(Hosta, Plantain Lily, September Sun Plantain Lily)

Hostas need shade, right? Not always. The fast-growing, gold-leafed ‘September Sun’ (and other hostas with yellow leaves) needs a bit sun to develop its brightest color. Hostas are herbaceous ornamentals grown for their toughness, tolerance for sun, mounding habit, and above all, attractive leaves. The rounded leaves of ‘September Sun’ are yellow with wide dark-green margins. They are of heavy substance and corrugated like cardboard. The plant forms a large spreading mound. The flowers are very pale...

(Hosta, Plantain Lily, Serendipity Plantain Lily)

Hostas are herbaceous perennials grown for their attractive leaves, tolerance for shade, toughness, and mounding habit. This one, ‘Serendipity,’ makes a medium-sized, dense, neat mound of cascading leaves, upright in the center, spreading at the perimeter. The leaves are heart-shaped, cupped, almost smooth, blue-green and slightly glaucous (having a whitish film). The flowers are lavender and funnel-shaped and appear in clusters on leafless stems above the leaves in summer.

Like most hostas, ‘Serendipity’...

(Hosta, Plantain Lily, Shade Fanfare Plantain Lily)

Hostas are herbaceous perennials grown for their attractive leaves, tolerance for shade, toughness, and mounding habit. This one, ‘Shade Fanfare,' is notable for its broad, corrugated, heart-shaped green leaves outlined elegantly by a wide cream-colored margin. It is a medium-sized plant and makes a tidy mound of overlapping leaves. The flower are lavender and funnel shaped. They appear above the leaves in clusters atop leafless stems.

Like most hostas, ‘Shade Fanfare,' grows best in partial shade...

(Hosta, Plantain Lily, Sharmon Plantain Lily)

Hostas are herbaceous perennials grown for their attractive leaves, tolerance for shade, toughness, and mounding habit. This one, ‘Sharmon,' has ruffled, heart-shaped light-green leaves outlined by a wide blue-green margin. It is a medium-sized plant and makes a whorled mound of jostling leaves. The flower are lavender and funnel shaped. They appear above the leaves in clusters atop leafless stems.

Like most hostas, ‘Sharmon' grows best in partial shade to full shade, tolerates a wide range of...

(Hosta, Plaintain Lily, Plantain Lily)

Arguably, there is no better perennial for shade. Hosta is a clump forming herbaceous ornamental grown mostly for its attractive foliage. The genus originates from Asia and is comprised of approximately 40 species and thousands of hybrid cultivars.

Throughout the growing season they present clumps of foliage in various shades of green, blue, blue-gray or gold. Some also have variegated markings of white, cream or gold. Their flowers are variable, but are generally trumpet, funnel or bell-shaped...

(Hosta, Plantain Lily, Showboat Plantain Lily)

Hostas are herbaceous perennials grown for their attractive leaves, tolerance for shade, toughness, and mounding habit. This one, ‘Showboat,' has heart-shaped dark-green leaves outlined by a wide creamy-white margin. It is a medium-sized plant and makes a mound of spreading leaves. The flowers are lavender and flared. They appear above the leaves in clusters atop leafless stems.

Like most hostas, ‘Showboat' grows best in partial shade to full shade, tolerates a wide range of well-drained soils,...

(Hosta, Plantain Lily, Silver Crown Plantain Lily)

Hostas are mound-forming herbaceous perennials grown mostly for their attractive foliage. The pretty variegated ‘Silver Crown’ is a medium to large sized hosta that forms spreading clumps. Its lance-shaped leaves have pointed tips and wavy margins. They are a rich green edged in white. Lavender tubular flowers appear on tall leafless stems held high above the foliage in midsummer.

Overall, this hosta grows best in full to partial shade and tolerates a wide range of well-drained soil types. Hostas...

(Hosta, Plantain Lily, Snow Cap Plantain Lily)

Hostas are mound-forming herbaceous perennials grown mostly for their attractive foliage. The pretty variegated ‘Snow Cap’ is a medium to large hosta that forms neat clumps. Its large, substantial, heart-shaped leaves are slightly puckered and cupped. They are blue-green in color accented with wide, white, irregularly-shaped margins. White funnel-shaped flowers appear on tall stems held above the foliage in late summer.

Overall, this hosta grows best in full to partial shade and tolerates a wide...

(Hosta, Plantain Lily, Snow Flakes Plantain Lily)

Hostas are herbaceous perennials grown for their attractive leaves, tolerance for shade, toughness, and mounding habit. This one, ‘Snow Flakes,' has narrow, dull, smooth, medium-green leaves tapered at both ends. It is a low-growing plant and makes a vase-shaped cluster of leaves. The flowers are white and funnel shaped. They appear above the leaves in clusters atop leafless stems.

Like most hostas, ‘Snow Flakes' grows best in partial shade to full shade, tolerates a wide range of well-drained...

(Hosta, Plantain Lily, Snowy Lake Hosta)

Arguably, there is no better perennial for shade. Hosta is a clump forming herbaceous ornamental grown mostly for its attractive foliage. The genus originates from Asia and is comprised of approximately 40 species and thousands of hybrid cultivars.

Throughout the growing season they present clumps of foliage in various shades of green, blue, blue-gray or gold. Some also have variegated markings of white, cream or gold. Their flowers are variable, but are generally trumpet, funnel or bell-shaped...