Family: Hostaceae
Common Name: Plantain Lily

There are around 40 species in this genus of hardy, herbaceous perennials, mostly native to Japan, with a few species from China and Korea. They are mainly grown for their clumps of large, decorative leaves which come in a vari­ety of greens and blue-greens, sometimes with green, silver or gold markings. The sprays of nodding, funnel-shaped, lily-like flowers in blue, lilac, violet or white are borne on long stems, mostly high above the leaves, in summer. They look very pretty planted around water features or under trees. An extensive range of lovely cultivars is available.

Species

H. fortunei has broad, green leaves and pale lilac flowers. The variety albopicta has yel­lowish white leaves, edged with green and dark­ening with maturity; the form aurea has yellow leaves which turn light green in summer; the variety aureomarginata has heart-shaped, deep green leaves, edged yellow.

H. lancifolio grows to 60 cm (24 in), with narrow, dark green leaves and violet flowers which fade with age. It sel­dom sets seed.

H. plantaginea, to 65 cm (26 in), has large, shiny, green leaves and fragrant, white flowers in autumn. H. plantaginea var. japonica has more elongated leaves and flow­ers.

H. rectifolia, to about 1 m (3 ft), has 30 cm (12 in) long leaves and produces cobalt blue or violet, bell-shaped flowers.

H. sieboldiana var. elegans, to 75 cm (30 in), has grayish blue leaves and dense sprays of pale lilac flowers borne on stems usually shorter than the foliage.

H. sieboldii, to 30 cm (12 in) high, has leaves edged in white or yellowish white and violet flowers.

H. undulata var. undulata, to 90 cm (36 in) has wavy-edged leaves with a central white band and pale lavender flowers borne in dense clusters. The variety univitatta also has leaves bearing a central white band.

H. ven­tricosa, to 1 m (3 ft), has long, heart-shaped, green leaves and deep violet flowers with darker veins.

Cultivation

Plantain lilies are easy to grow, pro­vided they have a moist, shady spot and rich soil. They can also be grown in tubs and pots if well watered. Grown in clumps, they help dis­courage weeds from becoming established. Add well-rotted manure and peat to the soil and mulch each spring with compost or manure. Plant in the autumn or spring and water well during dry weather. Propagate by division of clumps in late winter or early spring. The species may be grown from seed but the cultivars must be divided.

Climate

Zone 6, or zone 5 if the root area is heavily mulched.