Kingdom: Plantae
   Class: Angiospermae
      Subclass: Monocotyledonae
         Family: Hostaceae (formerly Liliaceae)
            Genus: Hosta
               Species: (see below)

Below are some brief descriptions of the various Hosta species highlighting the major features of each. The unique characteristics of each species are often the ones that are most valuable for use in hybridization. The information on each species was cobbled together using The Hosta Book by Paul Aden of New York (1988), The Genus Hosta by W. George Schmid (1991), The Hostapedia by Mark Zilis (2009) and The New Encyclopedia of Hostas by Diana Grenfell and Michael Shadrack (2009) as primary references.

We also have a page that lists the species by mound size and what might be considered the "unique" characteristic(s) of each.

In the past, there were several types of hostas that were considered species that W. George Schmid in his 1991 monograph determined were actually cultivars. These are listed at the bottom of this page.

This species is similar to H. longipes but smaller in size, forming a mound about 14-16 inches tall. It has purple dotted leaf petioles and pale purple flowers with purple anthers. It is known for flowering very late into the season (September or October).

At one time, this was known as a botanical variety of H. longipes but The Genus Hosta by W. George Schmid (1991) designated it as a full species. He says that it is called "hosta of the equinox" i.e. flower buds are set about the time when the day and night are of equal length. This species was first collected from the wilds of Honshu Island of Japan in 1941 from rocky ledges and outcroppings.

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This species of Hosta is generally found growing in marshes and bogs in parts of Japan. The Genus Hosta by W. George Schmid (1991), did not find any of this species being cultivated in Western gardens.

Perhaps the most identifiable trait of H. slismifolia is that the flower parts are a homogeneous light purple with no stripes and it has purple anthers.

The plants are about 16 inches tall and form a vase shaped clump. Pale purple flowers are borne on purple dotted pedicels and bloom in July. It is a natural triploid and is sterile, propagating vegetatively by  rhizomes according to Schmid.

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The Latin name alismifolia can be loosely translated as "Alisma-leaved". Alsima is a genus that contains several species including the one shown above, Alisma plantago-aquatica.

The Genus Hosta by W. George Schmid (1991), says that this is called the "dark-flowered hosta" in Japan and occurs in moist woodlands and forest margins." The flowers in this taxon have the darkest coloration in the genus with very dark purple lobes with even darker stripes."

According to The Hostapedia by Mark Zilis (2009), this plant which is "...native to Hokkaido Island, Japan" is extremely rare. He says it is a "small size mound of green foliage topped by deep purple flowers."

Similar species include H. rectifolia.

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The Genus Hosta by W. George Schmid (1991), says that  this is called the "Fuji Hosta". It inhabits wet bottom lands of mountain valleys in its native Japan." Morphologically midway between Hosta sieboldii and H. rectifolia, it has very long, winged petioles and beautiful, purple striped, bell-shaped flowers. The species epithet comes from callianthus = with beautiful flowers."

The Hostapedia by Mark Zilis (2009) says, "...native to Honshu Island in Japan... medium-size mound of green foliage with purple flowers from mid-August to September...similar to H. rohdeifolia..."

Found in Korea, this dark green hosta has shiny, heart-shaped leaves with a piecrust margin. It forms a flat mound about 10 inches high and bears clumps of purple flowers.

According to The Genus Hosta by W. George Schmid (1991), this species was first collected from the wild in 1916. He states that the plant's "...large globular flower bud is dark violet just before opening, leading to its epithet, which is derived from capitatus = with a knoblike head or tip."

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This species is still a matter of disagreement among the "experts" of hostadom. The Hostapedia by Mark Zilis (2009) referred to the 1940 monograph on hostas by Dr. Fumio Maekawa and W. George Schmid's monograph from 1991. Zilis states, "Simply put, Maekawa's and Schmid's H. cathayana are the same as the most common hosta in American shade gardens - H. 'Lancifolia'."

According to The Genus Hosta by W. George Schmid (1991), "...the "autumn wind hosta" is often mistaken for the cultigen H. 'Lancifolia' because the only visible differences are the former's smaller, glossy leaves and shorter scapes, persistent bracts, and later flowering time ("blooms in the autumn wind")...originally from China as its species epithet indicates (cathaiana = from China )."

This Korean species which was first identified in 1930, is noted for its bright purple flower buds that do not open.  It is rhizomatous in nature and spreads well, forming mounds about 8 inches in height. The foliage is lance shaped, one inch wide and dark green with a sharp pointed tip. Flower scapes carry many buds and are purple dotted near the base.

