Hostas
Botanical name: Hosta
Hostas
Botanical name: Hosta
Description
Species of Hostas
Fragrant plantain lily 'Grandiflora'
Fragrant plantain lily 'Grandiflora' are native to East Asia and are cultivated around the world because of their attractive foliage and white, blue, or lilac flowers. The nickname "fragrant plantain lily 'Grandiflora'" comes from the plants' resemblance to plantain weeds, which have similarly broad leaves.
Plantain lilies 'Alligator Alley'
Plantain lilies 'Alligator Alley' is appreciated by horticulturalists for the mass of puckered leaves it produces. The leaves have a texture much like leather. Plantain lilies 'Alligator Alley' is a Hosta cultivar, sport of Hosta "Dick Ward." It's believed that this plant got its cultivar name, "Alligator Alley," based on the idiosyncratic physiology of its leaves.
Plantain lilies 'Fire and Ice'
A cultivar of Plantain lily, plantain lilies 'Fire and Ice' is named for the striking contrast between its leaves' creamy centers and their vivid green edges. It bears racemes of lavender-colored flowers in summer. This cultivar is noted to bear the reverse coloring of its cousin, the 'Patriot' cultivar, with which it is sometimes paired for visual effect.
Plantain lilies 'Autumn Frost'
Plantain lilies 'Autumn Frost' is unique for its frosty blue leaves and yellow margins. It is a medium hosta cultivar. Plantain lilies 'Autumn Frost' is named for being a sport of the Shadowland® ‘First Frost’ cultivar, and for its frost resistance. Horticulturalists like that this hardy plant grows well in city environments, is low maintenance, and slug resistant.
Plantain lilies 'Sagae'
Plantain lilies 'Sagae' are native to East Asia and are cultivated around the world because of their attractive foliage and white, blue, or lilac flowers. The nickname "plantain lilies 'Sagae'" comes from the plants' resemblance to plantain weeds, which have similarly broad leaves.
Plantain lilies 'Designer Genes'
The plantain lilies 'Designer Genes' is a plantain lily developed in Maryland in 2005 by Arthur Wrede. Only one parent cultivar is known: hosta "Miss Susie." It is enjoyed for its vibrant combination of red stems and large yellow leaves, which is unique to this cultivar. It is a good staple in a shady garden and tolerates the black walnut, but gardeners should watch out for slugs and snails.
Plantain lilies 'Humpback Whale'
Plantain lilies 'Humpback Whale' are native to East Asia and are cultivated around the world because of their attractive foliage and white, blue, or lilac flowers. The nickname "plantain lilies 'Humpback Whale'" comes from the plants' resemblance to plantain weeds, which have similarly broad leaves.
Plantain lilies 'Rhino Hide'
As a cultivar, the most notable feature of plantain lilies 'Rhino Hide' is its thick, textured, leathery leaves. These have additional interest in their two-tone green and chartreuse coloring. It makes an excellent backdrop or ground cover for flashier plants and is more pest-resistant than other cultivars, although slugs and snails remain a problem.
Plantain lilies 'Whirlwind'
Plantain lilies 'Whirlwind' is a hosta cultivar named for its interestingly shaped and colored leaves. The leaves are variegated cream and green, and have an twisted effect around a central stem. In mid-summer, lavender flowers appear. This is an appealing choice for a shady and moist garden.
Plantain lilies 'Paul's Glory'
Plantain lilies 'Paul's Glory' are native to East Asia and are cultivated around the world because of their attractive foliage and white, blue, or lilac flowers. The nickname "plantain lilies 'Paul's Glory'" comes from the plants' resemblance to plantain weeds, which have similarly broad leaves.
Plantain lilies 'Mini Skirt'
Plantain lilies 'Mini Skirt' are native to East Asia and are cultivated around the world because of their attractive foliage and white, blue, or lilac flowers. The nickname "plantain lilies 'Mini Skirt'" comes from the plants' resemblance to plantain weeds, which have similarly broad leaves.
Hosta clausa
Hosta clausa are native to East Asia and are cultivated around the world because of their attractive foliage and white, blue, or lilac flowers. The nickname "hosta clausa" comes from the plants' resemblance to plantain weeds, which have similarly broad leaves.
