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Asparagaceae FAMILY

Hosta longipes

Hosta longipes

Edibility
3/5
Medicinal
0/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Cultivation Details

HabitPerennial
Growth—

Thrives in most fertile soils if they are rich in humus[1]. Grows well in heavy clay soils and in sandy ones[2]. Very limy soils inhibit growth, but plants can thrive in such a situation if plenty of humus is added[2]. Prefers a pH between 6 and 7[1]. Requires a rich soil that does not dry out readily[3]. Another report says that once established it is drought tolerant[4]. Does well in the semi-shade of a woodland[1] also succeeding in deeper shade[4]. In general, the sunnier the position the moister the soil should be[5]. Plants are best not grown under trees in town gardens since the soot washed from the leaves of the trees in wet weather will tend to remain on the hosta[2]. Plants flower better when grown in a sunny position but the foliage is better when the plant is in a shady position[1]. Plants are in general fully hardy in Britain, but young leaves in spring can be destroyed by frost. New leaves are only produced in the spring and very early summer, so any damage at this time has a deep effect on the plant[5]. A vigorous plant, forming medium sized clumps. The roots travel extensively[1]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[5]. Plants are very attractive to slugs and snails, the young shoots in spring are especially at risk[6, PFAF]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus, especially with H. kikuti[1].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a lightly shaded position in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. Germination usually takes place within 1 - 3 months at 10°c. Make sure you keep the compost moist. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division is possible at almost any time of the year so long as there is sufficient moisture[5]. It is best carried out in early spring as growth commences or in early autumn if the soil is not too dry[1]. Hostas can be left undivided for many years and should not be divided any more frequently than once every 3 - 5 years to allow the leaves to reach maturity[1]. Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2026-02-21. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Hosta+longipes>

Pollinators

Data unavailable

References

  1. [1]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
  2. [2]Plants for Ground Cover — Thomas. G. S. · J. M. Dent & Sons · 1990 · ISBN 0-460-12609-1 ↩︎An excellent detailled book on the subject, very comprehensive.
  3. [3]RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 — F. Chittendon. · Oxford University Press · 1951 · ISBN - ↩︎Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [ 200 ]).
  4. [4]Perennials. Volumes 1 and 2. — Phillips. R. & Rix. M. · Pan Books · 1991 · ISBN 0-330-30936-9 ↩︎Photographs of over 3,000 species and cultivars of ornamental plants together with brief cultivation notes, details of habitat etc.
  5. [5]Perennial Garden Plants — Thomas. G. S. · J. M. Dent & Sons, London. · 1990 · ISBN 0 460 86048 8 ↩︎A concise guide to a wide range of perennials. Lots of cultivation guides, very little on plant uses.
  6. [6]Popular Hardy Perennials. — Sanders. T. W. · Collingridge · 1926 · ISBN - ↩︎A fairly wide range of perennial plants that can be grown in Britain and how to grow them.
  7. [7]Wild Food Plants in South Korea; Market Presence, New Crops, and Exports to the United States — Pemberton R.W. & Nam Sook Lee · 1996 · http://www.jstor.org/stable/4255805 ↩︎
  8. [8]The Gardener's Guide to Growing Hostas — Grenfell. Diana · David & Charles; Newton Abbot. · 1996 · ISBN 0-7153-0431-3 ↩︎Excellent cover of the genus, though it concentrates mainly on the cultivars and does not go much into plant uses.
  9. [9]Tanaka's Cyclopedia of Edible Plants of the World. — Tanaka. T. & Nakao S. · Keigaku Publishing; Tokyo · 1976 · ISBN - ↩︎The most comprehensive list of edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.
  10. [PFAF]Plants for a Future — pfaf.org ↩︎