Frequently Asked Perennial Questions

A list of all the most frequently asked perennial questions. Check this HostasDirect Perennial FAQ for answers to many of your hosta and perennial questions. Check out our Hosta FAQ to get answers to commonly asked hosta-specific questions.

What are perennials? In which plant zones will hostas survive? What is a cultivar? When should I stop fertilizing before the winter?

What should I do with blooms? How were previous plants propagated? What is a tissue culture propagation? What does sun-resistant mean?

What is a perennial?

A perennial is a type of plant that lives for more than two years. Technically trees and shrubs are included in this category, but not usually in a landscaping or gardening sense. Perennials have all of their above-ground tissue and matter die each winter and grow back every spring from their root system. Perennials are different from annuals as they don't rely on seeds from year to year. Annuals die completely every year and must reproduce in a fashion that allows them to come back the nest year (usually hardy seeds that can overwinter). Some common examples of perennials include lilys, heucheras, iris, and of course, HOSTAS! Perennials are nice and lower maintenance than most other plants as it is not necessary to replant them every year and many specials can reproduce asexually through their root systems.

--> Back to the top

In which plant zones will hostas survive?

Hostas, being perennials, are hardy in U.S.D.A. Zones 3 to 9. That generally means hostas will grow from Canada to northern Florida. Hostas need to go dormant for at least 40 days where the temperature will remain near or drop to 40º F. In northern climates, all hosta varieties will thrive. In the south, where the summer heat is more intense and lasts for longer periods of time, some varieties will not perform well, especially hostas with H. sieboldiana and H. 'Tokudama' in their parentage.  For more info, see Growing Zones

--> Back to the top

What is a cultivar?

This also can be a rather complicated and controversial subject. In general, it means “cultivated variety,”  a plant that was developed in cultivation and not in the wild like a species plant. This word is often interchanged with the word “variety” or clone.

--> Back to the top

When should I stop fertilizing before the winter?

You should discontinue fertilizing perennials around July 30 so the plants can slow down and go into winter dormancy. Do not purchase temperature released fertilizers that continue to release beyond this date.

--> Back to the top

What should I do with perennial blooms?

Many perennial blooms are beautiful and even fragrant. You can cut them off before they bloom or after they bloom. Hosta blooms seldom produce viable seeds, thus cutting them down is suggested before they go to seed. Letting them go until they form seed pods take energy from the hosta and can result in a smaller plant the following season, this is more evident in hostas than most other perenials.

--> Back to the top

How were previous plants propagated?

Before tissue culture propagation, most common perennials including hostas were divided into individual plants and planted. After some new crowns grew, crowns were cut off and planted again and again. A very slow way to propagate hostas but the only way that existed until tissue culture propagation. Certain plants create plentiful viable seeds that could be planted and grown into new plants.

--> Back to the top

What is tissue culture propagation?

Tissue culture propagation, also known as micro propagation, is a way of dividing cells and reproducing the mother plant. Cells are taken from the meristematic tissue. For hostas, this is most often in a shoot tip. This tissue is then grown in growing auger in a test tube under sterile conditions in a laboratory. Temperature, lighting and feeding are manipulated to help these cells grow into tiny plants, which are further grown to resemble the parent plant. Tissue culture propagation has changed the hosta world because it does not take as long to introduce a new hosta cultivar to the public and prices of new plants have dropped. Thus, one plant can literally yield thousands of offspring. However, some hostas are not possible to reproduce using tissue culture. And, not all tissue culture reproduce exactly as the parent plant. The growers of the tissue culture must do something called “culling.” Culling is the process of looking at each plant to see if it matches the mother plant. If it does not, the plant may be “culled” and thrown away.

--> Back to the top

What does sun resistant mean?

Sun-resistant means these varieties are less likely to burn in the heat of the summer in full sun. Generally, the more yellow coloring a hosta has, the more sun resistant it is but this is not always true. Of course these must be still watered. This does not mean the hostas are sun-proof.

--> Back to the top

Hosta FAQ | HostasDirect Newsletters | Yellow Hostas | Hosta Baby Bunting