Hostas - Plantain Lily
By Linda Paquette, Fri Dec 9th
Hostas, commonly known as the plantain lily, own so manydistinctive characteristics that it’s difficult to pinpointwhich of them has pushed it ahead of the day lily (Hemerocallis)as the most sought after herbaceous perennial for the homegarden in the US.
A low maintenance plant, shade tolerant, and hardy in zonesthree through nine, there are currently over 2500 species ofhostas available. Native to the Orient, hostas were firstimported to Europe in the late 1700’s and made their way acrossthe Atlantic in mid 19th century.
One interesting fact about hostas is that they don’t reach fullmaturity until between their fourth and eighth year. Moreover,with each season hostas clumps become larger and wider, colorsbecome more intense and leaf patterns acquire widervariegations, dimples, and other traits like seer suckering.
Grown primarily for foliage, hostas leaves may be either solidin color or variegated and are enough to add a rainbow to anygarden with colors that include white, ivory, gold, green andeven blue. Moreover, a single cultivar may exhibit strikingdifferences in its foliage, depending on the amount of sun itreceives.
In addition, hostas bloom in summer with lavender to whitelily-like flowers on tall spikes. Those hybridized from Hostaplantaginea not only carry 6-inch long white flowers but add adelicate fragrance to your flower garden as well.
However, as could be expected with
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