Hosta's like moist soil, in a shady situation, and are ideal to grow around ponds or water features. Hosta's can grow anywhere, as long as their roots have an ample supply of water.
Hosta's are hardy, long-lived plants, and are grown mainly for their foliage. Most Hosta's have smallish, mauve or lavender lily-like flowers which bloom in late summer on stems which can reach over 2ft. Although hosta's are grown for their foliage, they do attract slugs and snails and if left to their own devices, these little critters do make a meal of the plant. If possible, check hosta's everyday for any holes in the leaves, if you do find any, have a quick rummage to see if you can see any slugs or snails nearby and remove them before they devour the plant.
 
Hosta's are great for cutting, and all varieties are capable of making quite large clumps over time. Some hosta's have green leaves, but there are many forms of variegated species available.
Recommended species include:
Hosta albo-marginata: This hosta is a dwarf variety with leaves which have a marginal strip of white or buff on them.
Hosta fortunei: This is a robust hosta which has greenish-blue leaves (glaucous).
Hosta undulata: The undulata hosta has variegated, wavy-edged leaves.
Hosta ventricosa: This form of hosta has especially fine purplish flowers which grow on stems over 2ft tall.
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Growing Hosta's 
