Where did hostas come from?
Hostas were originally from Korea, Japan and eastern China. They naturally evolved and grew in open fields, moist meadows, rocky mountain slopes, in forests and shady mountain woods. They often evolved in maritime climates that were surrounded by oceans that caused cooler, damper and cloudier conditions. On the main islands of Japan, the annual precipitation is 62 inches. By comparison, Northeastern and Midwestern United States only receive from 20 to 40 inches of rainfall. The first hosta seed to actually reach the western world (to Paris) was H. plantagenia sometime between 1784 and 1789. The first major shipment of hostas to reach America directly from Japan was organized by Thomas Hogg, Jr., a man named U. S. Marshall by Abraham Lincoln in 1862.
Hostas were originally from Korea, Japan and eastern China. They naturally evolved and grew in open fields, moist meadows, rocky mountain slopes, in forests and shady mountain woods. They often evolved in maritime climates that were surrounded by oceans that caused cooler, damper and cloudier conditions. On the main islands of Japan, the annual precipitation is 62 inches. By comparison, Northeastern and Midwestern United States only receive from 20 to 40 inches of rainfall. The first hosta seed to actually reach the western world (to Paris) was H. plantagenia sometime between 1784 and 1789. The first major shipment of hostas to reach America directly from Japan was organized by Thomas Hogg, Jr., a man named U. S. Marshall by Abraham Lincoln in 1862.
Hostas are native to northeast Asia, mainly Japan, China and Korea. The species of which there is about 70 are mostly clump forming perennial plants with lily-like flowers growing on forest margins or in woodland settings. Common names that they used to be known by include Funkia, Corfu Lily, Day Lily or Plantain Lily but today they are called Hosta. The name Hosta is in honor of the Austrian botanist Nicholas Thomas Host. Hostas require a dormancy period over winter of below freezing for 6 weeks or so to allow the plant to get prepared for the upcoming spring. Hostas first appeared in Western Europe around the late 1700’s to early 1800’s then soon after in USA. Soil conditions a good loamy soil about ph6 is best make sure to prepare your soil well before planting as they are shallow rooted the surrounding area where you plant the hosta needs to be cultivated before planting. Hostas are shade loving plants mostly so it is important to place your plants out of hot mid-day sun as a gener
