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Common Name: Hosta or Plantain Lily
Scientific Name: Hosta
Family: Liliaceae
Columbus, North Carolina
June 17, 2002
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Their real glory is in their foliage. The thin spikes of blue or white, trumpet-shaped flowers that appear for several weeks in summer are an added benefit. Hostas provide a tremendous variety in leaf size, shape, and color among species and selections; to fully appreciate the diversity they offer, you'll need to consult a specialist's catalog or visit a well-stocked garden center. Leaves may be heart shaped, lance shaped, oval, or nearly round, carried at the ends of leafstalks that rise from the ground and radiate from the center of a clump. Leaves overlap to form symmetrical, almost shingled foliage mounds ranging in size from dwarf (as small as 3 - 4 inches) to giant (as big as 5 feet). Leaf texture may be smooth, quilted, or puckery; surface may be glossy or dull; edges may be smooth or wavy. Colors range from light to dark green to chartreuse, gray, and blue. There are also combinations of colors, including variegations with white, cream, or yellow. New selections enter the scene in ever-increasing numbers. In few plants have the species undergone so many name changes; to be sure you are getting the one you want, buy the plant in full leaf or deal with an expert. Generally, hostas are shade lovers, though some tolerate sun. Most grow in considerable sun in the Upper South. All forms go dormant (collapse almost to nothing) in winter. All are splendid companions for ferns and plants with fernlike foliage, such as bleeding heart. Good in containers. In ground, plants last for years; clumps expand in size, and shade out weed growth. Feeding once a year will bring on extra leafy splendor. Blanket of mulch around plants will prevent mud from splattering leaves. [Bender, Steve, Southern Living Garden Book, The. Oxmoor House, Inc., Book Division of Southern Progress Corporation, Birmingham, 1998]
January February March April May June July August September October November December
Alphabetical Listings -- A B C D, E F G H I, J, K L M N, O P Q, R S T U, V W X, Y, Z
Family Listings -- A B C D, E F G H I, J, K L M N, O P Q, R S T U, V W X, Y, Z
Genus Listings -- A B C D, E F G H I, J, K L M N, O P Q, R S T U, V W X, Y, Z