Hosta plantaginea
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- HOSS-tuh plan-tah-jin-EE-uh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Plaintain lIly is an herbaceous perennial in the Asparagaceae (asparagus) family native to China.
Plant it in the partial sun to full shade in consistently moist high organic matter soils. The flowers attract hummingbirds and they are slightly salt tolerant.
Use them mass planted in perennial beds or naturalized areas, as a border or edging, or in pond, rock, pollinator, or shade gardens.
Quick ID Hints:
- Acaulescent herb with parallel-veined leaves
- Petioles sheathing, sulcate, subpeltate
- Inflorescence scapose raceme, leafy-bracteated
- Corollas tubular abruptly bell-shaped apically
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Monitor for snails, slugs, and nematodes among the leaves. Deer enjoy the foliage. Leaf spot and crown rot rarely occur. Plants may become infected with the Hosta Virus X, tobacco rattle virus, or tomato ringspot virus. If any of these are detected, the plant should be removed and destroyed. Voles may destroy the plant by eating the roots. Hail storms may damage exposed leaves.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:


- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Hosta
- Species:
- plantaginea
- Family:
- Asparagaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers attract hummingbirds
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Description:
- Considered the best flowers in the Hosta genus due to their showy appearance, fragrance and use as a cut flower.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Ovate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Bright green-yellow round to heart-shaped glossy leaves
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Slope/Bank
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Cutting Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heavy Shade
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses