hostas (Hosta) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

Hostas are East Asian perennials widely grown in shaded U.S. gardens for their leaf colors and patterns. Clumps of leaves send up tall stalks of white, lavender, or purple flowers, and some kinds, such as scented hosta, have fragrant blooms. Hostas are also called plantain lilies, though they are neither true lilies nor plantains.

In this group

scented hostaHosta plantaginea

This garden species stands out for large, fragrant white flowers that open late in the day.

Siebold's plantain lilyHosta sieboldiana

A large garden hosta with broad, blue-green leaves; many familiar American cultivars trace to this species.

blue plantain-lilyHosta ventricosa

A garden hosta with broad, heart-shaped leaves and purple-violet flowers.

Appearance

Growth form: Hostas die back above ground in winter and return from below ground in spring.
Leaves: Leaves range from narrow to nearly round and may be blue-green, yellow, or edged and streaked with white. The foliage is often the main reason people grow them.
Flowers: Flowers rise above the leaves in clusters along a stalk. Scented hosta has especially fragrant white flowers, while other species and garden varieties may have little scent.
Fruit: After flowering, a dry fruit splits into three parts and holds flat, winged seeds.
How to recognize it: Look for a ground-level clump of broad, strongly veined leaves with separate tall stalks of white, lavender, or purple bell- to trumpet-shaped flowers.

Look-alikes

lily-of-the-valleyConvallaria

Lily-of-the-valley has a short, one-sided spray of tiny hanging white bells beneath its leaves. Hostas raise larger flowers on stalks above the leaf clump.

Why they get mixed upBoth can form leafy clumps in shaded American gardens.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: woodland edges
moist slopes
shaded gardens
Range: Hosta is native from the Russian Far East through China, Korea, and Japan. In the United States, it is chiefly encountered as a cultivated garden perennial rather than a native wildflower.
Preferred conditions: Most garden hostas prefer partial or dappled shade and moist, organic, well-drained soil. Sun tolerance and moisture needs vary by species and garden variety.

Growing it

Care: Garden hostas are commonly divided, and they can also be grown from seed. They are widely grown in 3–9, although the suitable range varies by kind.
Propagation: Dividing a plant preserves a named variety's traits, while seedlings may look different from the parent.
Toxicity: Hostas are toxic to dogs, cats, and horses if eaten, so fallen leaves and divided plants should be kept away from pets.

Name and classification

Group name: “Plantain lily” is another common name, but hostas are not true lilies or plantains.
Varieties and forms: Named garden varieties also differ in flower color. A cultivated plant often cannot be assigned to a wild species from a leaf photo alone.

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