August-lily, fragrant plantain-lily, white plantain-lily

Hemerocallis plantaginea Lamarck in J. Lamarck et al., Encycl. 3: 103. 1789

Plants forming open clumps 60–90 × 45 cm; rhizomes not stoloniferous. Leaves: petiole erect, spreading, light green, to 25 cm; blade light yellowish green, orbiculate to cordate, 20–28 × 15–24 cm, base decurrent, apex acuminate; veins in 6–9 lateral pairs. Scape 60–80 cm. Inflorescences: racemes bright green, 10–15-flowered, stout, solid, to 25 cm; floral bracts large, greenish white, ovate-lanceolate, navicular; sterile bracts leafy, sparse. Flowers to 13 cm, fragrant; perianth long-tubular; tepals white, lobes sharply recurved; anthers yellow. Capsules large, elongate, apex pointed. 2n = 60.

Flowering late summer (August). Disturbed open areas; 0--100 m; introduced; Pa., expected elsewhere; se China.

Hosta plantaginea is widely cultivated for its fragrant white flowers, which open in late afternoon or evening. This showy species was the first Hosta cultivated in Europe, starting in 1784, and then in the New World. Following its introduction from China, it was planted by the thousands in public gardens and became known as Parisian funkia or hosta.