What to Plant in Front of Hostas: Best Companion Plants

When it comes to landscaping, hostas are a gardener's delight. With their lush, green foliage and beautiful flowers, they add a touch of elegance to any garden. But what should you plant in front of hostas to complement their beauty and create a harmonious landscape? Let's explore some excellent options that will not only enhance your hostas but also provide a balanced and visually appealing garden.

Hostas are known for their shade tolerance and low maintenance, making them a great choice for many garden settings. However, to create a well-rounded garden, it's essential to consider plants that will thrive in the same conditions and complement the hostas' appearance. Let's dive into the best plants to place in front of hostas.

Low-Growing Plants to Frame Your Hostas

Low-growing plants are perfect for framing your hostas and creating a lush, full garden. They help to hide the base of the hostas, preventing the garden from looking bare and providing a neat, polished appearance.

One excellent option is creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea'). This plant features bright yellow, round leaves that contrast beautifully with the green foliage of hostas. Creeping Jenny is a fast-spreader, forming a dense mat that suppresses weeds and holds the soil in place. It's also highly shade-tolerant, making it an ideal companion for hostas.

Creeping Jenny

Creeping Jenny is an excellent choice for edging garden beds or filling in empty spaces. Its low growth habit (around 2-4 inches tall) makes it perfect for planting in front of hostas. The bright yellow color of its leaves provides a striking contrast to the green foliage of hostas, creating a visually appealing combination.

To incorporate creeping Jenny into your garden, plant it about 6-12 inches away from your hostas. This will allow the creeping Jenny to spread without competing with the hostas for space or sunlight. Keep in mind that creeping Jenny is invasive in some areas, so check your local regulations before planting.

Deadnettle (Lamium maculatum)

Another low-growing plant that pairs well with hostas is deadnettle (Lamium maculatum). This plant features attractive, silver-green leaves and pink or white flowers that bloom from late spring to early fall. Deadnettle is shade-tolerant and grows well in the same conditions as hostas, making it an ideal companion.

Deadnettle grows to be about 12-18 inches tall, making it a suitable height for planting in front of hostas. Its silver-green foliage provides a nice contrast to the green leaves of hostas, while its pink or white flowers add a touch of color to the garden. To incorporate deadnettle into your garden, plant it about 12-18 inches away from your hostas to allow for adequate growth and spread.

Taller Plants to Add Height and Drama

Taller plants can add height and drama to your garden, creating a dynamic and visually interesting landscape. When selecting taller plants to pair with hostas, look for those that are shade-tolerant and have a contrasting texture or color to complement the hostas.

One excellent option is astilbe (Astilbe spp.). Astilbe features fern-like foliage and plume-like flowers that add texture and height to the garden. Astilbe is shade-tolerant and grows well in the same conditions as hostas, making it an ideal companion.

Astilbe

Astilbe comes in various heights, so you can choose a variety that complements the size of your hostas. For example, Astilbe 'Fanal' grows to be about 24-30 inches tall, making it a suitable height for planting behind smaller hostas. In contrast, Astilbe 'Superba' can grow up to 48 inches tall, making it an excellent choice for planting behind larger hostas.

To incorporate astilbe into your garden, plant it about 18-24 inches away from your hostas, depending on the size of the astilbe variety. This will allow the astilbe to grow to its full height without competing with the hostas for space or sunlight. Keep in mind that astilbe prefers consistently moist soil, so ensure you provide adequate watering, especially during dry periods.

Coral Bells (Heuchera spp.)

Coral bells (Heuchera spp.) are another excellent option for adding height and texture to your garden. Coral bells feature attractive, lobed leaves in various colors, including green, purple, and silver. They also produce small, bell-shaped flowers on tall stems that add height to the garden.

Coral bells come in various heights, so you can choose a variety that complements the size of your hostas. For example, Heuchera 'Frosted Violet' grows to be about 12-18 inches tall, making it a suitable height for planting in front of or beside hostas. In contrast, Heuchera 'Palace Purple' can grow up to 24 inches tall, making it an excellent choice for planting behind smaller hostas.

To incorporate coral bells into your garden, plant them about 12-18 inches away from your hostas, depending on the size of the coral bells variety. This will allow the coral bells to grow to their full height without competing with the hostas for space or sunlight. Keep in mind that coral bells prefer consistently moist, well-draining soil, so ensure you provide adequate watering and proper drainage.

Colorful Plants to Add Vibrancy to Your Garden

Adding colorful plants to your garden can create a vibrant and eye-catching landscape. When selecting colorful plants to pair with hostas, look for those that are shade-tolerant and have a contrasting color to complement the green foliage of the hostas.

One excellent option is impatiens (Impatiens walleriana). Impatiens feature attractive, glossy leaves and come in various shades of pink, purple, red, and white. They are shade-tolerant and grow well in the same conditions as hostas, making them an ideal companion.

Impatiens

Impatiens come in various heights, so you can choose a variety that complements the size of your hostas. For example, Impatiens 'Super Elfin Series' grows to be about 6-8 inches tall, making it a suitable height for planting in front of hostas. In contrast, Impatiens 'New Guinea Impatiens' can grow up to 24 inches tall, making it an excellent choice for planting behind smaller hostas.

To incorporate impatiens into your garden, plant them about 12-18 inches away from your hostas, depending on the size of the impatiens variety. This will allow the impatiens to grow to their full height without competing with the hostas for space or sunlight. Keep in mind that impatiens prefer consistently moist, well-draining soil, so ensure you provide adequate watering and proper drainage.

Begonias (Begonia spp.)

Begonias are another excellent option for adding color to your garden. Begonias feature attractive, glossy leaves and come in various shades of pink, purple, red, and white. They are shade-tolerant and grow well in the same conditions as hostas, making them an ideal companion.

Begonias come in various heights, so you can choose a variety that complements the size of your hostas. For example, Begonia 'Dragon Wing Series' grows to be about 12-18 inches tall, making it a suitable height for planting in front of or beside hostas. In contrast, Begonia 'Angelwing Series' can grow up to 36 inches tall, making it an excellent choice for planting behind smaller hostas.

To incorporate begonias into your garden, plant them about 12-18 inches away from your hostas, depending on the size of the begonia variety. This will allow the begonias to grow to their full height without competing with the hostas for space or sunlight. Keep in mind that begonias prefer consistently moist, well-draining soil, so ensure you provide adequate watering and proper drainage.

In conclusion, when selecting plants to pair with hostas, consider their growth habit, shade tolerance, and color. By incorporating low-growing plants, taller plants, and colorful plants into your garden, you can create a harmonious and visually appealing landscape. Don't be afraid to experiment with different plant combinations to find the perfect fit for your garden. Happy planting!