Hostas are so reliable, easy to grow and useful that they have become ubiquitous. If they weren’t beloved by slugs and deer, they would probably be the most popular plants in the world.
I use them in my garden, but I frequently take them for granted. The leaves–plain or variegated; large or small; apple green or blue-green–add texture and interest. The flowers of most hosta varieties, on the other hand, do little to enhance the attractiveness of the plant. Some gardeners cut them off when they appear to keep things tidy.
That is why I love the fragrant hostas, especially those related to Hosta plantaginea, the “August lily.” H. plantaginea flowers are large (up to six inches long), with white, waxy petals and a pronounced fragrance. The flowers appear in late summer, after most of the other hostas are finished blooming. Individual buds open in the late afternoon rather than in the morning. H. plantaginea flowers are so beautiful and substantial that you can cut them and put them in a vase. Indoors they will perfume a room.
Trolling the garden center aisles the other day, I noticed Hosta ‘Fragrant Bouquet’, which stood out because of its characteristic scented white flowers. I snapped it up, because in addition to the blooms that betray its plantaginea heritage, the plant boasts the variegated leaves that add interest to hosta plantings. Introduced in 1982, ‘Fragrant Bouquet’ is not a new plant, but should be more widely grown. It is the offspring of two other plantaginea hybrids, H. ‘Summer Fragrance and H. ‘Fascination’.
Like all hostas, ‘Fragrant Bouquet’ is a good investment plant. Within a couple of years, it will be big enough to divide, allowing you to increase your stock of fragrant hostas quickly and at no extra cost (except your own labor).
Nurseryman and hosta expert Tony Avent wrote a great article on Hosta plantaginea and its hybrids in 1998. In addition to a lively discussion of the subject, it contains a good list of H. plantaginea hybrids, with notes on which ones are registered and therefore more available to home gardeners. For a look at the article, go to http://plantdelights.com/Fragrant-Flowering-Hostas/products/510.