"Growing along river banks it is exposed to periodic flooding brought about by typhoons during the time of flowering and seed maturation which severely disturbs normal sexual propagation resulting in evolutionary changes to a more efficient vegetative method by way of extensively creeping rhizomes." according to The Genus Hosta by W. George Schmid (1991) ." The species epithet is derived from clausus = closed (bud)."

Seedlings or sports of this species include H. 'Purple Ladyfingers'.

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According to The Genus Hosta by W. George Schmid (1991), this species is called "the small size hosta" and "The epithet intermedia used in the synonyms for this taxon indicates its taxonomic position between H. sieboldii and H. rectifolia although it is much closer to the former. It is seldom seen in gardens."

The Hostapedia by Mark Zilis (2009) describes this species as "...native to Honshu Island, Japan... 11" high...wide mound of narrow, green foliage...slightly shiny on top, whitish shiny on the underside...purple flowers...from late August to mid-Septembers...a little known species, even to avid collectors..."

Similar species include H. longissima.

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This species is called the "thick leaved hosta" according to The Genus Hosta by W. George Schmid (1991) ." Morphology points to interspecific hybrid origin. It is rarely available and only a few specimens exist in scientific collections and herbaria."

The Hostapedia by Mark Zilis (2009) says, "...native to Mt. Ibuki in Japan and related to H. montana... large size mound of thick substanced, green foliage...Throughout my travels in Japan, I never saw this plant and doubt that any Japanese collector I met knew about it."

According to The Genus Hosta by W. George Schmid (1991), this Japanese species is similar to H. kikutii with medium green foliage. The term densus pertains to the dense arrangement of flowers on the raceme." A very pruinose, blue-grey plant cultivated in North America under the species name H. densa is not this species, which has medium green leaves without pruinosity."

The Hostapedia by Mark Zilis (2009) says that H. 'Density' that is found in a few American gardens although thought to be a sport of H. densa, is not actually related to it.

This is a large size species (24 inches high) that emerges very early in the spring. It has a very upright, vase-shaped growth habit and gray green foliage with thick substance. The leaf base is heart shaped and the tip is elongated and sharp. The flowers are near white.

The Genus Hosta by W. George Schmid (1991), says that this species is known as "dark-leaved and wavy hosta" in its native Japan. The species epithet, fluctus means wavy.

Seedlings or sports of this species include H. 'Sagae'.

These are miniature size plants about 5 inches tall with shiny green, lance shaped leaves that have blunt bases. They bear purple, funnel shaped flowers in September.

The Genus Hosta by W. George Schmid (1991), says that this species is known as the "small rock hosta" in its native Japan. The species epithet, gracilis means gracefully slender which refers to its long, slender flowers. H. gracillima is sometimes confused with H. venusta "...but the flowering scape of H. gracillima is smooth while that of H. venusta has ridges, and this difference can serve as a positive identifier."

Seedlings or sports of this species include H. 'Medusa', H. 'Saishu Jima' and H. 'Vera Verde'.

The Genus Hosta by W. George Schmid (1991) says the name in Greek translates to "hypo = back, beneath and leucon = white color." This plants gray-green leaves have long points at the tips and are whitish colored on the bottoms. It forms a medium size plant about 12 inches in height. The hosta bears near white, purple suffused flowers in early summer.

This species is native to Japan, where it has adapted to growing on cliffs and rock faces. The white underside of the leaves is thought to help reflect the heat from the rocks. Schmid points out that "In Japan it is often used in elevated pots to show the very white coating of the leaf underside or to provide an accent at the entrance to the garden."

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Seedlings or sports of this species include H. 'A Many-splendored Thing', H. 'Band of Gold', H. 'Butternut Hill', H. 'Celestial', H. 'Glacier Cascade', H. 'Lakeside Lagoon', and H. 'Merry Sunshine'.

The Hostapedia by Mark Zilis (2009) says, that this species is "...native to Mt. Ibuki in Japan... closely related to H. 'Lancifolia' ; probably a green-leaved form of Hosta sieboldii ; listed by Schmid (1991, pg. 58) as the Ibuki Gibōshi and closely related to Hosta sieboldii f. spathulata...small size mound of green foliage with purple flowers from mid to late July in the wild..."

According to The Genus Hosta by W. George Schmid (1991), this species is native to several Korean islands. It forms a 13 inch high mound of shiny, medium green foliage.

The Hostapedia by Mark Zilis (2009) reports, "Hosta jonesii is a recently identified Hosta species. Its merits in the garden or as a breeding plant are yet to be determined, but superficially it appears similar to Hosta tsushimensis. The species name honors Dr. Samual B. Jones, botanist from the University of Georgia."

This species forms a medium size mound of dark green elliptic-ovate foliage that comes to a point at the tip and is heart-shaped at the base. It forms a "beak-like" bract around the flower buds and bears near white flowers in clusters from late August into September. H. kikutii is native to Japan.

