What Are the Most Popular Varieties of Plantain Lilies?

Plantain lilies, commonly known as hosta, is a staple in many gardens due to their stunning foliage and adaptability to shaded areas. With a wide variety of sizes, colors, and textures, these perennials bring vibrant life to garden landscapes. Hostas are cherished not only for their lush, leafy appearance but also for their resilience and low maintenance, making them an ideal choice for both novice and experienced gardeners.

Let’s explore different varieties of Plantain lilies!

Plantain Lily Overview

Characteristics	Details
Common Name	Plantain Lily
Scientific Name	Hosta spp.
Height	Typically 6 to 36 inches, depending on the variety
Spread	12 to 60 inches, depending on the variety
Hardiness Zones	USDA Zones 3 to 9
Foliage Color	Varieties include blue, green, yellow, and variegated leaves with white, cream, or yellow margins
Flower Color	White, lavender, or pale purple flowers
Bloom Time	Late spring to late summer, varying by variety
Light Requirements	Partial to full shade; some varieties tolerate more sun, especially those with fragrant flowers or lighter foliage
Soil Requirements	Rich, well-drained soil with consistent moisture
Water Requirements	Moderate; keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged
Fertilization	Use a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring
Maintenance	Low maintenance; requires regular deadheading of flowers and removal of dead leaves
Pests	Susceptible to slugs, snails, and deer
Diseases	Generally disease-resistant; can be affected by root rot in poorly drained soil
Propagation	Best propagated by division in early spring or fall
Uses	Ideal for borders, ground covers, shade gardens, and container planting
Companion Plants	Ferns, astilbes, heucheras, and other shade-loving perennials
Special Features	Varied leaf colors and textures, fragrant flowers, attracts pollinators such as bees and butterflies
Lifespan	Long-lived perennial, can last many years in the garden
Toxicity	Generally non-toxic to humans and pets, but ingestion of large quantities by pets can cause mild digestive upset
Climate Preferences	Prefers cool, temperate climates with adequate moisture and humidity

Blue Angel Plantain Lily

The Blue Angel Plantain Lily is renowned for its impressive size and striking blue-green foliage. This hosta can reach up to 36 inches in height and spread over 48 inches, making it an excellent choice for creating a bold statement in shaded garden areas. The leaves are large and heart-shaped, providing a lush, tropical feel to the landscape. Blue Angel is also known for its fragrant, pale lavender flowers that bloom in mid-summer, attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies. This hosta thrives in well-drained, rich soil and prefers partial to full shade to maintain its vibrant blue coloration.

Hosta Wide Brim Plantain Lily

The Hosta Wide Brim Plantain Lily is a popular variety due to its distinctive variegated leaves. The leaves have a dark green center and creamy white margins, providing a beautiful contrast and adding visual interest to shaded garden areas. This hosta typically grows to about 18 inches tall and 36 inches wide. It produces lavender flowers on tall scapes in late summer. Wide Brim is an excellent choice for borders, container planting, or as a ground cover under trees. It prefers moist, well-drained soil and partial to full shade for optimal growth.

Blue Plantain Lily

The Blue Plantain Lilies are prized for their stunning blue-green foliage, which adds a cool, calming effect to garden landscapes. The leaves are thick and textured, helping them resist damage from slugs and other pests. This hosta grows to about 24 inches in height and spreads 48 inches, making it a good choice for larger garden spaces. It blooms in late summer with pale lavender flowers that are attractive to pollinators. Blue Plantain Lilies thrive in rich, well-drained soil and partial to full shade, where their color is best maintained.

Orange Marmalade Plantain Lily

The Orange Marmalade Plantain Lily is known for its unique foliage color, featuring bright gold centers with blue-green margins. As the season progresses, the gold changes to creamy white, adding dynamic visual interest to the garden. This hosta grows to about 16 inches tall and spreads 30 inches, making it suitable for smaller garden areas or container planting. It blooms in mid-summer with lavender flowers. Orange Marmalade prefers well-drained, fertile soil and partial shade, where it can develop its vibrant colors.

Siebold Plantain Lily

Siebold Plantain Lily, also known as Hosta sieboldiana, is a classic hosta variety known for its large, textured blue-green leaves. This hosta is a substantial grower, reaching up to 28 inches in height and spreading up to 60 inches. The leaves have a distinctive puckered texture, adding depth and interest to shaded gardens. Siebold Plantain Lilies produce white to pale lavender flowers in late spring to early summer. It thrives in well-drained soil and partial to full shade, where its blue foliage is most vibrant.