Plantain lilies 'First Frost'
Plantain lilies 'First Frost' has unique leaf patterning which reminds one of frost because of the white edging on its blue leaves. It has won awards from the Royal Horticultural Society and the American Hosta Growers for being easy to grow and maintain, which makes it popular with gardeners looking for an interesting and attractive border perennial.
Plantain lilies 'Krossa Regal'
The plantain lilies 'Krossa Regal' is distinguished by its size, large to giant, as well as by the fact that it is not a mounding hosta but instead grows upright. It may still spread to 1.8 m wide but will grow taller than other varieties – up to 91 cm. The plant's leaves are blue-green and it produces light purple blooms atop tall stems.
Plantain lilies 'Dancing Queen'
Plantain lilies 'Dancing Queen' is vastly different from the plant it was cultivated from, sporting light rather than dark green leaves. This Hosta cultivar is an offspring of H. "Split Personality." Perhaps it was named "Dancing Queen" for its majestic nature and showy appearance.
Plantain lilies 'August Moon'
Plantain lilies 'August Moon' is a type of hosta bred for the texture and attractiveness of its leaves. This cultivar has large, ridged leaves in a yellow-green color which are lighter than many other hostas. It is this luminous quality that may give the cultivar its name. It is more sun tolerant than many other hostas, and it grows quickly and hardily.
Plantain lilies 'Wide Brim'
Plantain lilies 'Wide Brim' is a plantain lily cultivar distinguished by its mound-forming growth habit and heart-shaped leaves with a bluish tint. Each is adorned with irregular creamy yellow markings. Among variegated versions of the plants, plantain lilies 'Wide Brim' is one of the most popular.
Plantain lilies 'Patriot'
A sport of the notable Hosta 'Francee,' plantain lilies 'Patriot' is a gorgeous variegated cultivar that has been selected for its satin-like, heart-shaped leaves with broad and prominent pure white markings at the leaf edges. This is one of the most popular variegated plantain lily cultivars.
Plantain lilies 'Empress Wu'
Plantain lilies 'Empress Wu' is the largest hosta cultivar in the market. Its leaves can grow to be 46 cm long and are bluish-green, thick, deeply veined, and held upright. The original plantain lilies 'Empress Wu' was a seedling of a self-pollinated hosta 'Big John' and was registered in 2008 by Virginia and Brian Skaggs from Indiana, USA. It was named after the only Chinese female emperor and one of the most powerful women in history.
Blue plantain lily
Blue plantain lily (Hosta ventricosa) is an herbaceous perennial native to China. Showy purple flowers appear summer to fall. Attracts hummingbirds but can also draw slugs and snails which can cause serious damage to the plant. Prefers partial to full shade.
Fragrant plantain lily
The trademark feature of Asia-native plantain lilies is the numerous glossy oval leaves with deep parallel veins. The fragrant plantain lily is additionally decorated with strongly fragrant, trumpet-shaped, large white flowers, which are unique in the genus. Hosta plantaginea is one of the favorite cultivated plants for north-facing and shady gardens, but it also tolerates high humidity and temperatures.
Plantain lilies 'Blue Moon'
Plantain lilies 'Blue Moon' are native to East Asia and are cultivated around the world because of their attractive foliage and white, blue, or lilac flowers. The nickname "plantain lilies 'Blue Moon'" comes from the plants' resemblance to plantain weeds, which have similarly broad leaves.
Plantain lilies 'Liberty'
Plantain lilies 'Liberty' is an attractive garden lily that is immediately noticeable because of its two-colored variegated leaves, which have green centers and leaf accents surrounded by golden-yellow outers that fade to white. In contrast, the parent plant has plain-colored leaves. Named for freedom, these brightly-colored plants boast their liberty to give character to garden borders, containers, and landscapes.
Plantain lilies 'June'
Plantain lilies 'June' are native to East Asia and are cultivated around the world because of their attractive foliage and white, blue, or lilac flowers. The nickname "plantain lilies 'June'" comes from the plants' resemblance to plantain weeds, which have similarly broad leaves.
Plantain lilies 'Halcyon'
Plantain lilies 'Halcyon' are native to East Asia and are cultivated around the world because of their attractive foliage and white, blue, or lilac flowers. The nickname "plantain lilies 'Halcyon'" comes from the plants' resemblance to plantain weeds, which have similarly broad leaves.
