Hosta 'Fragrant Bouquet'

Hosta 'Fragrant Bouquet': Bright Leaves, Sweet Scent, Big Presence

Apple-green leaves edged in cream, topped with near-white flowers that smell strong enough to make a florist nervous. 'Fragrant Bouquet' is the arrangement that SHOWS UP WITHOUT A DELIVERY FEE.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Hosta 'Fragrant Bouquet'
• Common Name: Plantain Lily, Hosta
• Height: 50–55 cm (20–21 in)
• Spread: 90–120 cm (3–4 ft)
• Flowers: Near-white to very pale lavender, strongly fragrant
• Bloom Time: Mid to late summer (July to August)
• Foliage: Large, apple-green to chartreuse leaves with creamy yellow margins
• Features: Fragrant flowers, Hosta of the Year 1998

Where to Plant: Plant it where noses go: beside a patio, along a path, under a window or near a bench. Its bright foliage lights up a shady bed, and its size makes it a good mid-border anchor.

Companion Plants: Eurybia macrophylla carries lavender flowers in August and September at 60 to 100 cm, just as the hosta finishes. Hakonechloa 'All Gold' adds a fine, golden grass texture at 23 to 36 cm along the front. Epimedium 'Lilafee' flowers violet in April and May at 25 to 30 cm. Every plant here grows in shade to partial sun.

Plant Care: Plant it in moist, rich, well-drained soil with compost mixed in. It handles some morning sun, which brightens the leaves and helps the flowers. Give it shade during the hot afternoon. Water deeply during dry spells, especially in the first year. Deer and rabbits like hostas, so protect it where they visit. Slugs may nibble a few holes. Cut off the flower stems after they finish and clean up the leaves after a hard frost. Divide in early spring when shoots emerge if the clump gets crowded.

History: Dr. Kevin Vaughn of Massachusetts raised 'Fragrant Bouquet' from a cross of Hosta 'Fascination' and a fragrant hosta often listed as 'Summer Fragrance', and Paul Aden of New York registered it in 1982. The American Hosta Growers Association named it Hosta of the Year in 1998.

Final Thoughts: Plant it by the deck and let summer evenings smell like you tried. The hummingbirds already placed their order. NO CARD NEEDED.