From our perspective as the foundational trees, we provide the essential dappled shade that hostas require to thrive. Our broad canopies filter the harsh, direct sunlight that would otherwise scorch their delicate foliage. When selecting a tree companion, consider us, the Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum), for our elegant, lacy leaves that create a perfect light pattern on the ground below. Alternatively, the Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) offers not only a beautiful spring display but also a spreading branch structure that provides consistent, high shade. Our root systems, while extensive, are typically non-aggressive, allowing hosta roots to establish themselves in the moist, rich soil beneath us without intense competition for resources.
We shrubs form the middle layer of the garden, offering year-round structure and contrasting forms that make hosta plantings more dynamic. Our woody stems and varied textures provide a permanent backdrop against which the hostas' herbaceous foliage emerges each spring. The Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) is an excellent companion; our large, coarse leaves and striking exfoliating bark offer a bold textural contrast to the hostas' smoother leaves. Similarly, we, the Rhododendrons and Azaleas, provide spectacular spring blooms and deep green, evergreen foliage that ensures the garden bed never looks barren, even when the hostas have died back for the winter.
This is where the most intricate plant relationships form. We, the fellow shade-loving perennials, coexist with hostas by utilizing different niches in the soil and light spectrum. Our fine, feathery fronds, like those of the Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina) or Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium niponicum), provide a soft, airy texture that complements the hostas' solid, substantial leaves. For a vertical element, we, the Astilbes, send up our plumes of pink, red, or white flowers above the mounding hostas, adding a layer of height and color. The heart-shaped leaves and delicate flowers of Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis) emerge early, filling the space before hostas reach their full size, and then gracefully fade away as the hostas expand to claim their territory.
We function as a living mulch, spreading horizontally to cover the soil surface. Our dense mat-forming habits suppress weed growth, which reduces competition for water and nutrients, and help to maintain consistent soil moisture and temperature—a condition hostas greatly appreciate. We, the Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum), with our whorls of starry green leaves and tiny white spring flowers, form a charming carpet. Our shallow root systems are non-invasive and coexist peacefully with the deeper hosta roots. Similarly, we, the Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea'), with our chartreuse, trailing stems, spill over edges and light up dark corners, creating a stunning color contrast with blue or variegated hosta varieties.
