Hosta sieboldiana /ˈhoʊstə/
Common name: Siebold's plantain lily · Siebold's hosta
Hosta sieboldiana is a herbaceous perennial in the family Asparagaceae, native to Japan. It forms a large, handsome mound of thick, heavily textured, blue-grey to glaucous green leaves, and in early summer sends up short scapes of pale lilac to near-white flowers held just above the foliage. It is one of the most important wild species behind modern hosta breeding and is widely grown as a shade garden ornamental, especially in its blue-leaved forms.
Care summary
Sun
Partial to full shade
Water
Evenly moist soil; water during dry spells
Soil
Rich, humusy, well-drained, slightly acidic
Hardiness
Zones 3–9
Mature height
About 60–90 cm (2–3 ft)
Pet safe
No — toxic to cats and dogs if eaten
Difficulty
Easy
Propagation
Propagate by division, best done in spring as new growth starts. Cut the crown into pieces each carrying at least one or two buds with roots, and replant in humus-rich, moist soil. This species is slow to bulk up, so divisions take a few seasons to reach full size.
Fun facts
- It was named after Philipp Franz von Siebold, the German physician who introduced many Japanese plants to Europe in the 19th century.
- The blue colour of its leaves comes from a waxy glaucous coating that rubs or washes off — which is why blue hostas often turn greener in hot, wet summers.
- The famous cultivar 'Elegans' is a selection of this species and has won the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
- It is a parent or ancestor of a huge share of all large-leaved blue hosta cultivars in gardens today.