Minuteman Hosta

Minuteman Hosta (Hosta fortunei 'Minuteman') is one of the cleanest variegated hostas for a shaded bed. It forms a mound about 50cm tall and 70cm across, with deep green leaves edged in crisp white that lift a dark corner better than most flowers manage. Pale purple spikes rise above the foliage in summer. It is deciduous, so it disappears over winter and returns in spring.

Why you'll love it

• Foliage that brightens shade. The white margins are wide and stay crisp all season, doing the work of a flower in a position too dark for one.
• A tidy, predictable mound. At 50cm by 70cm it holds its shape instead of running, which makes it easy to repeat along a bed.
• Comfortable in damp ground. It tolerates wet feet, so it suits the low, slow draining corner where most perennials sulk.
• Frost hardy and low maintenance. Cold winters do not trouble it, and beyond an autumn tidy up and a watch for snails it asks very little.

Where it works best

Borders and edging. Run it along a shaded path or the south side of a house, where the white margins read clearly against dark mulch.

Mass planting and groundcover. Plant 60cm apart. At that spacing the mounds meet by the second season and cover the soil, keeping weeds down.

Pots and containers. A wide, shallow pot in a shaded courtyard suits it, and a raised pot is far easier to defend from snails than an open bed.

Growing Minuteman Hosta in Australia

Position and climate. Full shade or morning sun only. Afternoon sun scorches the white margins. This is a cool temperate and warm temperate plant that needs winter cold to break dormancy, so subtropical and tropical gardens will not suit it.

Soil. Rich, moisture retentive soil with plenty of compost worked through. It is one of the few perennials that takes a damp spot, though it wants organic matter rather than raw clay.

Water and feed. Never let it dry out through summer, or the leaf edges brown and the display is gone. Mulch to hold moisture, and feed a complete fertiliser once as the shoots emerge in spring.

Pruning and snails. Cut the foliage back to ground level once it yellows in autumn. Snails and slugs are the real enemy, so bait or trap from the moment the first shoots push through, not after the holes appear.

What to expect when it arrives

This hosta is grown as tube stock, so plants arrive young with a small crown and a few leaves. Give one a full season to bulk up, and two or three to reach the 70cm spread. If it ships during winter dormancy the pot may look like bare mix, which is normal rather than a fault.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• The best groundcover plants for shade
• Browse plants for full shade
• Compare options for partial shade
• Plants suited to cool climate gardens

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it?

Sixty centimetres apart for mass planting or a continuous edge. That lets each mound reach full width and just touch its neighbours without crowding.

My hosta vanished over winter. Is it dead?

Almost certainly not. This is a deciduous perennial that dies back to the crown every winter and reshoots in spring, so mark the spot before the leaves go.

How do I stop snails wrecking the leaves?

Start baiting or trapping as the first shoots appear in spring, because the damage happens early and the holes stay all season. A raised pot solves most of the problem.

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

No. Hostas contain saponins and are toxic to cats and dogs if eaten, usually causing vomiting and diarrhoea. Plant it out of reach if your pet chews foliage.