Chapter 9
Flowering
Hostas are foliage plants. The flowers are a footnote — except for one species, where they're the headline.
The scape
In mid- to late summer, a mature hosta sends up one or more leafless flower stalks called scapes. The scape rises well above the leaf mound — anywhere from a foot above on small cultivars to four feet above on giants like 'Krossa Regal'. Buds open from the bottom up over a 7–14 day window; individual flowers last a single day.
Most hosta flowers are lavender in tubular bell shapes about 1.5–2 inches long. A smaller subset are white. A very few cultivars have flowers worth growing for — most are pleasant rather than spectacular.
Bloom timing in Ohio
| Window | Examples |
|---|---|
| Late June to mid-July (early) | H. sieboldiana 'Elegans', 'Halcyon' |
| Mid- to late July (mid) | 'Patriot', 'Francee', 'June', 'Sum and Substance' |
| Early to mid-August (late) | 'Royal Standard', 'Honeybells' |
| Late August to mid-September (very late, fragrant) | H. plantaginea and its descendants ('Guacamole', 'Fragrant Bouquet', 'So Sweet') |
Selecting cultivars from each window stretches the bloom season from late June through the first fall frost.
Fragrance — and why H. plantaginea is special
The vast majority of hostas have flowers with little to no scent. The exception is Hosta plantaginea, the "August lily," native to a small region of eastern China. Its flowers:
- Are pure white, large (4–5 inches), trumpet-shaped
- Open in the late afternoon and stay open through the night
- Release an intense, sweet, jasmine-like fragrance that carries 20 feet
- Are pollinated by night-flying hawk moths in their native range
Every fragrant hosta cultivar in cultivation is descended from H. plantaginea. If you have room for one hosta that is grown for its flowers rather than its leaves, this is the one. Plant it under a window you open in August.
Should you let your hostas flower?
This is a real debate among hosta gardeners. There are three positions:
- Let them bloom. The flowers attract hummingbirds and bumblebees, add height variation to the bed, and the energy cost to the plant is small. This is the majority view and the right answer for a casual gardener.
- Cut the scapes off as they emerge. Some collectors do this on plants grown for foliage perfection, on the theory that the energy stays in leaves. The leaf difference is barely visible to the eye.
- Deadhead after bloom. Let the flowers bloom for their season, then cut the scape off at the base before seed pods form. Saves the plant the energy of seed-making and keeps the bed tidier. This is a good middle path.
How to deadhead a scape
Once the last flower on a scape has dropped, follow the scape down to its base — it emerges from a leaf cluster — and cut it at the base with pruners or just snap it sideways with your fingers. It comes off cleanly. Drop in the compost; the scape has no seeds yet.
If you want seed for sowing (Chapter 2), leave the scape and let the pods ripen over the next 6–8 weeks.
When will your plants first flower?
- Seed-grown hostas: first flowers in year 3–5.
- Nursery divisions (the typical pot you buy): often the first or second year in the ground.
- Newly-divided plants: may skip a year of flowering, then resume.
If a mature plant suddenly stops flowering, the cause is almost always too much shade, too little water, or a plant that was divided in the last year. Wait a season and re-check.