Weeds That Look Like Hostas – How To Identify and Remove Them

Hostas are a popular landscaping plant, prized for their attractive foliage and ability to thrive in shade However, their lush leaves and mounded shape make them easy to confuse with several common weeds. Learning to identify hosta look-alikes is key to keeping your garden free of unwanted plants.

Why Identifying Hosta Weeds Matters

Properly identifying plants that resemble hostas enables you to take the appropriate action. Removing true weeds prevents them from competing with desired plants for light space water, and nutrients. Leaving them to grow allows them to potentially take over your garden beds.

On the other hand, misidentifying a real hosta as a weed and pulling it up results in losing a plant you want to keep It takes vigilance and care to eliminate unwanted vegetation while sparing intended greenery.

Features of Hostas vs Weeds

Hostas and hosta-like weeds share some visual similarities but also have key differences that can aid in telling them apart:

• Leaf size – Hosta leaves are much larger, typically reaching 60+ cm long and 30+ cm wide depending on variety. Weed leaves tend to be smaller.

• Leaf thickness – Hosta foliage is more substantial and stiff while weed leaves are often delicate and flexible.

• Flowers – Weeds produce smaller, less showy flowers than hostas.

• Leaf texture – Hosta leaves have a smooth, shiny surface while many weed leaves are relatively rough or matte.

• Growth habit – Hostas grow in a mounded clump form while weeds may spread by above ground stolons or underground rhizomes.

Common Hosta Look-Alike Weeds

Some of the most frequent hosta imposters include:

• Violets – Small, heart-shaped leaves with purple flowers on a spreading plant.

• False Solomon’s Seal – Alternating elongated leaves along a zig-zagging stem with small greenish-white flowers.

• Astilbe – Ferny foliage and showy feathery pink or white plumes of tiny flowers.

• Ferns – Lacy, delicate looking foliage that unfolds from fiddleheads. No flowers.

• Ajuga – Low mounds of small round leaves on a spreading plant with blue flower spikes.

• Lily of the Valley – Clumping plant with long oval leaves and dangling white bell flowers.

Removing Hosta Look-Alike Weeds

Eliminating unwanted weeds quickly before they spread is key. Here are some tips:

• Hand pull small weed plants, grasping low and removing the entire root system.

• For larger weeds, use a dandelion digger tool to extract the plant plus roots.

• Apply spot treatments of herbicide to weeds taking care to avoid contact with desired plants.

• Improve conditions for hostas by fertilizing, removing debris, and thinning or dividing crowded clumps.

• Use mulch around hostas to suppress weeds. Leave space between the plant crown and mulch.

• Edge garden beds to maintain a clear boundary between desired plants and surrounding weedy growth.

How to Differentiate Hosta Varieties

With over 5,000 named hosta cultivars, telling them apart can also be tricky. Here are some tips:

• Examine leaf characteristics like color, shape, corrugation, and variegation patterns.

• Note differences in plant size, flowering traits, and growth habits.

• Identify when the variety was introduced and by which nursery.

• Check reputable sources that list key details about hosta varieties.

• Label plants immediately after purchasing or dividing to avoid future confusion.

When in Doubt, Wait it Out

If an unknown plant could be either a weed or a hosta, don’t rush to pull it. Wait until it matures enough to properly identify it before taking action. Leaving a small weed isn’t ideal but better than mistakenly removing a desired plant.

Patience, close observation, and diligent removal of true weeds can help you successfully cultivate a flourishing hosta collection. You’ll be rewarded with the sight of the lush, graceful plants you intended without the distraction of look-alike imposters.