Giant Hostas: 7 Best Varieties With Descriptions And Photos

As a gardener, I’ve always wanted to have a large hosta swaying in the breeze with its fluffy leaves.

Want to know how to grow hostas that get really big? Here are some ideas and different ways to do it!

I began collecting hostas in 1999, and there was a limited selection of “super” varieties to choose from at that point.

Even worse, there were almost none. During the early 2000s, there was a huge hosta craze, and I got a lot of information about the plants.

As for giant hostas, I’m not intimidated by them because my garden is too small to wager on them.

But a dozen other beautiful varieties have come through my hands, and some have even stayed at home.

So, I’m happy to share what I’ve learned about how to grow giant, beautiful hostas.

How To Pick A Hosta That Is Really Big

Most modern hosta varieties can be found in the United States, thanks to the fact that they are tolerant of a wide range of conditions.

So, if flowering isn’t crucial to you, don’t think about winter hardiness when selecting a variety.

The American Hosta Growers Association (AHS) defines giant hostas as reaching more than 1-foot. However, there are already varieties in the 1.5 feet range.

The size of the GIANT in your garden will depend on how much light it gets, how much water it has, and how good the soil is.

All three factors should be at their best to reach the maximum size, so if you’re unsure what your site can do, it’s best to choose a medium-sized host.

The Best Varieties of Giant Hostas

In general, giant hostas work well in extensive gardens or places where you need to fill ample space.

Some huge and reliable types are:

Icy Halo

Hosta lovers won’t be able to ignore the Icy Halo variety. First, the plant stands out because of its color: its big, round, gray-green leaves are edged with a thin white thread.

The second thing that makes the hosta stand out is its size. The bush’s average height is 1 foot, and its diameter is about 2.5 feet.

So, it’s no surprise that this plant has become increasingly popular among people with extensive gardens. And this hosta grows well even in shaded areas.

leaf coloring	Flower coloring	Bush height (Foot)	Bush width (Foot)
Grey-green with a white border	Lavender	1	2.5 feet

Blue Mammoth

It grows to a height of 1 foot and has huge corrugated blue-green leaves in an oval shape.

The plant prefers partial shade, and moist soil grows fast and is virtually immune to slug attacks.

If flowering isn’t such a big deal for regular hostas, the Blue Mammoth hosta is fantastic during summer.

It throws out tall, long flower stalks with white bell-shaped flowers.

leaf coloring	flower coloring	Bush height (Foot)	Bush width (Foot)
dove blue	White	1	2

Jade Cascade

I can’t talk about giant hostas without mentioning this one. Hosta Jade Cascade has a unique shape: it’s not just a sprawling bush but an actual fountain of leaves that cascades down.

There is an abundance of veins and wavy edges on this plant’s large leaves, which are narrow at the tips.

In terms of height and width, the plant can grow to 1.5 feet in height and 2 feet in diameter. You can plant Jade Cascade in a sunny bed or in the semi-shade.

Leaf coloring	flower coloring	Bush height (Foot)	Bush width (Foot)
Olive	Light lavender, almost white	1.5	2

Hosta Jurassic Park

It is a huge plant that can grow to be 1.5 feet tall and 2.5 feet long. Its aesthetic value isn’t diminished whether the hosta grows in full sun or partial shade.

The leaves of this plant are round, dark green, and have a light border around the veins.

leaf coloring	flower coloring	Bush height (Foot)	Bush width (Foot)
Rich green	Pale lavender	1.5	2.5

Empress Wu

It is the tallest and most prominent of the giant hosts. It can grow to a height of 5 feet and a width of 8 feet.

This hosta has long, elongated leaves that form a vase-shaped bush. A waxy coating coats the plant’s foliage in spring, giving it a cloudy appearance, and by summer, it turns a deep green.

The plant grows well in both full sun and partial shade.

leaf coloring	flower coloring	Bush height (Foot)	Bush width (Foot)
Seasonal change from light blue-green to dark green	Pale lilac	5	8

Coast to Coast

Its large, heart-shaped leaves with small waves around the edges have made it popular among gardeners.

Compared to other giants, the hosta doesn’t get too big. It can grow up to 2.5 feet tall and 3 feet wide.

Coast-to-coast hosta is comfortable in the sun or in the shadows. It grows into a bush with leaves curling around the edges as it ages.

