All Seasons Plant Finder

Other Names:  Funkia, Hosta, August Lily

Description:

Lovely mounds of textured, green, heart shaped foliage create the perfect background for shaded borders and gardens; lavender flowers appear on arching scapes during the mid summer; adds texture and contrast; low maintenance and easy to grow

Ornamental Features

Plantain Lily features dainty spikes of fragrant white tubular flowers rising above the foliage in mid summer. Its large textured heart-shaped leaves remain light green in color throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Plantain Lily is a dense herbaceous perennial with tall flower stalks held atop a low mound of foliage. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other garden plants with finer foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. It is a good choice for attracting hummingbirds to your yard. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Insects

Plantain Lily is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use
• Groundcover

Planting & Growing

Plantain Lily will grow to be about 18 inches tall at maturity extending to 28 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 3 feet. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 30 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant does best in partial shade to full shade. Keep it well away from hot, dry locations that receive direct afternoon sun or which get reflected sunlight, such as against the south side of a white wall. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It may require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division.