Plant DetailShow Menu

Hosta plantaginea is often confused with:
Helleborus Helleborus
Heuchera Heuchera cultivars
Native alternative(s) for Hosta plantaginea:
Anemone virginiana Anemone virginiana
Astilbe biternata Flowers
Campanula divaricata Campanula divaricata
Dicentra Form
Heuchera villosa Form
Viola canadensis Viola canadensis
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Dianthus x 'Jolt™ Pink' Jolt Pink dianthus
Narcissus triandrus Flowers
Clematis virginiana White four petaled flowers
Hosta plantaginea has some common insect problems:
Slugs & Snails on Ornamental Plants
Management of Root-Knot Nematodes in Bedding Plants
Hosta plantaginea has some common disease problems:
Phytophthora Blight and Root Rot on Annuals and Herbaceous Perennials

Hosta plantaginea

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
HOSS-tuh plan-tah-jin-EE-uh
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

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:
Tags:
#hummingbirds#showy flowers#fragrant flowers#white flowers#wildlife plant#low maintenance#mass planting#rock garden#cutting garden#border front#nectar plant mid-summer#nectar plant late summer#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#black walnut toxicity tolerant#heavy shade tolerant
 
Hosta plantaginea
Flower Close-up (Haywood County, NC) Marcia Boyle CC BY 4.0
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#hummingbirds#showy flowers#fragrant flowers#white flowers#wildlife plant#low maintenance#mass planting#rock garden#cutting garden#border front#nectar plant mid-summer#nectar plant late summer#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#black walnut toxicity tolerant#heavy shade tolerant
  • 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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • 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
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    Vomiting, diarrhea, depression.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Saponins
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No