Plantain lilies 'Gold Standard'
The plantain lilies 'Gold Standard' is a cultivar from the Asparagaceae family. It has also been bred to create other varieties of Hosta. In the summertime, it gets purple flowers, but it is better known for its magnificent leaves. They change colors from dark green to golden yellow and finally white at the end of its season. Its name stems from this colorful transition. It has received an award from the Royal Horticultural Society.
Plantain lilies 'Vulcan'
The plantain lilies 'Vulcan' variety is unique for its creamy centered foliage, yellow streaks and lavender summer flowers. This striking cultivar is a hybrid of other hosta varieties and named after the "Star Trek" character Vulcan. Plantain lilies 'Vulcan' is popular in gardens due to its ornamental look and hardy, forgiving habit.
Plantain lilies 'Undulata'
Plantain lilies 'Undulata' is a plantain lily cultivar with many varieties. It is prized for its showy leaves that usually have creamy white centers and wavy green margins, but some varieties are all-green. All varieties come with gorgeous lavender flowers that are quite attractive to bees. Though many plantain lilies can tolerate cold temperatures, plantain lilies 'Undulata' takes the cake, handling temperatures as low as -30 ℃. The name refers to this cultivar's wavy foliage. Though it used to be a species, plantain lilies 'Undulata' was recently relegated to cultivar status.
Plantain lilies 'Cool as a Cucumber'
Standing out from the crowd because of its strikingly variegated leaves is plantain lilies 'Cool as a Cucumber'. This hosta hybrid is bigger than its parent, with more substantial leaves. It was given its name, "Cool as a Cucumber," for obvious reasons — just check out the way the white center of its leaves merge to pale green and then to darker green at the edges.
Plantain lilies 'Enterprise'
The color variation in plantain lilies 'Enterprise''s leaves clearly distinguishes it from its ancestral plant. Plantain lilies 'Enterprise', sport of Hosta "Captain Kirk," is popular among gardeners for the thick mound of chartreuse foliage it produces. People remain unsure as to why this particular cultivar is called "Enterprise."
Plantain lilies 'Stained Glass'
Plantain lilies 'Stained Glass' differs from other varieties due to its prominent veins and variegated leaves. This plant is a variety of Hosta 'Guacamole'. Its name derives from its resemblance to stained-glass windows. This variety is valued due to its ability to thrive in versatile light conditions.
Plantain lilies 'Minuteman'
Of all the Hosta cultivars with white-margined leaves, plantain lilies 'Minuteman' is thought to be the most popular. The leaves sometimes grow cupped and slightly wavy. In early summer, it produces racemes of exceptionally large, lavender-colored flowers, adding another note of color to this cultivar's palette. Celebrating its popularity in the horticulture world, plantain lilies 'Minuteman' has been given an Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society.
Plantain lilies 'Color Festival'
Known best for its tricolor variegation, plantain lilies 'Color Festival' features dashes of white, yellow, and green in its leaves, unlike any others within the Hosta family. It's a Hosta cultivar and sport of Hosta "Enterprise." Its name, "Color Festival," emphasizes its festive look. Plantain lilies 'Color Festival' is loved among gardeners for its voluminous mounds and ability to catch the eye.
Plantain lilies 'Magic Island'
Plantain lilies 'Magic Island' is both unique and desirable, with yellow leaves fringed with blue. This plant is a Hosta hybrid and sport of H. "Catherine". Plantain lilies 'Magic Island' is believed to have received its name because of the changing coloration of its leaves, just like magic. This plant's billowing foliage and interesting coloration are what gardeners admire most.
Plantain lilies 'Prairie Sky'
The fascinating coloration of plantain lilies 'Prairie Sky''s foliage leaves quite the impression, with the blue color coming from the plant it was cultivated from, Hosta "Blue Jay". "Blue Jay", however, only holds this coloration for part of the season, whereas plantain lilies 'Prairie Sky' boasts blue leaves all season long. "Prairie Sky", this plant's cultivar name, may be related to the color of the sky over a prairie during the night.
Plantain lilies 'American Halo'
The coloration of plantain lilies 'American Halo''s foliage is where it gets its uniqueness, with blue-green leaves edged with a creamy, lighter green color. It's a Hosta hybrid whose exact genealogy is unknown. Its allocated cultivar name "American Halo" describes this plant's distinctive color pattern.
