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Nature at its best

Hostas or plantain lilies are a delight to flower arrangers

GO GREEN Hostas' bell shaped, mauve flowers stand in contrast to the foliage

Hosta or Plantain Lily, belonging to the family Liliacea, has charming leaves, and is grown mainly for its foliage, although it does flower in July. The flowers grow in graceful sprays with bell-shaped, mostly mauve, flowers on one main stem.

Originally from China, Japan and Korea, there are 70 species; Hosta is a clump forming rhizomatic perennial, named after the Australian physician N. Tomas Host. There are many different types of leaves that vary in size and the variegated ones are particularly attractive.

The leaves of all the main varieties are ovate on single stem, the sizes ranging from 20-30 cms, with the length of the stem varying between 6-12 cms.

The leaves are most important to the flower arranger and there are many varieties to choose from. Hosta albo marginata has white edged, green leaves. Hostal crispula is a larger form of marginata, H. Fortyner albopucta has prim rose leaves. H. Serbaldiana has large light blue-grey corrugated leaves and Hosta undulata medio-variegata prettily variegated wavy leaves.

All these plants like a shady position and can be divided every third year. Propagation by division as new growth starts. Clumps improve with age so don't disturb more than necessary. Hosta may be grown as ground cover, in mixed borders or near water. Smaller Hostas are excellent for rock garden or in containers. Use fertile, moist but well drained soil in partial shade; should be mulched every year to conserve water. Watch for slugs because they are particularly attracted to tender leaves.

Mosta are grown for their dense mounds of overlapping ovate, heart shaped attractively variegated foliage. They are widely or narrowly margined in paler colours or have a pale central marking and darker margins. Pinkish white or greyish white tubular flowers are borne on 30 cms long glaucuous leafless or leafy scapes.

Chitra Radhakrishnan

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