Dream Queen Hosta – Character & Beauty

Dream Queen hosta planted in the garden.

‘Dream Queen’ Hosta is a robust plant known for its thick, blue-green leaves with light yellow centers that exude an abundance of character. The corrugated leaves are highly resistant to slugs and are sometimes bypassed by deer and rabbits. In the summer months, the ‘Dream Queen’ produces 2-inch white flowers on tall scapes with noticeable … Read more

Miniature Hostas: What They Are and How to Care for Them

Blue Mouse Ears, the most popular of the miniature hostas.

A mini hosta packs all the punch that a hosta does, only in a smaller space. They are just as hardy as standard hostas and just as easy to care for. If you are unfamiliar with miniature hostas or are deciding whether to include them in your garden this year, then read through the rest … Read more

Growing Bare Root Hostas (Save Money & It’s Easy to Do)

A bare root hosta ready to plant.

When most people think of planting and growing hostas, they don’t think of starting from a bare root hosta. Instead, they usually buy a small hosta plant or divide some of their larger hostas and plant them in shady areas of their yards and gardens. But, if you’re like me, you’re always up for trying … Read more

Can Hostas Grow in Sandy Soil

Can hostas grow in sandy soil? Here you see shoots emerging in sandy soil.

Because hostas are such a hardy and beautiful perennial, it’s possible to grow them in a host of different types of soil. You can have your hosta plants in sandy soil and heavier clay soil. However, I’ve noticed that hostas prefer moist, rich, and well-draining loamy soil that contains a lot of organic matter to … Read more

How to Grow Hostas Under Trees – Learn How to Succeed

Hostas under a big old tree.

You most likely know that hostas do very well growing in partial shade, and different species and cultivars thrive in USDA hardiness zones 3 to 9 . Therefore, it’s possible to grow hostas under trees, as I’ve found out over the years. The trees and hostas can compete for water, but this is a relatively easy … Read more

A Guide to Fast Growing Hostas

Guacamole a fast growing hosta.

Did you know that hosta cultivars grow at different rates? It surprised me when I first started getting into these plants to see that some had a quick growth habit and some were slow. My goal was to get a full yard along the edges in the shade as quickly as possible, so I did … Read more

Dividing Hostas: A Simple How To, When To and Why Guide

Everyone wants big beautiful hostas dotting their yard. I know I love them when they fill in my shaded areas and make the entire garden look lush and full. So, why would you ever divide them? Not only does this make them smaller, but it can be additional work for you to do.  However, I … Read more

How to Water Hostas: The Basics, How Much, How Often and Why

Young boy watering or more likely playing

How to water hostas, it sounds simple, but, but… These plants love moisture and they die in waterlogged soil. Let’s talk about the secret to watering hostas. Large hostas or those grown in sun should receive 1.5-2” of water each week. Smaller varieties will need just 1” of water, as will those grown in shade. … Read more

Lovely Hosta Flowers – A Delightful Summer Garden Surprise

White hosta flowers with leaves

Many growers of old thought little of the flowers on their hostas and made it a practice to cut the flower scapes before they flowered so as not to detract from the gorgeous foliage. A few still behead their hostas to this day. Thanks to hybridizers that produce thousands of hostas to find the ONE, … Read more

Rain Tree Gardens is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for websites to earn advertising revenues by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.