According to The Hostapedia by Mark Zilis (2009), this species "...makes an attractive mound of shiny, green foliage with an outstanding late-season show of lavender flowers...several botanical forms with H. kikutii caput-avis and H. kikutii yakusimensis being the most common in hosta collections."

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Seedlings or sports of this species include H. 'Salute'

Elliptical, ovate leaves about 6 inches long by 3 inches wide. Chartreuse colored leaves with an elongated, sharp tip. A small size plant (6 inches high) with white flowers that have purple anthers.

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According to The Genus Hosta by W. George Schmid (1991), this species is native to several Korean islands and is closely related to H. yingeri. It forms a 12 inch high mound of narrow, wavy, shiny dark green foliage. The leaves of H. laevigata have more substance and are narrower than H. yingeri. Spider shaped purple flowers with narrow petals appear in late August to September.

It is reported that this species does not set seed readily so is difficult to use in hybridizing programs. However, using the pollen of the species some cultivars have been developed including H. 'Gosan Leather Strap'. Sports would include H. 'Ray of Hope' and H. 'Roller Coaster Ride'.

According to The Hostapedia by Mark Zilis (2009), this species "...has only limited utility as a breeding plant, it still has great value as a fast growing landscape subject."

H. laevigata was the 1996 Alex J. Summers Distiguished Merit Hosta.

Slightly wavy, dark green leaves. small size plant. Elliptical leaves with heart shaped base. Mound 12 inches tall. Purple dots on petioles. Light purple suffused with white flowers. The name means "long feet" supposedly because in its native habitat in Japan, it sends its root deep into cracks of rock outcroppings.

Seedlings or sports of this species include H. 'Grand Slam' and H. 'One Man's Treasure'.

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Strap shaped glossy green leaves. Flood tolerant. Blunt tip leaves. Mound 6 inches tall. Pale violet, funnel shaped flowers in late summer.

Seedlings or sports of this species include H. 'Bitsy Gold', H. 'Manzo' and H. 'Purple Ladyfingers'.

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The Hostapedia by Mark Zilis (2009) says that this native of Korea forms a small size mound of medium green foliage. The leaves are ovate-shaped and smooth textured with the underside shiny and whitish. It has purple flowers in early to mid-July. It has ridged flower scapes.

Zilis states, "...true form is hard to find in nurseries, though many mislabeled plants (usually green-leaved Hosta sieboldii seedlings) are sold...Plants listed as Hosta minor "Korean" or H. minor "Gosan" usually represent the true form of this plant. Its ridged scapes are the key diagnostic trait."

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Matte green "elongated heart" shaped leaves. Incised leaf base. Emerge early in spring. Mound 30 inches tall. Many near white trumpet shaped flowers in early summer.

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Seedlings or sports of this species include H. 'Alice Gladden', H. 'Aureomarginata', H. 'Big Boy', H. 'Candlewood', H. 'Chirifu', H. 'Crispula', H. 'Ebb Tide', H. 'Frosted Jade', H. 'King Michael', H. 'Mountain Sunrise',, H. 'Chōkō Nishiki', H. 'Peppermint Ice', H. 'Straka Gold' and H. 'Summer Snow'.

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Heart shaped, wavy, dark green leaves. Mound 6 inches tall. Petioles with some purple dots near base. Bunched pale purple flowers. The name means "ornamental hair-piece" because the flowers resemble a traditional hairpin worn by Japanese women.

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Slightly wavy, oval, leathery, gray green foliage. Mound 20 inches tall.  Very tall flower scapes. Large, near white, funnel shaped flowers.

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The Hostapedia by Mark Zilis (2009) says that this plant is "...native to Japan ; related to Hosta rupifraga... small size mound of medium green leaves...petioles reddish...very shiny leaf underside."

Similar species include Hosta aequinoctiiantha and H. longipes.

The Hostapedia by Mark Zilis (2009) says, "...native to Honshu Island, Japan... 22" high...slightly shiny, medium green foliage...very shiny underside...pale lavender flowers...early to late August...This is one of the lesser known Hosta species."

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Similar species include H. kiyosumiensis.

This species originated in China and forms a large size (24 inches high) mound of glossy, light green foliage with very fragrant flowers. The leaves are about 10 inches long and 7 inches wide which are heart shaped at the base.

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Seedlings or sports of this species include H. plantaginea 'Aphrodite'.

This rhizomatous species forms a very small size (1½ inches high) mound of green leaves with lavender flowers in July.

Noted for extreme "pie-crusting" of their leaf margins, plants in this species form a 12 inch high mound. Another feature is the white coloration on the bottom of the leaves. Dark purple flowers are borne in August.

