where hosta is often used and a list of alternative species.
The main features of hosta that I’m considering here are its attractive foliage (usually broad and smooth), winter hardiness, shade tolerance and generally low maintenance. One feature I really like about hosta is that it totally retreats below the soil surface during the winter, making bed maintenance and snow removal a snap. While most of these alternatives won’t look identical to hosta, they will function in much the same way and expand the diversity in the garden.
Here are some garden design situations where hosta is often used and a list of alternative species.
Rodgersia podophylla ‘Rotlaub’ is a cultivar that grows to 3 to 5 feet tall and features bronzy spring growth. Here we see it with ‘Little Heath’ Japanese andromeda (Pieris japonica ‘Little Heath’), which features pink spring growth.
Large, mounding fillers. Large hosta cultivars can reach 4 feet in height and fill in a lot of space with their large leaves. These can be used as feature plants or to fill in shaded space under larger trees and shrubs. Other large perennials that could be used in the same way include:
Large, mounding fillers. Large hosta cultivars can reach 4 feet in height and fill in a lot of space with their large leaves. These can be used as feature plants or to fill in shaded space under larger trees and shrubs. Other large perennials that could be used in the same way include:
- False anemone (Anemonopsis macrophylla, zones 4 to 8)
- False hydrangea (Deinanthe bifida, zones 4 to 8)
- Ligularia (several species, zones 4 to 8)
- Rodgersia (several species, zones 3 to 9)
- Yellow wax bells (Kirengeshoma palmata, zones 5 to 8)
- Umbrella leaf (Diphylleia cymosa, zones 4 to 8), native to the southeastern U.S.
- Umbrella plant (Darmera peltata, zones 5 to 7), native to Northern California and the Pacific Northwest
Heart-shaped leaves with white markings make ‘Jack Frost’ largeleaf brunnera a good hosta alternative.
Medium-size fillers. The medium-size mounding hostas are probably the most versatile and commonly used. Perennials that function the same way and have attractive, long-lasting foliage include lady’s mantle (Alchemilla mollis, zones 3 to 8) and largeleaf brunnera (Brunnera macrophylla and cvs., zones 3 to 8).
Medium-size fillers. The medium-size mounding hostas are probably the most versatile and commonly used. Perennials that function the same way and have attractive, long-lasting foliage include lady’s mantle (Alchemilla mollis, zones 3 to 8) and largeleaf brunnera (Brunnera macrophylla and cvs., zones 3 to 8).
Outward-spreading Solomon’s plume is similar in form to many medium-size hostas; to the front left are some mayapples.
There are a number of North American species to consider as midsize fillers:
There are a number of North American species to consider as midsize fillers:
- Cultivars of alumroot and coral bells (Heuchera spp. and cvs.)
- Bigleaf aster (Eurybia macrophylla, zones 2 to 6)
- Solomon’s plume (Maianthemum racemosum, zones 3 or 4 to 7)
- Jack in the pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum, zones 4 to 9)
- Wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis, zones 3 to 9)
- Sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis, zones 4 to 8), whose rather broad leaflets (pinnae) for a fern could be considered a hosta substitute
- Mayapples (Podophyllum spp.) and trilliums (Trillum spp.), spring ephemerals with showy, large foliage in early spring
A patch of variegated Solomon’s seal grows in dry shade under pine trees.
Variegated Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum odoratum ‘Variegatum’, zones 3 to 8) is a favorite substitute for upright hostas, as it has both the arching form and the green-and-white foliage. Several other species of Solomon’s seal also could be considered. Great Solomon’s seal (P. biflorum var. commutatum, zones 3 to 7) is a North American species that can grow over 4 feet tall.
Also look to ferns for this arching form. Two North American ferns with vase-like forms and somewhat broader “leaves” are cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinnamomea, zones 3 to 9) and interrupted fern (O. claytoniana, zones 3 to 8).
Another option here is dwarf fetterbush (Leucothoe fontanesiana ‘Nana’, zones 5 to 8). This is a dwarf woody evergreen growing to 2 to 3 feet in height. The glossy leaves on arching stems makes it worth consideration.
Variegated Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum odoratum ‘Variegatum’, zones 3 to 8) is a favorite substitute for upright hostas, as it has both the arching form and the green-and-white foliage. Several other species of Solomon’s seal also could be considered. Great Solomon’s seal (P. biflorum var. commutatum, zones 3 to 7) is a North American species that can grow over 4 feet tall.
Also look to ferns for this arching form. Two North American ferns with vase-like forms and somewhat broader “leaves” are cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinnamomea, zones 3 to 9) and interrupted fern (O. claytoniana, zones 3 to 8).
Another option here is dwarf fetterbush (Leucothoe fontanesiana ‘Nana’, zones 5 to 8). This is a dwarf woody evergreen growing to 2 to 3 feet in height. The glossy leaves on arching stems makes it worth consideration.
Bergenia cordifolia, with its large green leaves, fills a container in Seattle.
Ground covers or miniatures. There are a number of hosta cultivars that measure under 1 foot in height. These work well in containers or in the garden as ground covers or accent plants.
Alternatives for this type of hosta include:
Ground covers or miniatures. There are a number of hosta cultivars that measure under 1 foot in height. These work well in containers or in the garden as ground covers or accent plants.
Alternatives for this type of hosta include:
- Wild gingers (Asarum spp.), some of which are evergreen
- Canada mayflower (Maianthemum canadense, zones 3 to 8)
- Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis, zones 2 to 7)
- Bergenia (several species), which has long-lasting, large and glossy leaves
- Violets (Viola spp.)
This planting is dominated by foliage plants, including hostas. The white leaves in front are from a cultivar of Philippine evergreen, and the purplish leaves are from a rex begonia.
Substitutes for warmer climates. In climates that don’t get cold enough for hostas or many of the substitutes listed above, another option is to use tender perennials or tropical species that have similar leaf forms.
For gardens in colder climates, these plants can be used as annuals or grown in the garden in pots and brought indoors for the colder weather:
How to Design a Beautiful Shade Garden
Garden-Friendly Native Alternatives to Overplanted Exotics
Substitutes for warmer climates. In climates that don’t get cold enough for hostas or many of the substitutes listed above, another option is to use tender perennials or tropical species that have similar leaf forms.
For gardens in colder climates, these plants can be used as annuals or grown in the garden in pots and brought indoors for the colder weather:
- Elephant’s ears (Caladium spp. and Alocasia spp.), which offer supersize foliage
- Hybrids and cultivars of rex begonia (Begonia rex-cultorum, zones 10 to 11), which have interesting leaves and a size similar to the midsize hostas.
- Cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior, zones 8 to 10) and its relatives, which have broad straplike foliage very similar to many hostas and are appropriate for warmer climates
- Philippine evergreen (Aglaonema commutatum, zones 10 to 12) and its cultivars, which have similar features and are appropriate for even warmer climates
How to Design a Beautiful Shade Garden
Garden-Friendly Native Alternatives to Overplanted Exotics
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To save your Hostas from the deer, I suggest you buy the most expensive Coral Bell you can find and give it to your neighbor. The deer love them!