Hosta ventricosa – Blue Plantain Lily seeds

Description

Hosta ventricosa is a bold, clump-forming perennial grown for its handsome foliage and spikes of bell-shaped purple flowers in mid to late summer. Leaves are large, broad, and deep green with a bluish cast, bringing reliable structure and lushness to shaded or part-shaded gardens. It’s also one of the few Hosta species that reproduces by seed through apomixis, meaning seedlings will closely resemble the parent.

In addition to its ornamental value, Hosta ventricosa is edible. Young shoots (known as “hostons”) can be harvested in early spring and cooked like asparagus — a traditional food in some parts of Japan. Leaves can also be eaten when young and tender. Plants die down in winter and re-emerge in spring.

It grows 40–60 cm tall, forming dense clumps over time. Best suited to moist, humus-rich soils in part shade, but tolerant of a range of conditions. Hardy to around –30°C and well suited to temperate New Zealand gardens. Slugs and snails are the main pests, especially when shoots first emerge.

Germination and Cold Stratification:
While some Hosta seed will germinate without chilling, H. ventricosa benefits from cold stratification for more reliable and even germination. Chill seeds in moist medium at 1–5°C for 4–6 weeks, then sow at 18–22°C. Germination usually occurs within 2–4 weeks.

Outdoor Stratification Tip:
In areas with reliable winter cold, Hosta ventricosa seeds can be sown into trays in autumn and left outdoors in a shaded, rodent-proof spot. Natural cold will satisfy chilling requirements, and germination will begin in spring as temperatures rise.