Hosta 'Praying Hands'

Questions about hosta 'Praying Hands'

Does hosta 'Praying Hands' need sun or shade?

Hosta 'Praying Hands' grows in part sun (4 to 6 hours of sun, including some afternoon sun) and part shade (2 to 4 hours of sun, mostly in the morning).

It wants soil that stays evenly moist, rich in organic matter, and a good soak in dry spells.

What zones does hosta 'Praying Hands' grow in?

USDA zones 3 to 9. It is hardy to zone 3, which means it survives winter nights down to about −30 °F (−34 °C).

Gardening in Canada? Use the USDA zone for your town: Canada's own zone map uses different numbers.

How far apart should hosta 'Praying Hands' be planted?

14 in (35 cm) apart, from the middle of one plant to the middle of the next. That is a little closer than its full width of 16 in (40 cm), so a group knits into one patch.

It grows 16 in (40 cm) tall. Give it the full distance from anything taller, or it will lean out towards the light.

How many hosta 'Praying Hands' plants do I need?

At 14 in apart, set out in staggered rows:

• 9 to fill 10 square feet (about 1 m²)
• 9 for a single row 10 ft (3 m) long
• 28 to fill a 4 × 8 ft bed on its own

In a mixed border, plant it as one at a time, repeated along the bed at intervals; a slender one reads better as a clump of three.

In the bed above, the planner used four in four groups.

Is hosta 'Praying Hands' poisonous to dogs and cats?

Yes: mild toxicity to dogs, cats and horses. Can cause vomiting and diarrhoea in pets if eaten.

Rated from the ASPCA. Where references disagree, the more cautious rating is used.

Is there a pet-safe plant like hosta 'Praying Hands'?

These come closest to doing what hosta 'Praying Hands' does, and no toxicity is recorded for them:

• Coral bells: an edging, not an accent, 4 in shorter.
• Foamy bells: an edging, not an accent, 4 in shorter.
• Clustered bellflower: the same size; a drift, not an accent, flowers early June to early July.

Matched the way the planner's Swap button matches plants: the same job in a bed, then size, then flowering time.

What does hosta 'Praying Hands' look like in winter?

Hosta 'Praying Hands' dies down to the ground and there is nothing to see until spring. The old stems can be cut in autumn, or left until spring as shelter for overwintering insects.