(Hosta, 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, Inniswood Plantain Lily, Plantain Lily)

Hostas need shade, right? Not always. The gold-leaved ‘Inniswood’ and other hostas with yellow leaves, tend to need more light for brilliant leaf color. Hosta are clump-forming herbaceous ornamentals grown mostly for their attractive foliage. The large, gold leaves of 'Inniswood' have dark green margins. They are round to heart-shaped, very thick, corrugated like cardboard and slightly cupped. Pale lavender flowers are funnel or bell-shaped and appear on tall, sturdy stems in the summer....

(Hosta, Invincible Plantain Lily, Plantain Lily)

Hostas need shade, right? Not always and completely; ‘Invincible’ and other Hostas with yellow, chartreuse or gold leaves and/or fragrant flowers tend to need more light for brilliant leaf color. The genus originates from Asia and is comprised of approximately 40 species and thousands of hybrid cultivars. Hosta is a clump forming herbaceous ornamental grown mostly for its attractive foliage. Invincible has thick, glossy, dark green leaves that are spade-shaped, tapering with wavy margins. Lavender...

(Hosta, Iona Plantain Lily, Plantain Lily)

Hostas are herbaceous perennials grown for their leaves, toughness, tolerance for shade, and mounding habit. This one, the pretty variegated ‘Iona,’ is a medium-sized hosta that forms neat mounds of heart-shaped leaves tapered to a point, puckered and lightly corrugated. They are gray-green with irregular, narrow creamy-white margins. Lavender bell-to-funnel-shaped flowers appear on leafless stems held above the foliage in summer.

Like most hostas, ‘Iona’ grows best in full to partial shade and...

(Hosta, Iron Gate Delight Plantain Lily, Plantain Lily)

Hostas are herbaceous perennials prized for their leaves, mounding habit, tolerance of shade, and toughness. This one, ‘Iron Gate Delight,’ is a small to medium-sized hosta that forms neat mounds of long, oval leaves tapering to a point that are green with gold margins turning cream when mature. Fragrant, lavender funnel-shaped flowers appear on leafless stems held above the foliage in midsummer.

Like most hostas, ‘Iron Gate Delight’ grows best in full to partial shade and tolerates a wide range...

(Hosta, Jade Cascade Plantain Lily, Plantain Lily)

Hostas are herbaceous perennials grown for their toughness, tolerance for shade, mounding habit and leaves. This one, ‘Jade Cascade,’ is a large hosta that forms cascading mounds of extremely long, lance-shaped leaves that taper to a point and are slightly ruffled. They are green, glossy and deeply pleated. White bell-to-funnel-shaped flowers appear on leafless stems held above the foliage in early summer.

Like most hostas, ‘Jade Cascade’ grows best in full to partial shade and tolerates a wide...

(Hosta, Janet Plantain Lily, Plantain Lily)

Hostas prefer shade, right? Yes, but this one, ‘Janet,’ needs a bit of sun to develop the glowing chartreuse color of its leaves. Variegated and heart-shaped, the leaves emerge chartreuse and turn creamy white by summer when grown in the sun. They are edged by narrow margins of green, and are ribbed. The flowers are pale lavender, funnel-shaped, and appear on leafy stems held above the foliage in midsummer. The plants form medium-sized spreading mounds.

Like most hostas, ‘Janet’ grows best in...

(Hosta, Julie Morss Plantain Lily, Plantain Lily)

Julie Morss plantain lily is a clump forming, shade tolerant, herbaceous perennial that is primarily grown for its ornamental foliage. In spring, it produces a neat clump of small, heart-shaped, puckered leaves of yellow with blue-green margins. In late summer, upright, sturdy stems of bell-shaped, lavender flowers appear. This hosta prefers part sun to part shade and fertile, well drained soil. It is widely used in mixed perennial borders and massed as a large groundcover for shade. Most hosta are...

(Hosta, June Plantain Lily, Plantain Lily)

Hostas are herbaceous perennials prized for their tolerance of shade, mounding habit, toughness and leaves. This one, ‘June’ has strikingly variegated leaves. They are cupped, thick, corrugated, heart-shaped, tapering to a point, and chartreuse with broad, streaky margins of blue-green and pale green. In late summer, deep-lavender bell-to-funnel-shaped flowers appear on leafy stems held above the leaves, which grow in a spreading mound.

Like most hostas, ‘June’ grows best in full to partial shade,...

(Hosta, Just So Plantain Lily, Plantain Lily)

Hostas need shade, right? Not always. This small one,‘Just So’ needs some sun for brilliant leaf color. Hostas are herbaceous perennials prized for their toughness, mounding habit, and leaves. This one has heart-shaped, slightly cupped, chartreuse to gold leaves that are edged dramatically with a narrow band of blue-green. In midsummer, bell-to-funnel-shaped lavender flowers appear on leafy stems held above the mound of spreading leaves.

Like most hostas, ‘Just So’ grows best in full to partial...