Hosta Hosta plantaginea
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Hosta:
- Phonetic Spelling
- HOSS-tuh plan-tah-jin-EE-uh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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The name Hosta, honors an Austrian botanist Nicholas Host. Plantain lily is an herbaceous perennial in the Asparagaceae (asparagus) family, native to China. It grows in clumps from 1 to 3 feet high and wide.
Plantain lily thrives in sites with deep to partial shade and moist soils with good drainage and high organic matter. Locations with full sun can be a planting site in cooler climates, providing proper moisture is maintained.
Maintenance should include removing discolored leaves at ground level. After blooming has occurred, cut the stems off to encourage new plant growth.
It is considered to have the best flowers in the Hosta genus due to their showy appearance, fragrance, and use as a cut flower. The flowers attract hummingbirds and the plants are slightly salt tolerant.
As well as its flowers being the most fragrant of the Hosta varieties, they are also among the largest, up 3 to 4" long. These showy trumpet shaped blooms open in the evening, showing off their waxy white blooms.
Plantain lily is an excellent plant for locations such as walkways, slopes, banks, and small spaces. Plant it in mass in perennial beds or naturalized areas, as a border or edging, or in pond, rock, pollinator, or shade gardens.
Propagation is done by division in either the spring or fall, however, the take is easiest in the early part of the spring prior to the unfurling of the foliage.
Its dense habit can help to keep weeds at bay.
Quick ID Hints:
- Acaulescent herb with parallel-veined leaves
- Petioles sheathing, sulcate, subpeltate
- Inflorescence scapose raceme, leafy-bracteate
- Corollas tubular abruptly bell-shaped apically
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Monitor for snails, slugs, and nematodes. 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 ring spot 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.
All parts of this plant are toxic to cats, dogs and horses.
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
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- A perfect plant for a shady garden.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers attract hummingbirds as well as butterflies.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Easy to Grow
- Fragrance
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Dense
- Erect
- Mounding
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- 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, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Produces a loculicidal capsule, which is a dry fruit that opens in the middle.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Trumpet
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- 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 Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Other/more complex
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The bright green-yellow round to heart-shaped glossy basal leaves have parallel veins and a quilted surface.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Slope/Bank
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Heavy Shade
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses