Hosta plantaginea 'Aphrodite'

Aphrodite fragrant plantain lily

CODE: 00F-0019
ZONE: 3a
PRICE: $11.00
POT SIZE: 4.5"sq x 5.0", 1004 ml

I love plantain lilies. My first experience with them was probably around the age of 14 or so; one of my Mom's co-workers was dividing plants and gave us a section off of her plant along with lots of other goodies. We really didn't know what to expect -- it was a chartreuse-leaved hosta with very handsome, conspicuously veined glossy heard-shaped foliage, but we never really though about what the flowers would be like.

It turned out that this hosta produced large, pure white clusters of flowers with the most heavenly fragrance in late summer. We couldn't believe it at first, but over time we came to rely on the blossoms' sweet scent in those warm summer months.

'Aphrodite' takes things a step further with its large, double flowers. The extra inner set of petals makes the blooms even more attractive visually without compromising any of the sweet perfume and accounts for its other name: 'Flore Plena'.

Plantain lilies can form large clumps, but I usually divide mine out by the time they reach three feet or so. They're quite happy in moist partial shade, but they can take a little more sun than most hosta if they have moisture. In fact, extra sun increases the brightness of the leaves.

This is one hosta that I cannot live without.

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