Plantain lilies 'Brother Stefan'
Plantain lilies 'Brother Stefan' was hybridized by Olga Petryszyn, and she named it after her brother, Stefan, as a birthday gift. This cultivar was produced as a hybrid between Hosta ‘King Tut’ and Hosta ‘Mildred Seaver’. This plant has thickly corrugated, blue-green leaves that frame a golden center.
Plantain lilies 'Purple Heart'
Gardeners looking for a very dense and leafy plantain lily are often drawn to the plantain lilies 'Purple Heart'. It is named for its dark purple stems, which connect to dark purple veins in the green leaves. Flowers are a lavender color, and appear every year.
Plantain lilies 'Revolution'
Plantain lilies 'Revolution' is a plantain lily developed for an unusual leaf pattern in cream and green. Although it lacks the size and the slug-resistant properties of some plantain lily cultivars, the plantain lilies 'Revolution' provides beautiful ornamental foliage which does well in shady areas of gardens.
Plantain lilies 'Sum and Substance'
Plantain lilies 'Sum and Substance' is named for its enormous size. It has huge, waxy, bright-green leaves, which are alleged to make it slug-resistant. It is an Asparagaceae used by gardeners to provide ornamental foliage in shady areas of their gardens.
Plantain lilies 'Praying Hands'
This unusual hosta cultivar features unique upwardly folded leaves that resemble hands folded in prayer, hence the name. Besides being folded, leaves are narrow, thick, and dark green, with exposed glossy undersides and matte topsides. These foliage features also make plantain lilies 'Praying Hands' slug-resistant. Plantain lilies 'Praying Hands' is a winner of the 2011 Hosta of the Year award.
Plantain lilies 'Mama Mia'
A Hosta cultivar with a unique leaf coloration, plantain lilies 'Mama Mia' displays heart-shaped green leaves with golden edges that are ideal if you want a subtle beauty gracing your garden. Not only are gardeners captivated by its leaves, but plantain lilies 'Mama Mia' also forms delicate lavender blooms that are sure to steal the heart.
Plantain lilies 'Golden Tiara'
The golden-yellow edges of plantain lilies 'Golden Tiara''s leaves are what makes it so distinctive. This cultivar is a hosta hybrid, although it isn't specified exactly which hostas were crossed to produce this unique plant. It's not difficult to understand why they named it the "Golden Tiara" when you see its leaves.
Plantain lilies 'Blue Ivory'
Plantain lilies 'Blue Ivory' is a Plaintain lilies cultivar and a sport of Hosta 'Halycon'. Like other sports of 'Halycon,' it has blue leaves with white margins (hence its name). However, the leaves are much wider than other varieties, with margins that are a bright shade of white.
Plantain lilies 'Hadspen Blue'
The early blooming plantain lilies 'Hadspen Blue' is set apart by its incredibly long-lasting blue foliage, slow growth, and pest resistance. It is one of Eric Smith's cultivars during his time at Hadspen House, crossed with the Hosta tardiflora and sieboldiana elegans ‘Alba.’ Resistant to slugs, the plantain lilies 'Hadspen Blue' does well in shaded containers and beds.
Plantain lilies 'Stiletto'
Plantain lilies 'Stiletto' has prominently veined leaves that are dark olive in color with cream-colored margins. The leaves of this plant are notably thin like the stilettos of high heels. It is used for ground cover, landscaping, and gardens.
Plantain lilies 'Orange Marmalade'
Plantain lilies 'Orange Marmalade' is a popular Hosta cultivar, known for its attractive foliage that alters its colors as the seasons progress - the leaves open blue-green, but they become a marmalade-like orange-gold in summer, fading to yellow and creamy white afterward. During these changes, the leaves are variegated, which increases their visual interest even further.
Plantain lilies 'Love Pat'
Plantain lilies 'Love Pat' is said to be one of the best blue-leaved Hostas around. This cultivar is the result of a cross between 'Blue Velvet' x 'Blue Vision.' The plantain lilies 'Love Pat' cultivar uniquely combines three characteristics: lavender flowers, intense blue-green leaves, and dramatically cupped foliage. Many other varieties may have one of these qualities, but not all three combined. Furthermore, this cultivar is slug-resistant and very attractive to bees, making it both a beautiful and practical addition to any garden.
