#8 - It would be hard to imagine shade gardening being so popular without the abundance of wonderful Hosta varieties on the market. If only the deer would learn to appreciate the beauty and function of hostas, instead of their flavor. However, if you don't have a deer problem or if you are willing to spray in order to enjoy these choices, every shade garden should include at least one or two contrasting and complementing Hosta.
The large white-edged Hosta pictured here is Hosta ventricosa 'Aureomarginata'. But there are so many extraordinary variegated varieties out there, you can just pick the one that catches your eye at the nursery. Some good choices to look for include:
- Hosta 'Patriot' Zones 3 - 8 (18" x 36")
- Hosta 'American Sweetheart' Zones 3 - 8, (20" x 24")
- Hosta 'Center of Attention' Zones 3 - 8, (10" x 18")
And if Hosta just isn't going to make it in your garden, an alternative to try is
Acoris calumnus (Variegated Sweet Flag): Zones 5 - 9 (3' x 2')