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The blue-green, glaucous leaves of this species have an erect form. The 15 inch high mound supports stout petioles with light purple flowers in July. The flowers have short green bracts with purple stripes in the middle of the petals.

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Lance like or oblong leaves 10-12 inches long by 3 inches wide. Lavender, funnel shaped flowers in July.

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This species grows on rocky mountain sides in its native lands. The leaves are leathery, shiny, waxy and somewhat twisted with sharp tips. The 10 inch high mound bears petioles with splashes of purple and dense groupings of lavender flowers in the fall.

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The Hostapedia by Mark Zilis (2009) says, "...native to Shikoku Island in Japan... small size mound of green foliage...dull on top, very shiny on the underside...medium purple flowers...open in late June...scapes red-dotted."

This species varies widely in nature but generally has round leaves that are seer suckered. Most are blue-green in color in the spring and fades to green as the season progresses. These are large size plants with mature mounds about 30 inches in height. The flower scapes barely rise above the leaves and bear thick clusters of white flowers in July.

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Similar hostas include H. 'Cucullata'.

This species of small size (12 inches high) plants is found in wet soils in their native lands. Plants have wavy, shiny leaves about an inch wide and 4 or 5 inches long. The top of the leaf is a matte, dark green while the bottom is shiny and lighter green. Leafy bracts appear along the stem and near white flowers are borne in August. The flowers have dark purple veins in the petals.

The species was named for plant explorer, Phillip von Siebold.

This species is very similar to the former species,  H. 'Lancifolia" but it has yellow anthers where 'Lancifolia' has purple colored anthers.

Seedlings or sports of this species include Hosta sieboldii 'Kabitan'.

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The Hostapedia by Mark Zilis (2009) says, "...from Mt. Ibuki in central Honshu Island in Japan... 15" high...mound of shiny, green foliage...ovate-shaped and very shiny on the underside...slight purple-red dots on the petiole base; purple flowers emerge from dark purple buds in August."

Similar species include Hosta tardiva.

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According to The Hostapedia by Mark Zilis (2009), "...native to Kyoto Island, Japan... smooth, shiny green foliage in a 12" high mound with white to pale purple flowers in September...This is an extremely rare species..."

Similar species include Hosta aequinoctiiantha and H. longipes.

This species has heart shaped green leaves that form a 9 inch high mound. It bears large but not numerous violet flowers with purple anthers in September.

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Before Schmid 1991, renamed it, this species was named Hosta chibai. It forms a dome shaped mound about 14 inches high with oblong, heart shaped green leaves. It is noted for having flower scapes that branch from the main stem and bear many, many lilac colored flowers.

Seedlings or sports of this species include H. 'Imp'.

Similar species include H. capitata.

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This species is often found in dry areas in the wild and varies widely in nature. It has spear shaped leaves with flowers that vary in color between the outside and inside of the bloom. The anthers are sometimes purple dotted.

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Plants in this species form large size (24 inches high) mounds of slightly wavy, heart shaped, pointed leaves. The bottom of the dark green leaves tends to be shiny. The flower scapes may have faint red on them and bear a single bract about half way up. Many bell-shaped, lavender  flowers open in July.

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Originally from Korea, this species has slightly wavy, green heart shaped leaves which are pinched at the squarish base. It is a small size plant, forming a 4 inch tall mound. The lavender flowers with darker veins appear from late June into July.

The Genus Hosta by W. George Schmid (1991), says that this species is known as the "(beautiful) maiden hosta" in its native Korea.  H. gracillima is sometimes confused with H. venusta "...but the flowering scape of H. gracillima is smooth while that of H. venusta has ridges, and this difference can serve as a positive identifier."

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Seedlings or sport of this species include H. 'Imp'.

This species was named for horticulturist, Barry Yinger of Asiatica Nursery in Pennsylvania after he discovered it in 1984. The species was named in his honor by Dr Samual B. Jones in 1989. It is native to the islands of Taechuksan and Sohuksan near the southwest coast of Korea.

This species forms a small to medium size mound (9 to 19 inches tall) of shiny leaves with thick substance. It has spider shaped, purple flowers that are evenly spaced along the scape and appear in September.

H. yingeri, although a recent discovery, has already been used extensively in hybridizing by Hostaphiles such as Tony Avent, Don Dean, Roy Herold, Greg Johnson,   and Bob Solberg. Seedlings or sports of this species include H. 'Gentle Spirit', H. 'Lily Pad', H. 'Potomac Pride', H. 'Sweet Tater Pie' and H. 'Treasure Island'.

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Plants that Schmid (1991) switched from species to cultivar status included: