Growing Guide
 
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Hosta, Fragrant

Herbaceous Perennial Flower

Hosta plantaginea
Liliaceae Family

This hosta has bright yellowish-green, ribbed, heart-shaped leaves and beautifully scented white flowers.

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Site Characteristics
Sunlight:
  • part shade
  • full shade
Prefers part shade. Tolerates heavy shade. Full morning sun is usually beneficial.

Soil conditions:

  • requires well-drained soil
  • tolerates damp soil
In addition to being well-drained, soil must also be kept moist. If allowed to dry out hostas produce smaller leaves which turn brown and papery around the edges.

Hardiness zones:

  • 3 to 9
Plant Traits

Lifecycle: perennial

Ease-of-care: easy

Height: 1 to 1.25 feet

Spread: 0.75 to 2 feet

Bloom time: early summer

Flower color: white

Foliage color: yellow

10-inch heart-shaped leaves are bright yellow-green with 7 to 9 pairs of veins.

Foliage texture: medium

Shape: cushion, mound or clump

Shape in flower: flower stalks with upright spikes

Special Considerations
Special characteristics:
  • non-aggressive
  • non-invasive
  • not native to North America - Native to China.
  • fragrant
Special uses:
Growing Information
How to plant:

Propagate by division or separation - Divide in spring when the leaves are first coming up. Divide only if necessary, after the plant has matured in 4 to 5 years.

Maintenance and care:
Hostas are generally easy to take care of as long as they are given partial shade and ample moisture.

More growing information: How to Grow Perennials

Pests:
Slugs -- Remove dead leaves and weed around plants to reduce problems.

Black vine weevils

Diseases:
Leaf spot and crown rot -- Minimize moisture on leaves by avoiding overhead watering and watering early in the day so the leaves dry quickly.
Varieties
‘Grandiflora’: narrow foliage.

‘August Moon’: crinkled yellow blades.

‘Honeybells’: fragrant lilac flowers, yellow-green wavy leaves.

‘Piedmont Gold’: tall plant with yellow leaves.

‘Royal Standard’: slightly puckered yellow-green foliage, deeply veined and not very wide.

‘Sweet Susan’: Glossy green leaves with fragrant lilac flowers.