With their wide, lush leaves and versatility in shady spots, it’s no wonder hostas are a staple of many gardens But when it comes to soil pH, are hostas acid loving plants that require more acidic ground to thrive? Or can they tolerate more neutral pH levels?
Understanding hosta’s preferred soil pH range and making adjustments if needed will help your plants stay healthy and grow their best. In this article we’ll examine if hostas need acidic soil and how pH affects their performance.
Are Hostas Acid Loving Plants?
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:
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Hostas grow best in slightly acidic to neutral soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0.
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They can tolerate more alkaline soils up to approximately pH 7.5.
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Hostas may suffer in very acidic soils below pH 5.5. Foliage yellowing can occur.
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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.
Checking Your Soil pH for Hostas
Before planting hostas, it’s a good idea to test your soil’s pH level. At minimum, take a pH reading in the proposed planting area. For the most accurate results:
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Take soil samples from several spots around the garden 6-8 inches deep.
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Mix samples together in a clean bucket to create an average.
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Follow kit or lab instructions to test pH of the blended sample.
Home soil pH test kits are inexpensive, widely available and provide quick results. Or you can send a sample to a lab for detailed testing. Your local extension service can provide instructions.
Soil pH levels can vary greatly depending on region, soil composition, and past amendments. It’s impossible to know your garden’s pH without direct testing.
Adjusting Soil pH for Hostas
If test results show your soil’s pH is outside the ideal 6.0-7.0 range, adjustments may be beneficial:
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To raise pH in acidic soil, add pulverized limestone.
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To lower pH in alkaline soil, mix in elemental sulfur.
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Recheck pH after 6-8 weeks and reapply if necessary.
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Make any adjustments before planting and fertilize hostas with an acidic plant food.
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Maintaining proper soil pH and fertility encourages the most vigorous hostas.
Even if current pH is less than perfect, established hostas can tolerate it. But you may see more growth and better performance if you amend the soil pH into their favored acidic range.
Acid Loving Companion Plants for Hostas
While not extremely acidic lovers themselves, hostas combine beautifully with other plants that do prefer more strongly acidic soil. Interplant them with these acid fans:
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Azaleas & rhododendrons
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Camellias
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Blueberries
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Hydrangeas
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Japanese maples
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Ferns
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Astilbe
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Heucheras
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Holly
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Skimmia
Grouping hostas with these acid-preferring perennials, shrubs, trees and groundcovers creates a harmonious tapestry in the garden.
Avoiding Chlorosis: Yellowing Foliage on Hostas
If soil pH creeps too far above neutral into alkaline territory, chlorosis can occur in hostas. This refers to yellowing between the leaf veins due to an iron deficiency induced by higher pH.
To avoid chlorosis and keep hosta foliage lush green:
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Test soil pH yearly and amend as needed to keep slightly acidic
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Apply an iron supplement formulated for high pH soils if yellowing occurs
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Ensure adequate moisture – dry soils make matters worse
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Consider switching out affected hostas with alkaline-tolerant varieties
While hostas tolerate a wide pH range, their best performance comes in slightly acidic to neutral soil. Adjusting pH into this zone and monitoring for chlorosis ensures your hostas will thrive in any garden.
Ideal Growing Conditions for Hostas Beyond pH
Proper pH is just one factor in creating the ideal environment for hostas. Also give them:
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Rich, moisture-retentive soil amended with organic matter
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Cool, partially shaded location protected from hot afternoon sun
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Shelter from strong winds which can shred their large leaves
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Consistent moisture, especially in summer – allow soil to partially dry between waterings
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Slug/snail control measures like diatomaceous earth – they love hostas!
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Fertilization in spring and midsummer to nurture growth
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Division every 3-5 years to rejuvenate mature clumps
Meeting their preferences encourages hostas to reach their full potential size. Huge, healthy leaves will unfurl when their needs are met.
While not strictly acid lovers, with a little soil pH adjustment as needed you can grow incredible hostas successfully in any garden. Don’t let concerns over acidity stop you from planting these versatile perennials that offer beauty and function in shady spots.
The Color of a Hosta Leaf
The leaves of a hosta can be 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. In the summer, when the leaf is out in the sun, it seems like the wax tends to “melt” it.
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 a problem with slugs, you might want to get a hosta plant with thick, stiff leaves. 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. When a hosta plant is six to eight years old, it’s fully grown, and you may have seen that it’s taken over the space you planted it in.
This is a perfect opportunity to split your hosta to allow for continued growth. It’s not hard to make more plants, and you can either replant the other part of the hosta in a different spot in your yard or sell the plant.
If you want to successfully spread your hosta, the most important thing to think about 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 should be done at least 30 days before the first fall frost date in August. 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.
Have you felt overwhelmed by the idea of landscaping your yard?
It can be hard to figure out how to handle all the different areas, especially if you are new to gardening and landscaping. Having an easy, yet beautiful plant that is hardy can be the key to a beautiful backyard. Look no further for a low-maintenance, stunning, but super easy plant then the hosta. The hosta is a perennial plant that is easy to grow and is known for its beautiful foliate. They come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colors. Not only are they very simple to grow, they also do well in shade and can be put almost anywhere.
Acidic Soil Plants List
Can hostas grow in acidic soil?
While hostas are tolerant of acidic soil, they may not thrive in overly acidic soil. If your pH levels come back from the soil test quite low, the laboratory may recommend increasing the pH slightly.
Are hostas drought tolerant?
Varieties with thick and waxy leaves are more drought tolerant. Growing hostas from seed is not recommended. Instead, purchase dormant, bare-root divisions or potted hostas plants during the springtime and set the plants with the crown even with the soil level and growing tips visible at the surface of the soil.
Are hostas perennials?
Hostas are hardy perennials with attractive foliage. They’re perfect for shady and long-lived gardens—some may even outlive the gardener! While hostas require little attention, we advise cutting back the plants by early winter to avoid pest damage. Learn all about hostas in our growing guide.
Are hostas acid-loving plants?
Hostas thrive in acidic soil, and need the right balance of nutrients to stay healthy and beautiful. Knowing how to care for them properly is the key to keeping your hostas looking their best and enjoying their colorful foliage. In this article, we’ll discuss why hostas are acid-loving plants and how to properly care for them.