What to Plant with Hostas in Pots

Hostas, those lush, shade-loving plants with their beautiful, heart-shaped leaves, are a staple in many gardens. When it comes to potted hostas, selecting the right companions can enhance their beauty and create a harmonious, balanced look. Here, we'll explore what goes well with hostas in pots, focusing on plants that complement their foliage, color, and growth habits.

When choosing plants to pair with hostas, consider their size, texture, and color. Hostas come in various sizes, from tiny miniatures to large, statuesque specimens. They also display a wide range of leaf textures and colors, from deep green to gold and blue. By selecting plants that contrast or complement these features, you can create a stunning pot arrangement.

Complementary Foliage Plants

Hostas are renowned for their striking foliage, so it's wise to choose plants that either echo or contrast their leaf shapes and textures.

For example, consider pairing hostas with ferns. The delicate, lacy fronds of ferns like the Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum raddianum) or the Cinnamon Fern (Osmunda cinnamomea) provide a lovely contrast to the broad, substantial leaves of hostas. Ferns also thrive in the same shady conditions that hostas love, making them excellent companions.

Heucheras and Heucherellas

Heucheras, often called coral bells, and their hybrid cousins, heucherellas, share hostas' love of shade and have similarly striking foliage. Their small, round leaves come in a variety of colors, from deep purple to silver and gold, providing a striking contrast to hostas' larger leaves. Plus, their small size makes them perfect for filling in around larger hostas in a pot.

Some popular choices include 'Frosted Violet' heuchera, with its frosty purple leaves, and 'Sweet Tea' heucherella, which boasts silver leaves with purple veins. Both pair beautifully with hostas like 'Guacamole' or 'Patriot', which have gold and green leaves, respectively.

Brunnera

Brunnera, also known as lungwort, is another excellent companion for hostas. Its heart-shaped leaves are similar in size and shape to hostas but have a delicate, silver-hairy texture that provides a lovely contrast. Brunnera's small size and low growth habit make it an ideal plant to tuck around the base of larger hostas.

'Bicolor Heart' brunnera, with its silver leaves and blue flowers, pairs particularly well with hostas like 'Golden Tiara' or 'August Moon', which have gold and green leaves, respectively.

Colorful Accents

While hostas are primarily grown for their foliage, some varieties produce beautiful flowers that can be accentuated with colorful companion plants.

For instance, hostas that produce lavender flowers, such as 'Guacamole' or 'Patriot', can be paired with purple or blue flowering plants like violas or lobelia. These plants can help tie in the color of the hosta flowers and add extra pops of color to the pot.

Violas and Pansies

Violas and pansies are both excellent choices for adding color to hosta pots. They come in a wide range of colors and thrive in the same shady conditions that hostas prefer. Their small size and low growth habit make them perfect for tucking around larger hostas.

For a striking combination, try pairing 'Guacamole' hosta with 'Purple Heart' viola or 'Violet Eyes' pansy. The gold and green leaves of the hosta will provide a beautiful contrast to the purple flowers of the viola or pansy.

Lobelia

Lobelia is another great option for adding color to hosta pots. This annual plant produces masses of small, tubular flowers in shades of blue, purple, or white. Lobelia prefers partial shade, making it an ideal companion for hostas.

Try pairing 'Patriot' hosta, with its lavender flowers, with 'Crystal Palace' lobelia, which has white flowers. The contrast between the hosta's lavender flowers and the lobelia's white flowers will create a striking, eye-catching display.

When selecting plants to pair with hostas in pots, remember that balance and contrast are key. Mix plants with different textures, colors, and heights to create a visually appealing arrangement. With a little creativity and careful selection, you can create stunning pot combinations that showcase the beauty of your hostas.