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Hardiness: USDA Zone 3a: to -39.9 °C (-40 °F) USDA Zone 3b: to -37.2 °C (-35 °F) USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F) USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F) USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F) USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F) USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F) USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F) USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F) USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F) USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
Sun Exposure: Light Shade Partial to Full Shade Full Shade
Other details: This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds Flowers are fragrant Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Patent Information: Non-patented
Seed Collecting: Bag seedheads to capture ripening seed Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds Properly cleaned, seed can be successfully stored
Growing Habit: Mound-like
Growth Rate: Medium
Leaf Shape: Ovate Broadly Ovate
Leaf Appearance: Wavy
Degree to which the appearance is present: Lightly
On Jan 23, 2007, ademink from Indianapolis, IN wrote:
I love this hosta and just harvested seeds for the first time this Fall. I planted them and they germinated and are growing in just 7 short days! I'm very excited to see what seedlings are produced. This is a hosta that everyone should own. I have them in a spot that has shade a good part of the day until late afternoon. These tough guys weather that western afternoon sun like a champ! Fragrant and yes, they DO attract hummingbirds and butterflies!
This is one of my favorite hostas just for how fragrant the flowers are. Early mornings and evenings are sweetly scented by the large white blooms. A very fast grower, too. For me the leaves have been easily fried by the sun. Blooms August-September in my garden.
On Jan 22, 2006, joegee from Bucyrus, OH (Zone 6a) wrote:
This is one of my favorite flowers. Planted on the north side of my house, these hostas fill late summer evenings with an incredibly rich, sweet (but not cloying to my nose) perfume that can be smelled yards away. Their attractive, heart shaped, knee high lime-yellow/green foliage and the three to four foot high spikes of pure white flowers draw the eye like a beacon into the summer late-evening shadows. The show of nocturnal flowers lasts most of the month of August.
I almost forgot to mention, these flowers draw hummingbirds. During the evenings, and on overcast summer days when the flowers are open hummingbirds surround them.
On Mar 2, 2005, northgrass from West Chazy, NY (Zone 4b) wrote:
This hosta does not really stand out among the other hostas with their colorful leaves except when it blooms in late summer. The exceptionly large pure white lily-like flowers have such a wonderful fragrance. Everyone should have hosta plantaginea if only for experiencing its sweet smell on a warm August evening.
On Jan 11, 2005, lmelling from Ithaca, NY (Zone 5b) wrote:
Hosta plantaginea is noted as a large mound of shiny green foliage; large fragrant, nocturnal, white flowers in August. Mound size runs 25" high by 57" wide.
Leaves are 11" long by 7-3/8" wide, and a medium to light green with a shiny top and underside. Blade is ovate to broadly ovate with a deeply lobed base and distinct tip. Margins are slightly wavy and the leaf has a smooth texture; no purple dots on petioles and an average substance with 9-11 vein pairs.
Flowers in mid August to early September. Flowers are pure white, trumpet shaped, nocturnal and very fragrant. They begin blooming at sundown, open until late afternoon of the second day on scapes ranging from 18" to 34" high. Some seed pods are formed - largest pods of any hosta at 2-3/4" long by 3/8" wide.
This hosta is said to be perhaps the most horticulturally significant of the last 200 years. It was one of the first hostas introduced into cultivation in Europe, and became an integral part of American garding over 100 years ago. According to Zilis in The Hosta Handbook, Hosta plantaginea is so distinct that only 'Aphrodite', 'Royal Standard', 'Invincible', and 'Fried Green Tomatoes' would be acceptable substitutes for it in the landscape.
On Oct 21, 2003, Torquay from Lansing, MI (Zone 6a) wrote:
I love these hostas. Well established when I bought my home, they grow in full sunlight. If they don't get extra water the leaves turn yellow. Flower stalks are about 4' tall and hummers flock to the masses of white blooms. They are beauties!
On May 6, 2002, Greenwood from Bonifay, FL (Zone 8a) wrote:
A easy to raise hosta that can be mast fragrant and the only nite bloomer with white trumpet-shaped flowers.
Regional...
This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:
Mentone, Alabama San Francisco, California Norwich, Connecticut Braselton, Georgia Dacula, Georgia Stone Mountain, Georgia Carbondale, Illinois Naperville, Illinois Nilwood, Illinois Washington, Illinois Waukegan, Illinois Warren Park, Indiana Iowa City, Iowa South China, Maine Pikesville, Maryland Wakefield, Massachusetts Plainwell, Michigan Royal Oak, Michigan Apple Valley, Minnesota Fridley, Minnesota St Paul, Minnesota Hollister, Missouri Piedmont, Missouri Milford, Nebraska Albuquerque, New Mexico Cayuga Heights, New York West Chazy, New York Elizabeth City, North Carolina Fearrington, North Carolina Medora, North Dakota Bucyrus, Ohio Carlisle, Ohio Columbus, Ohio Fruit Hill, Ohio Williamsburg, Ohio Coopersburg, Pennsylvania Friedensburg, Pennsylvania Laflin, Pennsylvania Pickens, South Carolina Leesburg, Virginia Newport News, Virginia Portsmouth, Virginia Kalama, Washington Mill Plain, Washington Osseo, Wisconsin
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