Fragrant Plantain Lilies

The Fragrant Plantain Lily, or Hosta plantaginea, is celebrated for its large, fragrant white flowers that bloom in late summer. The flowers emit a sweet scent, especially in the evening, attracting pollinators and garden enthusiasts alike. The leaves are bright green and glossy, reaching up to 20 inches in height and spreading up to 48 inches. This hosta prefers rich, well-drained soil and partial shade but can tolerate more sun than many other hosta varieties, which helps enhance flower production.

Bedazzled Plantain Lilies

The Bedazzled Plantain Lily is a compact hosta variety known for its small size and attractive foliage. The leaves are green with creamy white margins, creating a striking contrast. This hosta grows to about 10 inches in height and spreads 24 inches, making it ideal for small garden spaces, edging, or container planting. It produces lavender flowers in mid-summer. Bedazzled thrives in well-drained soil and partial to full shade, where its leaf color is best maintained.

Hosta Elegans Plantain Lily

The Elegans Plantain Lily, also known as Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’, is one of the most popular blue hostas. It features large, heart-shaped, blue-green leaves with a corrugated texture, adding elegance and depth to garden landscapes. This hosta grows up to 30 inches tall and spreads 60 inches, making it suitable for large shaded areas. It produces white to pale lavender flowers in early summer. Hosta Elegans prefers rich, well-drained soil and partial to full shade for optimal growth and leaf color retention.

Halcyon Plantain Lily

The Halcyon Plantain Lily is a medium-sized hosta known for its stunning blue-gray foliage. The leaves are thick, which helps them resist damage from slugs and other pests. This hosta grows to about 18 inches in height and spreads 36 inches, making it a versatile choice for various garden settings. It produces lavender flowers in mid-summer, adding a splash of color to the garden. Halcyon thrives in well-drained soil and partial to full shade, where its blue leaf color is most vibrant.

Big Daddy Plantain Lily

The Big Daddy Plantain Lily is renowned for its large, rounded blue-green leaves with a heavily corrugated texture. This hosta grows up to 28 inches in height and spreads 48 inches, making it a standout choice for creating a bold statement in shaded gardens. It produces pale lavender flowers in mid-summer. Big Daddy prefers rich, well-drained soil and partial to full shade, where its blue foliage is most vibrant. Its large leaves add depth and interest to the landscape.

Blue Hawaii Plantain Lily

The Blue Hawaii Plantain Lily is a striking hosta variety known for its intense blue foliage. The leaves are thick and heart-shaped, providing a lush, tropical appearance. This hosta grows to about 24 inches in height and spreads 48 inches, making it suitable for larger garden spaces. It blooms in mid-summer with pale lavender flowers that attract pollinators. Blue Hawaii thrives in well-drained soil and partial to full shade, where its vibrant blue color is best maintained.

First Frost Plantain Lily

The First Frost Plantain Lily is a beautiful hosta variety known for its stunning foliage, which emerges blue-green with creamy yellow margins that turn white as the season progresses. This hosta grows to about 16 inches tall and spreads 36 inches, making it a great choice for borders, containers, or mass plantings. It produces pale lavender flowers in late summer. First Frost thrives in well-drained soil and partial to full shade, where its unique leaf coloration is most pronounced.

Francee Plantain Lily

The Francee Plantain Lily is a classic hosta variety known for its attractive variegated leaves with dark green centers and crisp white margins. This hosta grows to about 18 inches in height and spreads 36 inches, making it a versatile choice for borders, containers, or ground cover in shaded gardens. It produces lavender flowers in mid-summer. Francee thrives in well-drained soil and partial to full shade, where its leaf color contrast is most striking.

Hosta Albo Marginata – Plantain Lily

The Hosta Albo Marginata, also known as Plantain Lily, is an attractive variety featuring green leaves with creamy white margins. This hosta grows to about 20 inches in height and spreads 36 inches, making it a great choice for adding visual interest to shaded garden areas. It produces pale lavender flowers in mid-summer. Albo Marginata thrives in well-drained soil and partial to full shade, where its variegated foliage is best maintained.