Plantain lilies 'Great Expectations'
Plantain lilies 'Great Expectations' are native to East Asia and are cultivated around the world because of their attractive foliage and white, blue, or lilac flowers. The nickname "plantain lilies 'Great Expectations'" comes from the plants' resemblance to plantain weeds, which have similarly broad leaves.
Plantain lilies 'Guacamole'
As the name hints, plantain lilies 'Guacamole' has foliage of a light, uneven guacamole shade of green with somewhat darker edges. The leaves are glossy, medium-sized, with distinctive veining. The plant can spread to become 1.3 m wide over time. A sport of another Hosta cultivar called 'Fragrant Bouquet', plantain lilies 'Guacamole' was bred by Robert M. Solberg and registered with the American Horticultural Society in 1994.
Plantain lilies 'Shade Fanfare'
Plantain lilies 'Shade Fanfare' are native to East Asia and are cultivated around the world because of their attractive foliage and white, blue, or lilac flowers. The nickname "plantain lilies 'Shade Fanfare'" comes from the plants' resemblance to plantain weeds, which have similarly broad leaves.
Plantain lilies 'Victory'
Plantain lilies 'Victory''s distinctive, variegated leaves separate it from its parent. It forms a mass of bluish-green foliage with a stunning yellow edge. The purple flowers that reveal themselves in the middle of summer are the cherry on the top - what's not to love? It's easy to understand why this hosta was given the name "Victory."
Plantain lilies 'Devon Green'
Plantain lilies 'Devon Green' has foliage with a deep green coloration and pale lavender flowers. This plant was cultivated from Hosta 'Halycon'. Due to its attractive foliage, gardeners will often use it as a ground cover or in planters.
Plantain lilies 'Rainforest Sunrise'
Plantain lilies 'Rainforest Sunrise' have glossy, clump-forming, lush-green foliage that fades to gold. In midsummer, they develop cute light purple flowers. In the sun, the gold is highlighted, much like the rainforest might look at sunrise. This cultivar comes from the lineage of H. 'Maui Buttercups'. They are slug resistant, weather hardy, and attract hummingbirds.
Plantain lilies 'Blue Mouse Ears'
As its name suggests, foliage of plantain lilies 'Blue Mouse Ears' is moderately sized, compact, and has a blue tint — and it is a sport of hosta 'Blue cadet'. Like other hostas, plantain lilies 'Blue Mouse Ears' thrives in the shade. Due to its unusual and decorative looks, this cultivar is a winner of several awards, including the Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society and American Hosta Grower's Hosta Of the Year 2008.
Plantain lilies 'Elegans'
A cultivar of Plantain lily, plantain lilies 'Elegans' is renowned for its superb leaf color, which is a silky blue-gray. Despite its slow rate of growth, this cultivar is a good choice for beginner gardeners as it resists a variety of pests and is usually spared by slugs.
Siebold's plantain lily
Siebold's plantain lily (Hosta sieboldii) is a plant species in the Hosta genus native to Japan. The name siebold's plantain lily was given by Philipp Franz von Siebold. Over 30 cultivars have received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Plantain lily
Plantain lily (Hosta sieboldiana) and its large, heart-shaped leaves have an extraordinary talent for crowding out noxious garden weeds. It’s perfect for a shade garden because it thrives in the shadows. It’s originally from Japan.
Hosta fortunei 'Francee’
A cultivar of Hosta, hosta fortunei 'Francee’ is recognized for its spectacularly heart-shaped, white-margined leaves. In late summer, it also sprouts funnel-shaped, pale lavender blooms. This cultivar propagates quickly and is therefore an excellent choice for landscaping, but it does well in containers too.
Plantain lilies 'Curly Fries'
Plantain lilies 'Curly Fries' are native to East Asia and are cultivated around the world because of their attractive foliage and white, blue, or lilac flowers. The nickname "plantain lilies 'Curly Fries'" comes from the plants' resemblance to plantain weeds, which have similarly broad leaves.
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Vascular plants Class
Monocotyledons Order
Asparagus and allies Family
Asparagus Genus
Hostas 
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