People all over North America grow hostas, which are a popular perennial plant. Because they have pretty leaves and are easy to take care of, it’s no surprise that they have become so popular. Knowing what pH level your hostas like is one of the most important things you can do to make sure they stay healthy. So, are hostas plants that like acid? Let’s find out.
An Overview of Hostas and Soil pH
Hostas prefer slightly acidic soil with an ideal pH range of 5.5-6.5. This makes them acid loving plants. Soil pH is a measure of how acidic or alkaline the soil is with 7 being neutral. Anything below 7 is acidic, while anything above is alkaline.
Even though most plants do best in slightly acidic soil, hostas like it more acidic than most other garden plants. In alkaline soils, where they have trouble taking in nutrients, their leaves can turn yellow or blue. Trying to grow hostas in soils that are too acidic (pH over 7) 5 often results in poor performance.
Signs Hostas are Unhappy with the Soil pH
Here are some of the most common signs that your hosta doesn’t like the pH of the soil:
- Yellowing foliage, especially between leaf veins
- Smaller or stunted growth
- Failure to thrive and spread
- Poor flowering and lack of blooms
These signs show up because the plant can’t get the nutrients it needs from the soil. For best growth, you’ll need to make changes if the soil pH isn’t in the right range.
Testing and Adjusting Soil pH for Hostas
The best way to determine your soil pH is with a soil test. Home test kits are inexpensive and easy to find online or at garden centers. Follow the instructions to collect a soil sample and send it off to the lab for analysis if needed.
If the soil pH comes back higher than the target range, you can lower it by adding elemental sulfur or iron sulfate. It’s important to add these amendments in moderation and retest regularly, as too much can make the soil too acidic.
To raise pH in acidic soils, incorporating organic compost or lime will help balance the pH. Lime is calcium carbonate and as it dissolves over time it releases alkaline compounds. Wood ash can also be used to raise pH.
Regardless of which amendments you use, be sure to mix them into the top several inches of soil before planting hostas. Follow product instructions for proper application rates.
Best Practices for Growing Hostas in Acidic Soil
Once you’ve adjusted the soil pH into the target range, follow these tips for growing thriving hostas:
- Improve drainage in heavy clay soils by mixing in organic compost or small gravel
- Mulch around plants to retain soil moisture and humidity
- Water at the base of plants to keep foliage dry and discourage diseases
- Fertilize in early spring with a balanced organic fertilizer
- Divide crowded clumps every 3-5 years to rejuvenate growth
Proper site selection is also key. Hostas flourish in part to full shade exposures, where they are protected from the drying effects of direct hot sunlight.
Ideal Companion Plants for Hostas
Hostas pair beautifully with other acid loving plants. Consider combining them in garden beds and borders with:
- Ferns
- Astilbes
- Coral bells
- Lily of the valley
- Gardenias
- Azaleas & rhododendrons
- Japanese maples
The similar soil preferences allow these plants to thrive side-by-side. Their contrasting colors and textures also complement the hostas nicely.
In Summary
Hostas are absolutely acid loving plants. For vibrant foliage, prolific growth and abundant blooms, they require a soil pH between 5.5-6.5. Test soil regularly and amend as needed to maintain the ideal acidity. With the proper growing conditions, hostas will flourish and add beauty to shady gardens for years to come. Their versatility also makes them ideal companions for other acid-loving perennials, shrubs and trees.
The Color of a Hosta Leaf
Hostas can have a wide variety of colors to their leaves such as blue, green, gold, or even yellow. Someone may have seen a blue hosta. It’s actually a green leaf that has wax on it that makes it look blue. Due to the heat of the summer and the exposure to sun it appears that the wax tends to “melt” the leaf.
Leaf color may also be affected by the amount of sun the leaves receive. Hosts can also come in a multi colored variety. These leaves may be a combination of lighter and darker shades of color in the leaf. This type of leaf has a light color in the middle that could be white, gold, yellow, or light green. “Marginally variegated” leaves show a light color on the edge of the leaf.
If you have noticed that you have a little bit of a slug problem, then you might want a hosta plant where the leaves are thick and stiff. These hostas are termed “rugose” or are said to have “heavy substance”. These are known to be more tolerant to slug problems.
Propagating your hostas might be the only real maintenance part of hostas that you will need to do. A hosta plant reaches maturity about six to eight years old and you might have noticed that it has overgrown the area that you planted it in.
This is a perfect opportunity to split your hosta to allow for continued growth. The great part about propagating is that it isn’t that hard to do, and you can replant the other part of the hosta in another location in your yard or sell the plant.
When thinking of dividing your hosta, the main question to ask yourself when thinking of propagating your hosta is when you should divide it. The answer is simple, when no shoots are growing from the center of the mature clump.
It might be easiest to divide in the spring, however, summer division is preferred. It can be done in August and should be at least 30 days before the first fall frost date. To make sure to promote better root growth, make sure that there is warm soil and higher humidity.
To learn more, please see Propagating Hostas: When and How to Divide Hostas.
A Brief History of Hostas
Hostas are believed to have originated from eastern Asia from China to Japan and Korea. They are native to forests and prefer growing in light shade. In the late 1700s, hosta seeds were sent to France, and shortly after, the first hostas appeared in London. Hostas made their way to America the early 1800s.
In 1812, the Austrian botanic, Leopold Trattinnick, grouped all known species into the genus Hosta. He named the group after his fellow countryman, the Austrian botanist and physician, Nicolas Thomas Host.
Today, there are approximately 40 different species although they are all referred to as hostas.
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FAQ
What is the best fertilizer for hostas?
You can get good results using a standard 10/10/10 fertilizer from your local store. I use it on about 4000 hostas every year.
Are hosta plants acid-loving?
Hostas thrive in rich, organic soil that is slightly acidic.Mar 4, 2025
Which are common acid-loving plants?
27 Acid-Loving Plants to Grow in Your Garden01 of 27. Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra spectabilis) . 02 of 27. Camellias (Camellia) . 03 of 27. Japanese Pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis) . 04 of 27. Blueberries (Vaccinium) . 05 of 27. Blue Ageratum (Ageratum houstonianum) . 06 of 27. Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis) . 07 of 27. 08 of 27.
Are coffee grounds good for hostas?
Yes, coffee grounds can be beneficial for hostas. They act as a natural pest deterrent, particularly for slugs and snails, and also provide nutrients and improve soil structure. Coffee grounds contain nitrogen, which promotes healthy foliage growth in hostas.
Are hostas acid loving?
The short answer is no – hostas are not strictly acid loving plants. While hostas grow well in slightly acidic conditions, they can tolerate a fairly wide pH range. Here are some key points on hostas and soil pH: Hostas grow best in slightly acidic to neutral soil with a pH of 6. 0 to 7. 0.
Do hostas need acidic soil?
Hostas may suffer in very acidic soils below pH 5. 5. Foliage yellowing can occur. Ideal pH for blue-toned hosta varieties is 6. 0 to 6. 5. Higher pH causes blues to fade. So while hostas prefer mildly acidic conditions, they are quite pH adaptable plants overall. Their flexible pH range makes them great choices for a wide variety of gardens.
How do you know if a Hosta is not happy in acidic soil?
Finally, another sign that a hosta is not happy in acidic soil is stunted flowering. Hostas planted in acidic soil will not flower as well as hostas planted in neutral or alkaline soil. This is because the plant isn’t getting the nutrients it needs to bloom properly because the soil is too acidic.
What pH should a hosta grow in?
Hostas grow best in slightly acidic to neutral soil with a pH of 6. 0 to 7. 0. They can tolerate more alkaline soils up to approximately pH 7. 5. Hostas may suffer in very acidic soils below pH 5. 5. Foliage yellowing can occur. Ideal pH for blue-toned hosta varieties is 6. 0 to 6. 5. Higher pH causes blues to fade.
Which hostas can tolerate more alkaline soil?
In conclusion, there are several varieties of hostas that can tolerate more alkaline soils. Varieties such as ‘Elegans’, ‘Blue Angel’, ‘Krossa Regal’, ‘Sum and Substance’, ‘Wide Brim’, and ‘Halcyon’ can all tolerate soils with pH levels up to 7. 5.
Are hostas drought tolerant?
Varieties with thick and waxy leaves are more drought tolerant. Growing hostas from seed is not recommended. Instead, buy dormant hostas plants in the spring as bare-root divisions or potted plants. Place the plants so that the crown is level with the soil and the growing tips are visible above the soil.