Hostas are one of the most popular shade garden plants because of their easy maintenance. Grown mainly for their foliage, hostas are available in solid or variegated greens, blues, and yellows. With hundreds of varieties available, a large shade garden could be filled with different hostas without repeating a single one. Most varieties of hostas are hardy in zones 3 or 4 to 9. Continue reading to learn about growing hostas in zone 3.
Planting Hosta in Cold Climates
There are many beautiful varieties of hostas for zone 3. With their easy care and maintenance, hostas are an excellent choice for shady spots in the garden or borders. Planting a hosta in cold climates is as simple as digging a hole, putting the hosta in, filling the remaining space with soil, and watering. Once planted, water daily for the first week, every other day the second week, then once a week until established. Established hostas require very little care. Usually, hostas are divided every few years to help the plant grow better and propagate more in other shady spots. If the center of your hosta is dying out and the plant is beginning to grow in a donut shape, this is a sign that your hosta needs to be divided. Hosta division is usually done in fall or early spring. Zone 3 hosta plants may benefit from an extra layer of mulch or organic material heaped over their crown in late fall for winter protection. Be sure to uncover them in spring once there is no more danger of frost.
Zone 3 Hosta Plants
While there are many cold hardy hostas, these are some of my favorite hostas for zone 3. Blue hostas tend to grow better in cool climates and denser shade, while yellow hostas are more heat and sun tolerant.
- Orange Marmalade: zones 3-9, yellow-orange leaves with green margins
- Aureomarginata: zones 3-9, yellowish foliage with wavy margins
- Whirlwind: zones 3-9, twisted leaves with light green centers and dark green margins
- Blue Mouse Ears: zones 3-9, dwarf blue leaves
- Francee: zones 3-9, large green leaves with white margins
- Cameo: zones 3-8, small, heart-shaped, light green leaves with wide, cream-colored margins
- Guacamole: zones 3-9, large, heart-shaped, light green leaves with blue-green margins
- Patriot: zones 3-9, green leaves with wide, white margins
- Abiqua Drinking Gourd: zones 3-8, large, blue, heart-shaped leaves that curl upward at the edges making them cup-like
- Deja Blue: zones 3-9, blue-green leaves with yellow margins
- Aztec Treasure: zones 3-8, heart-shaped, chartreuse leaves