Leaf
Matasg, Wikimedia · CC-BY-SA 3.0
Fragrant plantain lily
Hosta plantaginea (Lam.) Asch.
Also known as: August lily, Fragrant hosta, Hosta
Family: Asparagaceae
40 to 60 cm tall
Planted in shady borders, moist and rich soils
Flowering: August – September
Part shade
Shade
Very hardy, to about -25°C
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
Unlike most hostas, which are grown only for their foliage, this species produces remarkably fragrant white funnel-shaped flowers, which open mostly in the evening to attract moths.
🍃 Leaves
Large, broad, heart-shaped, veined, bright green, glossy
🌸 Flowers
White, funnel-shaped, very fragrant, held in an upright spike
🍎 Fruits
Small dry capsule
🪵 Bark
Herbaceous perennial clump formed of short rhizomes
🗺️ Distribution
Native to China; widely grown in France as a shade-border perennial
🐝 Value for pollinators
Fragrant, nectar-rich flowers, visited by moths at dusk
✂️ Horticultural uses
Shade-border perennial grown above all for its large, decorative foliage; one of the few species in the genus with fragrant flowers
⚠️ Possible toxicity
Not toxic to humans, but toxic to dogs, cats and horses (saponins): vomiting, diarrhoea and lethargy if ingested. Foliage is also very attractive to slugs and snails.
🌿 Other Asparagaceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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