Hosta

Common Name:
Plantain Lily

Description:
Hosta, commonly known as Plantain Lily, is a genus of hardy, herbaceous perennials famed for their lush, broad foliage and their ability to thrive in shaded garden spaces. With a wide variety of cultivars available, hostas offer a diverse palette of leaf colours ranging from deep green to blue-green, gold, cream, and striking variegations. In Melbourne gardens, hostas are an excellent choice for adding texture and structure to shaded borders, underplantings, or woodland-style plantings. They prefer rich, well-drained soil with consistent moisture and benefit from protection from direct afternoon sun, which can scorch their leaves. Most varieties produce tall flower spikes in summer, carrying delicate, bell-shaped flowers in shades of white, lavender, or pale purple. While the foliage dies back in winter, new growth reliably returns in spring. Hostas are long-lived, low-maintenance, and thrive when undisturbed, gradually forming dense clumps over time.

Form:
*Shrub - Clumping / Grass-like / Mounding
*Ground Cover

Mature Size:
*Height: 30–80 cm (depending on cultivar)
*Width: 50–100 cm

Aspect:
*Part Shade
*Full Shade

Flowering:
*Flowers in Summer

Flower Colour:
*White
*Lavender
*Pale Purple (varies by cultivar)

Key Attributes:
*Suitable for Pots
*Perennial
*Herbaceous
*Suitable for Shady Borders
*Low Maintenance
*Suitable for Underplanting
*Bee Attracting
*Wide range of foliage colours and textures

Toxicity:
*Toxic to pets (especially dogs and cats); ingestion may cause vomiting and diarrhoea
*Not considered toxic to humans

Companion Plants:
*Ferns (e.g., Dryopteris, Athyrium)
*Astilbe
*Heuchera (Coral Bells)
*Brunnera macrophylla
*Pulmonaria
*Dicentra (Bleeding Heart)