Patriot Plantain Lily

The Patriot Plantain Lily is a popular hosta variety known for its bold variegated leaves with dark green centers and wide, pure white margins. This hosta grows to about 20 inches in height and spreads 36 inches, making it an excellent choice for borders, mass plantings, or container gardens. It produces lavender flowers in mid-summer. Patriot thrives in well-drained soil and partial to full shade, where its striking leaf color contrast is most pronounced.

Plantain Lily Leaf Green Hell

The Plantain Lily Leaf Green Hell is a unique hosta variety known for its vibrant green foliage. The leaves are thick and heart-shaped, providing a lush, tropical appearance to the garden. This hosta grows to about 18 inches in height and spreads 36 inches, making it suitable for various garden settings. It produces lavender flowers in mid-summer. Green Hell thrives in well-drained soil and partial to full shade, where its vibrant green color is most vibrant.

Hosta Sunset Grooves Plantain Lily

The Sunset Grooves Plantain Lilies are striking hosta variety known for its vibrant foliage color. The leaves have bright yellow centers with dark green margins, creating a bold contrast. This hosta grows to about 12 inches in height and spreads 24 inches, making it ideal for smaller garden spaces or container planting. It produces lavender flowers in mid-summer. Sunset Grooves thrives in well-drained soil and partial to full shade, where its vibrant colors are best maintained.

Blue Hawaiian Plantain Lily

The Blue Hawaiian Plantain Lily is a stunning hosta variety known for its intense blue foliage. The leaves are thick and heart-shaped, providing a lush, tropical appearance. This hosta grows to about 24 inches in height and spreads 48 inches, making it suitable for larger garden spaces. It blooms in mid-summer with pale lavender flowers that attract pollinators. Blue Hawaiian thrives in well-drained soil and partial to full shade, where its vibrant blue color is best maintained.

Hosta Francee Plantain Lily

The Hosta Francee Plantain Lily is a classic hosta variety known for its attractive variegated leaves with dark green centers and crisp white margins. This hosta grows to about 18 inches in height and spreads 36 inches, making it a versatile choice for borders, containers, or ground cover in shaded gardens. It produces lavender flowers in mid-summer. Francee thrives in well-drained soil and partial to full shade, where its leaf color contrast is most striking.

Hosta Halcyon Plantain Lily

The Hosta Halcyon Plantain Lily is a medium-sized hosta known for its stunning blue-gray foliage. The leaves are thick, which helps them resist damage from slugs and other pests. This hosta grows to about 18 inches in height and spreads 36 inches, making it a versatile choice for various garden settings. It produces lavender flowers in mid-summer, adding a splash of color to the garden. Halcyon thrives in well-drained soil and partial to full shade, where its blue leaf color is most vibrant.

Hosta Patriot Plantain Lily

The Hosta Patriot Plantain Lily is a popular hosta variety known for its bold variegated leaves with dark green centers and wide, pure white margins. This hosta grows to about 20 inches in height and spreads 36 inches, making it an excellent choice for borders, mass plantings, or container gardens. It produces lavender flowers in mid-summer. Patriot thrives in well-drained soil and partial to full shade, where its striking leaf color contrast is most pronounced.

Libby Plantain Lily

The Libby Plantain Lily is a unique hosta variety known for its attractive foliage. The leaves are green with creamy white margins, providing a beautiful contrast. This hosta grows to about 18 inches in height and spreads 36 inches, making it a great choice for adding visual interest to shaded garden areas. It produces lavender flowers in mid-summer. Libby thrives in well-drained soil and partial to full shade, where its variegated foliage is best maintained.

Pilgrim Plantain Lily

The Pilgrim Plantain Lily is a compact hosta variety known for its attractive variegated leaves with green centers and creamy yellow margins. This hosta grows to about 12 inches in height and spreads 24 inches, making it ideal for small garden spaces, edging, or container planting. It produces lavender flowers in mid-summer. Pilgrim thrives in well-drained soil and partial to full shade, where its leaf color contrast is most vibrant.

Wrapping Up!

Plantain lilies, or hostas, are low-maintenance perennials that thrive in shaded garden areas with the right care.

So, why not add some hostas to your garden lineup? With their versatility and easy-care nature, they’re great for borders, ground covers, or even as standout stars in a shady garden spot.

To read frequently asked questions about Lilies plant care, here are top 50 questions with answers.