Hosta
Given Name: Hosta spp.
Nicknames: Plantain Lily, Urui, Funkia, Corfu Lily
Family: Asparagaceae
Psst! Hey you! Yes, you. Come over here- I want to tell you a secret. You look trustworthy enough . But you'd better hurry before I change my mind. Oh- you're not sure where this whispering's coming from? Good... I'm trying to blend in. You know, be covert? Go incognito? But it's hard when I'm such a popular plant.
People seem to recognize me wherever I am even though my leaves come in many different sizes (from a few inches to a few feet), textures (smooth, veined or puckered), shapes (heart, lance-like or cupped.) and colours (gold, blue, green and variegated).
In fact there are over 12 000 named and registered cultivars of me and still everyone points at the tidy mounds of my leaves and says, “There's Hosta”. Yes, I'm that plant!
Ooops... I said that kinda loudly, didn't I? Do you think anyone else heard? Quick, just pretend to be interested in the slug munching on my leaf... it'll throw off any leavesdroppers.
Okay, I've scanned the rich turf around me and I think the coast is clear. Phewf... that was a close call! Who am I hiding from? Well, to be honest... everyone. Ever since the 1980s and 90s when planting me became a craze in North America, I've been overwhelmed by all this attention. And to be honest. I've felt used: regular gardeners using me because I'm easy, breeders making money off of me and collectors showing me off like I'm just a trophy plant (some paying as much as $150 for rare cultivars). Everyone seems want a piece of me.
Geeze! It's enough to drive a plant to drink and I'm certainly no exception- I need a regular dose of water to get me through my week. On top of all that I'm afraid that if everyone knew my secret, I'd get even more attention.
Secret? What secret? Who said anything about a secret? No offense but maybe your memory's failing ... have you tried my garden buddy, lemon balm (studies have shown it helps with cognition)?
Wait! What do you mean I have a tell?
Just because my flower stalks of white, lavender and blue trumpet-like blossoms are quivering even though there's no wind you're implying that I'm... do you really think I would... okay, okay... maybe I'm keeping a wee little secret from you... well, it might be kind of important. Fine! You're right. It is a big deal.
Hey look a bird!
What?
Oooooooh! You actually want me to tell you...
Rat's! I thought that bird comment would distract you. *Sigh* I can see that you're not going to let this go so I guess I'll have to open up:
*Deep breath*
I'm edible.
There. I said it. Are you happy? You weaseled my secret out of me.
Yes... I said edible.
Shhhhh... I don't want anyone else to find out. No, not even other plants!
What would the other ornamentals say? I'm pretty sure they'd look down their stalks at me. After all, in North American society, ornamentals are supposed to be seen and not used.
But that existence leaves not only me feeling empty, but you too (because you aren't eating me! Hehehe).
It doesn't have to be that way, though. In Asia where I'm from, I never hid part of myself: since the Han Dynasty in 206 BC- 220 AD I was embraced as food and medicine as well as a beautiful garden plant. In fact, I'm still grown and sold in Japan as a vegetable. And why not?
I'm adaptable to many sites, I have very few pest problems and my mid-spring shoots, briefly boiled, as well as my flowers, cooked like zucchini, are tasty, tender and nutritious.
One recent study even found that, irregardless of my species or cultivar, I contain more minerals than asparagus.
But I choose to stay hidden in the shadows because I'm scared of plant judgment and human attention (and also because I grow best in part to full shade). I find it easier just keep to myself. After all, I have a lot of practice doing that at in the garden- always sticking to the area I'm planted.
Someday I hope that I'll feel well rooted enough (with my fleshy shallow roots and short rhizomes) to tell the world my secret. Don't wait around for it, though- I'm such a long lived perennial that I may outlive you!
Now go, before someone sees you talking to me! I don't want my cover to be blown. Ha! That's funny cuz I am the cover- the groundcover.
Nothing to see here,
Secretive Hosta
References:
Benoit, D. J. (2021, September 1). “Hosta: Not just another pretty face”. The University of Vermont. https://www.uvm.edu/news/extension/hosta-not-just-another-pretty-plant
Hayes, R. F., Zlesak, D. C., Moncada, K. (2018). “Hostas”. University of Minnesota Extension. https://extension.umn.edu/flowers/hostas
"Hosta 'Empress Wu'” (n.d.). Missouri Botanical Garden. https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=271668
“Hosta (Hosta plantaginea)”. (n.d.). University of Illinois Chicago Heritage Garden. http://heritagegarden.uic.edu/hosta-hosta-plantaginea
Oommen, A. (2013). “Hungry for Hostas”. Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners. https://www.mofga.org/resources/horticulture/tip/
Peter, J. L. (2021, August 26). “Whole Lot of Hosta”. Royal Botanical Gardens. https://www.rbg.ca/whole-lot-of-hosta/
Russ, K., Polomski, R. F. (1999, March). “Hosta”. Clemson University Cooperative Extension. https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/hosta/
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