Hosta as a plant is selected by most gardeners as part of a shade garden because of their pretty spectacular leaves and not for their flowers but these perennial plants also bloom and have lavender or white beautiful looking and fragrant flowers. However, in this article we try to answer the questions when does Hosta bloom and when should you cut its flowers read on
Takeaway:
When Should You Cut Hosta Flower Stems
If you want to just keep the foliage of hostas and don’t want the flowers then snip the stems having flowers as soon as they start to appear. If you want to keep hostas flowers in a bouquet then cut off each of the scapes when only two blooms are open so that the remaining flowers can grow inside your home over the next two weeks. Otherwise, It is recommended by the American Hostas Society that you cut off each of the leafless flower stalks (scapes) after 75% of the blooms have already opened.
When do hostas bloom
Hostas bloom between May and September every year for a period of three weeks depending on the variety of hostas.
Should you Cut hostas Flower Stems
Yes ideally you should cut hostas flower stems as it will allow hosta to divert its energy towards its leaves and will help it create a more fuller look
Should you let Hostas flower?
Hostas plants have beautiful flowers and whether you want the plant just for leaves or for flowers is up to your personal taste. Hostas plant flowers in the shape of lilies and are heavily fragrant attracting pollinators like bumblebees. You can also pick and choose the size of the flower by choosing the right Hostas variety for e.g a plant like “Baby Bunting” has flowers only 8 cm wide while a variety of hostas called ” Blue Angel” can grow over 2 m in diameter.
When do hostas bloom?
Hostas bloom between May and September every year for a period of three weeks depending on the variety of hostas. Overall there are multiple varieties some are early bloomers some are mid-season bloomers and some are late bloomers. Early Bloomers start blooming from May to June and go on right through the summer. Mid Season Bloomers only start blooming when the summer season is at its peak. Late Bloomers start blooming only at the end of summer and go on till it is frost has arrived and these late bloomers are also the most fragrant flowers.
When should you cut the flowers off of the hostas?
If you want to just keep the foliage of hostas and don’t want the flowers then snip the stems having flowers as soon as they start to appear. You can also wait and start cutting hostas blooms just when they start appearing so that they can be used indoors in vases.
If you want to keep hostas flowers in a bouquet then cut off each of the scapes (leafless flower stalks coming from the root) when only two blooms are open so that the remaining flowers can grow inside your home over the next two weeks. Otherwise, It is recommended by the American Hostas Society that you cut off each of the leafless flower stalks (scapes) after 75% of the blooms have already opened so this conserves the energy of the plant so that it focuses its energy on seeds and on growing more leaves and roots. For all the blooms that you leave on the plant, the flower stem still needs to be sniped off once the flowers fade.
While it looks easy to just use your hand to pull off the Hostas plant you can cause damage to your plant so it would be better to just use some pruning shears to snipe off the flower stem where it combines with the rest of the plant.
Deadhead Hostas
If your hostas are blooming actively you don’t need to remove the spikes as it will not actively encourage new spikes nor is it required for your foliage to look good. you should deadhead hostas once the stalk of the plant starts becoming brown and dying and before it starts forming new seeds. Not only deadheading brown stalks will make your plant look good it will also ensure that you prevent the spread of any disease. The deadheading process also redirects the energy of the plant into growing foliage rather than making seeds.
Hostas Flower Edible?
Hostas flowers are definitely edible for humans but their taste is mostly bland and hence they are more used as beautiful garnishes for food. Hostas are similar to asparagus in terms of texture of the food and flavor and hence are better enjoyed when roasted. Smaller Hostas shoots are more tender and sweet and hence more enjoyable than the larger ones.
How much back do you cut hostas in the fall?
You should cut hostas all the way down to the ground taking care that all the leaves have turned yellow or brown if you are cutting them in the fall.
Which Hostas Variety has the most fragrant flower
If you want to enjoy scented flowers in your home in a vase or in your garden then choose the variety of hostas called Hosta plantaginea whose common name is plantain lily or August Lily it has a wonderfully perfumed scent. August Lily has 2 feet long stems, solid green colored leaves, and large white flowers that peak in the middle of summer. Unlike other hostas, they can handle hot and steamy weather better which makes them extremely popular in the southern gardens of the USA. August Lily variety of hostas is great if you plant them along a patio, deck, or along pathways where their fragrance can be experienced.
Best Hostas Variety For Flower
The best Hostas varieties for flowering are August Lily, Purple Sensation, Royal Standard, Miracle Lemony, Guacamole, Almost, Fragrant Bouquet, Aphrrodite, and Honeybells. August Lily has the most fragrant flowers while Purple Sensation has great dark purple flowers with white borders quite unlike the other flower varieties which are more lavender in color. Another Variety of hostas is Purple and Gold which has a dark purple bloom on spikes that are maroon. Guacamole and Royal Standard varieties of Hostas have big white flowers that are also very fragrant and good choices for planting in your garden. Miracle Lemony has yellow flowers, Fragrant Bouquet variety is great for vases with light blue flowers and smells like gardenias that are late bloomers coming in spring and going up to frost. Almost is another variety that is a hybrid having purple flowers on red stems. Another variety of hostas is Fragrant Gold which also has gold-colored leaves with lavender blooms. There is a variety called Aphrrodite that has very large white flowers with a very strong fragrance and Honeybells which has lavender blooms
Depending on your choice of hostas variety you can have showy and fragrant flowers blossoming which are as pretty as its leaves and you should be confident enough about keeping these blossoms on the plant.
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