Growing Hostas from Seed and Watching for Sports

Growing your own hosta plants from seed can be a fun winter project. All you need is the seed, some soil for seedlings and a little patience. In the summer you can watch for sports on your mature plants.

Most hosta seed germinates readily and young plants grow at a moderate pace. If you start them in the winter they can be ready to plant out in spring. If you have hosta in your garden you will often find seed pods in the fall. You can make your own planned crosses and seed is also available over the internet. One thing to remember is that hosta genetics are a little complicated. If you cross a variegated plant to another variegated plant do not expect any variegated seedlings. They will all, with very rare exception, be green, blue, or gold. To get variegated seedlings the pollen parent must be streaked. These crosses produce a percentage of colorful seedlings. Variegated hostas are very popular today and over 50% of those introduced are sports of other varieties. Hostas are relatively genetically unstable and color changes come from mutations in the cells; it is that which produces a sport. You might be lucky enough to find a good one in your own garden. If you love hostas try to grow a few from seed and watch for your own sports.

A sport on 'American Halo'

Hosta pods and seeds

'Krossa Regal', a blue hosta

'Liberty', a popular banded hosta

'Great Expectations', another popular banded hosta

Mixed hosta with aruncus; notice the blue sport in the plant to the right.