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Hostas are a genus of about 70 species of mostly clump-forming, occasionally rhizomatous or stoloniferous perennials from sun-baked volcanic cliffs, rocky streamsides, woodland and alpine meadows in China, Korea, Japan and Eastern Russia.

Numerous hybrids have also been raised, mainly in the United States of America.

Hostas are grown primarily for their bold foliage, produced in dense mounds of overlapping, ovate to heart-shaped or lance-shaped leaves.

The leaves may be green, yellow, grey-blue or variegated and are often glaucous. One-sided racemes of bell- or funnel-shaped flowers are borne on usually leafless, sometimes leafy scapes, mainly in summer. They are followed by oblong, green, later pale brown seed capsules.

Hostas may be grown as ground cover under deep-rooted, deciduous treees, in a mixed herbaceous border, or near water. Smaller hostas are excellent for a rock garden, a peat bed or containers.

Fully hardy

Grow in fertile, moist but well-drained soil with shelter from cold, drying winds. Most hostas prefer a site in full or partial shade (fewer flowers will be produced in full shade) but yellow-leafed hostas colour better in a sunny position with some midday shade. Hostas will not tolerate drought and should be mulched annually in spring to conserve moisture.

Although easily raised from seed sown in containers in a cold frame in spring, only seedlings of Hosta ventricosa will come reliably true in cultivation. Divide in late summer or early spring. Many new hostas are propagated through tissue culture.

Particularly susceptible to damage from slugs and snails. Container-grown plants are vulnerable to vine weevils. Virus infections may also be a problem.