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Hostas in general White Feather Hosta in particular

Hi there

I'm getting confusing information from a well known website regarding the spread for hostas.  Do they all spread around 50cm or does it depend on how long they stay uninterrupted?  Also, is the white feather hosta particularly difficult to grow/look after?  I've purchased copper rings to put around the plants to avoid slugs and I read somewhere recently that if I put slug pellets down now, as in early February it may stop the slugs from laying their eggs everywhere so hopefully (let's stay positive) the slug issue is in control.  I'm hoping to create a "hosta corner" in my garden because they look stunning.  It's a nice shady but well drained area getting a little morning sun.   

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Posts

  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039

    Different hostas will spread differing amounts; there are some very small types that will only spread a few inches, whereas some of the large types can easily spread a yard across if undisturbed.

    I have no idea about white feather.

    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    doc's right charley- there's hundreds of different varieties with a range of sizes and your own conditions will also make a difference. 50/60 cm is an average. If you look up a specialist Hosta nursery online, or even just google that particular one, you may get a better idea. image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,064

    Your hosta White Feather will eventually spread to 30 inches/90 cms wide but not in its first season.  It needs to be grown in shade or very dappled sunlight to avoid burning those pale leaves.

    Slugs will probably love it so you'll need to protect it - wildlife friendly slug pellets scattered thinly but regularly, a mulch of coffee grounds or sharp grit, a copper ring round the plant............

    Different hostas have different heights and spread and very different leaf shapes, textures and colours.  With care, you can plant a beautiful tapestry of them.  Most like moist soils rather than sharply drained so you may want to add some well rotted leaf mold or compost to your soil before planting.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • CharleyDCharleyD Posts: 440

    Thanks for your replies.  I'm guessing that as most the hostas that I'm looking at are due to grow to approx. 50cm they will spread to a similar distance.  I'll continue my research image

  • CharleyDCharleyD Posts: 440

    Verdun - you've made my day.  So thankful to hear that the copper rings are very effective, having already purchased them.  Useful to hear from first hand experience.  Yes, the hosta corner will only get sun up to about 10am I think.  I've got a lovely "L" shape area that I want to put them in so taking what Brumbull says, I think I'll put the white one in the angle so that it takes pride of place, especially if it's going to spread 24- 30 inches.  Thanks for this info and also for the warning that it's slow growing.  It's hard not to be looking at new plants every day!!!

  • CharleyDCharleyD Posts: 440

    Thanks Brumbull.  The white feather will only get a glimpse of morning sun up to around 10am, if it's lucky so it should be ok.  Yes, that's good point about what I put next to it.  I think because of the right angle in the corner though, it should be slightly higher than the rest as our garden slopes so it should look good as the focal point.  I can never decide which part of gardening I like best, the planning, research, the preparation, planting, maintenance or the sit back and enjoy - all of it I think image

  • JIMMMYJIMMMY Posts: 241

    Hello Charley,

    I find that it is snails not slugs that are after my hosta's and they go for certain varieties and leave others alone.

    I put down a "few" slug pellets every few day and check for them at night as well!

    White Feather is very good in the spring with me and then the leaves change to a lightish green colour!

    A few years ago I got  three Fire Island, magnificent they were for a few months then they rotted in their pots one after another, even when I use a fungus spray and also turned the pots on their side and kept the soil on the dry side!

    Have never seen them since, do any of you grow them and if so how have they done?

     

    Cheers!

  • Ooo Jimmy

    Slug pellets!!!  Please tell me they are wildlife friendly?  I stopped putting pellets down a couple of years ago.   Instead, I got a hedgehog house and a big stone and now I very rarely have an issue with either slug or snail, birds & hedgehogs feed on them first thing in the morning. 

    There is nothing better on a warm summers morning, when you are up with the larks, than watching both forage around in the undergrowth looking for their breakfast.

     

     

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