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Hosta, Curled Leaf

Herbaceous Perennial Flower, Ground Cover

Hosta crispula
Liliaceae Family
Synonym: Sometimes confused with Hosta fortunei 'Albomarginata'

This shade-loving plant is most popular for its wide variety of plant size and foliage texture, shape, and color. Colors range from blue to greens to yellow, and textures can be smooth or puckered. It makes a good groundcover for moist, shady areas.

	Site and Plant Characteristics
	Growing Information
	Varieties

Site Characteristics

Sunlight:

part shade
full shade

Prefers part shade. Tolerates heavy shade. This hosta species needs protection from direct sun.

Soil conditions:

requires well-drained soil
tolerates damp soil

In addition to being well-drained, soil must also be kept moist. If allowed to dry out hostas produce smaller leaves which turn brown and papery around the edges.

Hardiness zones:

3 to 8

Plant Traits

Lifecycle: perennial

Ease-of-care: easy

Height: 2 to 3 feet

Spread: 1.5 to 2 feet

Bloom time: early summer

Flower color: violet

Foliage color: variegated dark green white

Leaves have wavy, irregular white margins with glossy undersides and 7 to 9 pairs of lateral veins. Each leaf is 4 to 5 inches wide and up to 8 inches long with pointed tips.

Foliage texture: medium

Shape: cushion, mound or clump

Shape in flower: flower stalks with upright spikes

Special Considerations

Special characteristics:

non-aggressive
non-invasive
not native to North America - Native to Japan.

Growing Information

How to plant:

Propagate by division or separation - Divide hostas in spring when leaves are first coming up. Divide only if necessary, after the plant has matured in 4 to 5 years.

Maintenance and care:

Hostas are generally easy to take care of as long as they are given partial shade and ample moisture. Curled leaf hosta needs to be protected from too much sun and wind.
More growing information: How to Grow Perennials

Pests:

Slugs -- Remove dead leaves and weed around plants to reduce problems.
Black vine weevils

Diseases:

Leaf spot and crown rot -- Minimize moisture on leaves by avoiding overhead watering and watering early in the day so the leaves dry quickly.

Varieties

'Sazanami' has long tapering leaves with irregular white margins and channeled leaf stalks. Lavender-white flowers bloom in early summer.