Fragrant Plantain Lily (Hosta plantaginea) is a herbaceous perennial admired for its lush foliage and highly scented blooms, making it a standout tufted and mounding plant in shaded landscapes. It forms broad, rounded clumps of large, glossy, heart-shaped leaves that create a bold, architectural presence along borders and pathways. In late summer, tall scapes rise above the foliage, bearing clusters of large, trumpet-shaped white flowers renowned for their sweet evening fragrance—an unusual trait among hostas.

Native to China, Hosta plantaginea thrives in woodland environments and has long been cultivated in Asian gardens for both its ornamental and cultural value. Also called August lily, it is prized for extending seasonal interest when many shade plants have finished flowering. Its dense, mounded form makes it an effective ground-shading plant, while the combination of dramatic foliage and perfumed blossoms elevates it beyond purely structural use, adding sensory richness and elegance to herbaceous plantings.