Visually, pairing crepe myrtles with hostas seems like a delightful choice. Whether they’re tall trees or compact bushes, crepe myrtles add vibrant color to your garden with clusters of blooms from late spring to fall, depending on your location. Some varieties also showcase foliage in rich shades of red or purple. They attract pollinators and hummingbirds, and if you leave the seed heads over winter, birds will visit for a tasty treat. Conversely, hostas grow low to the ground and are available in many shades of green, some with variegation. Varieties such as the ‘Empress Wu’ hosta (Hosta ‘Empress Wu’) can grow quite large, though there are also much smaller species. Any combination of these two plants could be visually stunning — if only they thrived under the same conditions.
I’ve cultivated several types of crepe myrtles and hostas, but as Onions Australia’s Garden Editor and in-house Master Gardener, I advise against growing them together. While I keep my crepe myrtles and hostas in different areas of my landscape, there might be rare situations where they could coexist. If you’re keen on trying this combination, the key is selecting a location and species that can complement each other.
Growing Conditions: Crepe Myrtle Versus Hosta
Crepe myrtles thrive in full sun and heat. If you plant your crepe myrtle in a sunny spot, you’ll enjoy the most vibrant blooms, even during the hottest parts of summer when other flowers may fade. These trees are also highly drought-tolerant. Once established, they might never need watering. I don’t even fertilize mine; I simply prune it once a year, and it rewards me — and the neighborhood — with stunning blooms throughout the summer. In essence, crepe myrtles are low-maintenance trees.
Hostas, aside from the occasional slug issue, are also low-maintenance, but that’s where their similarities with crepe myrtles end. While crepe myrtles enjoy full sun, hostas can suffer from sun scald with more than a few hours of direct sunlight daily. I learned this the hard way with my ‘Empress Wu’. Despite thinking it was in full shade, as it grew, some parts received too much sun, damaging its large, beautiful leaves.
Hostas require consistent moisture to prevent their leaves from browning at the edges. Since some only produce one set of leaves per season, any damage won’t be repaired until the next year. Given these vastly different environmental needs, it’s clear why crepe myrtles and hostas aren’t ideal companions.
Potential Ways to Make This Combo Work and Alternatives to Try
Now, I’ll slightly contradict myself. While they may not be perfect companions, sometimes you can bend nature’s rules. We know crepe myrtles prefer full sun, and hostas need ample shade. If you plant hostas near the base of your crepe myrtle on its east or north side, they will receive the most shade from the tree. This approach only works if the tree is large enough to provide adequate shade. Opting for smaller hosta varieties, like ‘Blue Mouse Ears’ and ‘Cameo’, can help them thrive beneath the tree’s canopy. Ensuring that this combo is planted in a spot with consistent moisture and good drainage will also support both plants’ health.
Since crepe myrtles need at least six hours of full sun, you might not be able to grow hostas alongside them. For better alternatives, select plants with similar environmental needs, such as full sun and drought tolerance, for optimal results. Salvia, coneflower, and monarda are all perennial plants that could be excellent additions to your garden, attracting even more birds and beneficial insects.
