Siebold's plantain lily

Hostas are fully hardy and need no winter protection outdoors; the plant dies back in autumn and the rhizome survives in the ground without problems. You can cut the dead foliage off close to the ground or leave it lying as a natural cover. In spring, cover young shoots briefly with horticultural fleece in case of late frost.

Division is the easiest and most reliable method for propagating hostas and rejuvenating old clumps at the same time. Carefully lift the root ball out of the ground with a digging fork in early spring (March/April), as soon as the first shoots appear, or alternatively in early autumn (August/September). Shake off the soil and divide the rootstock with a sharp spade or knife into several sections. Each piece should have at least two to four healthy shoot buds. Larger clumps can be divided every three to four years. Plant the pieces immediately in prepared, humus-rich soil and water them in well. Sowing is possible, but less common in garden practice: seeds of Hosta sieboldiana ripen in autumn in brown seed pods and can be harvested directly. Sow them in late winter or early spring under glass, keep the compost evenly moist and expect uneven germination. Note: grown from seed, the offspring may differ from the parent variety, especially with selected cultivars and variegated forms. Variegated varieties almost always come out plain-leaved from seed. You get plants true to variety only by division.