Hosta plantaginea

(Lamarck) Ascherson

Bot. Zeitung (Berlin) 21: 53. 1863.

Common names: August-lily fragrant plantain-lily white plantain-lily
IntroducedIllustrated
Basionym: Hemerocallis plantaginea Lamarck in J. Lamarck et al., Encycl. 3: 103. 1789
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 26. Treatment on page 223. Mentioned on page 51, 220, 224.

Plants forming open clumps 60–90 × 45 cm; rhizomes not stoloniferous. Leaves: petiole erect, spreading, light green, to 25 cm; blade light yellowish green, orbiculate to cordate, 20–28 × 15–24 cm, base decurrent, apex acuminate; veins in 6–9 lateral pairs. Scape 60–80 cm. Inflorescences: racemes bright green, 10–15-flowered, stout, solid, to 25 cm; floral bracts large, greenish white, ovate-lanceolate, navicular; sterile bracts leafy, sparse. Flowers to 13 cm, fragrant; perianth long-tubular; tepals white, lobes sharply recurved; anthers yellow. Capsules large, elongate, apex pointed. 2n = 60.


Phenology: Flowering late summer (August).
Habitat: Disturbed open areas
Elevation: 0–100 m

Distribution

Introduced; Pa., expected elsewhere, se China.

Discussion

Hosta plantaginea is widely cultivated for its fragrant white flowers, which open in late afternoon or evening. This showy species was the first Hosta cultivated in Europe, starting in 1784, and then in the New World. Following its introduction from China, it was planted by the thousands in public gardens and became known as Parisian funkia or hosta.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Hosta plantaginea"
Frederick H. Utech +
(Lamarck) Ascherson +
Hemerocallis plantaginea +
August-lily +, fragrant plantain-lily +  and white plantain-lily +
Pa. +, expected elsewhere +  and se China. +
0–100 m +
Disturbed open areas +
Flowering late summer (August). +
Bot. Zeitung (Berlin) +
W1 +, Introduced +  and Illustrated +
Hosta plantaginea +
species +