During flowering, the culture is charming, with lovely purple inflorescences.

leaf coloring	flower coloring	Bush height (Foot)	Bush width (Foot)
Changes throughout the season from dark to light golden	lavender	2.5	3

Hosta Elegans

A very interesting giant hosta called Elegans can grow to a height of 2.2 feet. The leaf plate of this plant has a unique texture that becomes more prominent as the plant ages.

In the shade, leaves appear bluish, but in the sun, they lighten and turn green. The plate resembles a heart with curved edges and is slightly bent like a boat.

The flower stems are a little bit bigger than the shrub. Flowers are white with a hint of lilac, and they bloom early, in June, compared to other species.

Leaf coloring	Flower coloring	Bush height (Foot)	Bush width (Foot)
Leaves appear bluish, but in the sun, they lighten and turn green	Lilac	2.2	4

The Top 10 Secrets to Growing Giant Hostas

I won’t go into detail about fertilization, hosta virus protection, watering, division, or disease prevention because hostas are no different than other perennials in this regard.

So instead, I’ll give you a few tips for growing large hostas.

1. Develop Your Patience

If everything goes according to plan, the giant hosta can mature in five to six years in the right conditions.

Hostas are naturally fast-growing but can take up to four years to reach their full potential.

When planting, you want to ensure that the plants have enough space to grow without having to replant or divide them.

Be sure to read the variety’s description. Some hostas can produce three times as wide as they do tall.

2. Strike A Balance Between The Sun And The Shade

Hostas do best in the following kinds of lights:

Varieties with dark green or blue leaves do better in partial shade.
In the sun, you can test out yellow ones.
The variegated ones prefer mixed lighting.

Tree cover provides ideal lighting, allowing the hosta to absorb the sun’s energy.

Almost all varieties prefer the midday sun to be blocked by open shady areas.

Even sun-tolerant hostas can’t thrive in direct sunlight, regardless of their hardiness.

3. Ensure That The Soil Is Well-Prepared

Soil with a pH of 5.8 to 6.5 is ideal for growing Hostas. If your soil has a low acidity level, you can raise it by adding more organic matter.

However, if your soil is too acidic, you can use lime or ash to remedy the situation.

4. Make Sure That You Plant The Bulb Correctly

In the planting hole, ensure the root neck level is the same as in the pot when planting the Hosta Bulb.

Do not submerge the hosta when planting it; the root growth line should be level with the soil.

Add some compound fertilizer, water, and mulch the hosta as soon as you plant it.

Hostas, contrary to popular belief, do not like fresh manure! You might not see the plant after winter if you don’t feed them.

Hostas appreciate ripe compost for planting and mulching. Don’t fertilize hostas after mid-August.

5. Keep Watering

For large hostas, watering is essential in dry weather. Growing large hostas makes it challenging to keep the soil moist enough for them to thrive.

In addition to helping to keep the soil moist, mulch can break down and release nutrients into the soil over time.

Keep it away from your hostas so that water does not accumulate around the stems and cause them to rot.

6. Mow Carefully Around Hostas!

Try to take steps to protect new hosta shoots, which help the plant grow.

The more shoots on a plant, the bigger and fuller it will be by the end of the growing season.

7. Tie Large Hosta Leaves Before Transplanting

Hostas have spreading leaves that can get in the way when transplanting.

You risk damaging the leaves if you accidentally clip them with a shovel because they get in your way.

Tie up the leaves of your hostas before transplanting for an easy solution to this.

8. Do Not Divide The Hostas

Hosta plants can be multiplied by dividing them, slows the mother bush’s growth for at least a year and possibly two years.

Do you want a genuinely massive hosta? No matter how tearfully you’re asked, don’t touch it.

You should divide the hosta at 2-3 years old if you plan to seed it around the garden. This will prevent the hosta from developing a solid root system.

9. Clean Hosta Leaves Regularly

Weeds and plant debris can accumulate under the leaves of large hostas over time.

In addition, slugs love to hide in the trash, so be sure to pick them up after yourself to keep them out of your garden.

If you notice damage to the plant’s leaves in the form of brown or yellow spots, carefully cut them off.

If the flowers have already bloomed and are beginning to wilt, you can remove them because the disease may infect them.

This will encourage healthy growth and keep the hostas hydrated and lush.

10. Keep Pests Away From Your Hostas

Hostas are tough plants, but if you’re not careful, slugs and snails can do a lot of damage to them. To avoid this, keep the mulch away from the plant’s stem.

Hostas with large, lush green leaves look great in both group and solo plantings. The most important thing is that your site has enough room for these big plants to grow.