Appearance

Growth form

A clump-forming perennial about 1–2 ft (30–60 cm) tall and 3–4 ft (0.9–1.2 m) wide.

Flowers

Waxy white, trumpet-shaped flowers up to 3–4 in (8–10 cm) long open in the evening and are strongly fragrant.

Flowering time

In North Carolina gardens, flowers open from late August into September.

Look-alikes

Where it lives

Typical habitats

• Shade gardens
• Woodland gardens
• Borders

Range

Native to China. In the U.S. it is grown in gardens rather than occurring as a native wildflower.

Preferred conditions

Prefers deep to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter, though it takes more sun in cooler climates. Hardy in USDA zones 3–9, it's considered the most heat- and sun-tolerant hosta.

Flowering

Flowers Aug–Sep

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Flowers

Flowers Aug–Sep

Cautions

Cautions

All parts are toxic to cats, dogs, and horses.

Connected species

Ties with other wildlife

Deer browse the leaves. Its flowers draw bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

Pollinators

• HummingbirdsTrochilidae

  In U.S. gardens, hummingbirds visit the long, white flowers.

Name and classification

About the name

Other common names include fragrant plantain lily, white plantain lily, and Corfu lily. It is also called August lily.

Varieties and forms

'Aphrodite' is a cultivated form with double white flowers.

Conservation

IUCN Red List

NENot Evaluated·Not yet assessed