hosta

noun

hos·​ta ˈhō-stə 

ˈhä-

: any of a genus (Hosta) of Asian perennial herbaceous plants of the lily family with densely growing basal leaves and tall racemes of white or violet flowers

called also funkia, plantain lily

Did you know?

There are about 40 species of hostas or plantain lilies, which are hardy perennials in the lily family, native to eastern Asia. They prefer light shade, but will grow under a variety of conditions. They are valued for their conspicuous foliage, which may be light to dark green, yellow, blue, or variegated. The ribbed leaves grow in a cluster at the base, and stalks bearing clusters of tubular white or bluish-purple flowers emerge from the leaves.

Examples of hosta in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

From early spring bloomers to late summer stars, here are 11 of the best companion plants for hostas for any garden. —Cori Sears, The Spruce, 21 Apr. 2026

What's more, hostas are very easy to grow and tolerant of challenging conditions, like deep shade. —Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 18 Apr. 2026

Many ferns, begonias, hostas, coleus, and leopard plant can all be grown in deep shade. —Steve Bender, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2026

No bags of mulch or stacks of containers; instead, this small, 4-acre nursery is all about unusual plants, including an impressive selection of lilies, hostas, and East Asian woodland species. —Teresa Woodard, Midwest Living, 10 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, genus name, after Nicolaus Thomas Host †1834 Austrian physician and botanist

Note: The genus was named in honor of Host by the Austrian botanist Leopold Trattinnick (1764-1849) in Archiv der Gewächskunde, Band 1 (1812), p. 55.

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined above