Perennial

When to Plant Hostas

The king of shade gardens. Hostas come in hundreds of varieties and get more beautiful with each passing year.

Sun

Partial to full shade (2-4 hours sun)

Water

1 inch per week

Days to Harvest

365+

Difficulty

beginner

Spacing

24"

Frost Tolerance

very high

The Short Answer

Plant hostas after your last frost date when soil reaches 60°F. Enter your zip code on our homepage tool for exact dates.

How to Grow Hostas

Hostas are the solution to every shady garden problem — they thrive in conditions that defeat most other ornamental plants. The variety range is staggering: over 6,000 registered cultivars ranging from 3-inch miniatures to 4-foot specimens. Blue-leaved varieties need full shade to maintain their color; gold varieties can handle more sun; variegated types are generally intermediate. Slugs are the eternal hosta nemesis — iron phosphate bait (Sluggo) is effective and pet-safe. Divide overgrown clumps in spring when the eyes emerge; each piece with 2-3 eyes becomes a new plant.

Transplanting

Move seedlings outside 0 weeks after your last frost date, once soil temperatures reach 45°F.

Growing Tips

Plant divisions or nursery plants in spring or fall. Slugs are the main enemy — use iron phosphate bait. Mulch to retain moisture.

Companion Planting

Good companions:

Ferns Astilbe Heuchera

Hostas Planting Dates by State

Click your state for hostas planting dates specific to your location:

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Note: Planting dates are based on average frost dates from NOAA Climate Normals (30-year averages). Actual conditions vary year to year. Always check your local forecast before planting frost-sensitive crops.

Last reviewed: March 29, 2026