15 varieties of hostas from A-Z

Hostas or heart lilies belong to the agave family. There are around 45 species, from which more than 4,000 varieties of hostas have arisen. The most interesting cultivars impress with their attractive flower colors and high-contrast leaf drawings.

White flowers

Hostas develop flowers that crowd together in terminal inflorescences or sit loosely next to each other. Their bracts, which are whitish in color in the original species, are striking. These surround bracts that are bell-shaped or tubular. White flowering ornamental leaves look particularly beautiful when placed alone or when transplanted. Hosta from the Sieboldiana group are among the most popular and well-known varieties of hostas in the garden. Originally from mountain forests, these hostas prove to be particularly hardy.

Hosta plantaginea 'Aphrodite'

• Special feature: flowers funnel-like and filled
• Flowering period: between August and September
• Fragrance strength: pleasant floral fragrance of medium strength
• Leaf color: light green, shiny foliage
• Location: partial shade to shade
• Height: about 30 to 60 centimeters high

Hosta plantaginea 'Doubled Up'

• Special feature: more compact than the original species with thicker leaves and larger flowers
• Flowering period: from August to September
• Fragrance strength: strongly scented
• Leaf color: glossy green
• Location: thrives both in the sun and in the shade
• Height: about 45 to 50 centimeters high

Hosta plantaginea 'Fragrant Flame'

• Special feature: heart-shaped leaves, wavy
• Flowering period: August to September
• Scent strength: sweet and intensely scented
• Leaf color: white center with green stripes
• Location: partial shade to shade
• Height: up to 50 centimeters

Hosta plantaginea 'Ming Treasure'

• Special feature: suitable for planting in pots
• Flowering period: August to September
• Fragrance strength: intense and beguiling fragrance
• Leaf color: glossy green with an irregular leaf margin that is yellow in color
• Location: partial shade to shade
• Height: about 45 to 50 centimeters high

Hosta Sieboldiana 'Elegans'

• Special feature: develops strikingly large clumps
• Flowering period: from June to July
• Fragrance strength: hardly smells
• Leaf color: wrinkled leaves with a blue-green tint
• Location: partial shade to shade
• Growth height: about 50 to 70 centimeters high

Hosta Sieboldiana 'Snowflakes'

• Special feature: grows in compact clumps
• Flowering period: from June to July
• Fragrance strength: hardly smells
• Leaf color: uniformly medium green and lanceolate in shape
• Location: partial shade to shade
• Height: up to 30 centimeters

Purple flowers

Funkia with dark colored flowers that have lavender tones with blue or purple nuances are particularly rich in contrast. The Funkia varieties are hardy and turn out to be eye-catchers in different plantations. Varieties with purple flowers were bred from different species. Undulata varieties are particularly popular because of their striking leaf shape.

Hosta plantaginea 'Emily Dickinson'

• Special feature: fits perfectly into the scented garden
• Flowering period: July to August
• Fragrance strength: smells aromatic
• Leaf color: initially green with a yellow leaf margin, which later turns white
• Location: in both sunny and shady locations
• Growth height: 35 to 40 centimeters high

Hosta tokudama 'Brim Cup'

• Special feature: high-contrast variety with spoon-shaped leaves
• Flowering period: June to July
• Fragrance strength: subtle and restrained fragrance
• Leaf color: green center that runs irregularly white to cream-colored
• Location: partial shade to shade
• Height: about 30 to 50 centimeters high

Hosta undulata 'Mediovariegata'

• Special feature: leaves appear twisted around their own axis
• Flowering period: June to July
• Fragrance strength: light fragrance
• Leaf color: green-white striped
• Location: partial shade to shade
• Height: about 30 to 60 centimeters high

Hosta undulata 'Univittata'

• Special feature: blade tip slightly twisted, playful character
• Flowering period: from June to July
• Fragrance strength: hardly smells
• Leaf color: linear white center with an extensive green leaf margin
• Location: partial shade to shade
• Growth height: about 25 to 50 centimeters high

Hosta ventricosa

• Special feature: Original species with robust properties and striking inflorescences
• Flowering period: July to August
• Fragrance strength: hardly smells
• Leaf color: solid dark green
• Location: partial shade to shade
• Height: about 40 to 90 centimeters

Lavender flowers

Funkia, the flowers of which are light pink in color, are suitable for planting the edges of trees. They create a discreet eye-catcher and look harmonious in combination with the predominantly variegated leaves. Within the lavender-colored species, numerous varieties of hostas come from the Plantaginea group. They have been cultivated in Europe and the USA for more than 100 years and are winter hardy.

Hosta plantaginea 'Flower Power'

• Special feature: stiff and upright foliage with raised nerves
• Flowering period: from mid-July
• Fragrance strength: subtly scented
• Leaf color: gray-green
• Location: both in the sun and in the shade
• Height: about 60 to 65 centimeters

Hosta plantaginea 'Mistress Mabel'

• Special feature: strikingly large flowers
• Flowering period: from August
• Fragrance strength: slightly fragrant
• Leaf color: green center with narrow margin, white colored
• Location: partial shade to shade
• Height: about 45 to 50 centimeters high

Hosta plantaginea 'Summer Fragrance'

• Special feature: needs a lot of warmth to form flowers
• Flowering period: August to September
• Fragrance strength: subtly scented
• Leaf color: light green center with a creamy white margin
• Location: partial shade to shade
• Growth height: about 50 to 60 centimeters high

Hosta tardiana 'Remember me'

• Special feature: particularly noticeable due to the high proportion of white in the foliage
• Flowering period: July to August
• Fragrance strength: hardly smells
• Leaf color: yellowish white center with green leaf margin
• Location: Sun or shady locations, also in partial shade
• Growth height: about 25 to 30 centimeters high