5 Places You Should Never Plant Hostas, According to Gardening Experts

Hostas are low-maintenance and easy to grow for most gardeners—but they won't tolerate certain conditions. If you plant them in the wrong spot, for example, you can set these versatile perennials up for failure.

Fortunately, most gardens will have plenty of real estate for hostas to thrive—so long as you know which areas to avoid. Here, we spoke to experts about the worst places to grow hostas.

Soggy Soil

Hostas thrive in moist soil, but too much water can be an issue. "They hate standing water," says Kate Walz, founder of KW Garden Design. "Poorly draining soil or low spots that stay soggy can lead to root rot."

Instead, plant your hostas in well-draining soil. This will help keep rot from setting in.

Deer Areas

Yes, deer do eat hostas. "They're a favorite snack," says Walz. "Planting them in areas where deer tend to browse is just asking for trouble."

Rabbits also love to munch on hostas, so if you live in an area with plenty of wildlife, growing these plants may not be the best idea. However, there are ways to deter these animals.

"You can use caging to keep them from browsing on the tender shoots," says Laura Irish-Hanson, horticulture educator at the University of Minnesota Extension. "Avoid planting hostas if you cannot cage or fence the area."

Hot, Sunny Locations

Steven Jones, founder of Fieldstone Gardens, advises against growing hostas in extremely hot, sunny locations.

"Hostas are shade lovers and their leaf colors are most vibrant in the shade," adds Walz. "Direct sunlight will scorch their leaves."

This scorching will eventually lead to a bleached appearance on the leaves. Certain varieties can handle more sun, of course, but it's a good idea to keep hostas in shadier areas, just to be safe.

Containers

It's possible to grow hostas in containers, but Irish-Hanson doesn't recommend it.

"If you do want to try growing some in pots for a season, you can simply divide a plant in spring and place a clump in a large pot positioned in a shady location," she notes. "The best cultivars to use are ones that are smaller."

Dry Spots

Excessively dry climates aren't hospitable to hostas, notes Jones, as these plants need nutrient-rich, moist soil to thrive.

However, they can grow in sandy soils if they "receive supplemental water during dry periods," says Irish-Hanson. But it's a good idea to stick to well-draining, wet soil.