❦ The Hosta Farm Encyclopedia of Hosta cultivars

Search the encyclopedia

Guides / design

Hosta Flowers: Colours, Bloom Time and Fragrance

Published 2018-06-01 · Updated 2026-10-06

Hosta flowers are trumpet-shaped and carried on upright stems called scapes. They range from white through lavender to purple. Most bloom in summer, and a smaller group continues into late summer and early autumn. Only some hostas are fragrant: the scented ones come from Hosta plantaginea and the hybrids bred from it. Whether you keep the flowers is a matter of taste; removing them after they fade is what the RHS suggests.

Flower colours

Iowa State University Extension describes hosta flowers as ranging from white to purple, and the RHS describes them as small trumpet-shaped mauve or white flowers in summer. The American Hosta Society’s Hosta of the Year booklet uses the same range for its winners: white, near-white, pale lavender, lavender and purple. The bluest description in it is “pale blue-violet” for Halcyon.

What about red or blue hosta flowers?

An older version of this page listed hostas with “red” and “blue” flowers. We could not find a reliable source for either, so those lists are gone:

  • Red: the red you see on some hostas is on the scape or leaf stalk, not the flower. The Hosta Registry records red scapes for Rainbow’s End, and the Hosta of the Year booklet describes its flowers as purple. Kokuryu has a red-spotted scape base (Hosta Registry).
  • Blue: the closest is pale blue-violet, as in Halcyon.

If a seller shows a hosta with truly red or sky-blue flowers, treat the picture with caution.

Coloured scapes worth knowing

CultivarScape colourScape height (registry)
Rainbow’s EndRed41–48 cm (16–19 in)
Curly FriesPurple58–66 cm (23–26 in)
First FrostBlue56–71 cm (22–28 in)
KokuryuRed-spotted base51–56 cm (20–22 in)
Pandora’s BoxWhite15–20 cm (6–8 in)

Records: Rainbow’s End, Curly Fries, First Frost, Kokuryu, Pandora’s Box.

When hostas bloom

Bloom time varies by cultivar and by climate. The dates below are from the sources named, so allow for earlier flowering in warm areas and later flowering in cool ones.

TimingExamplesSource
Late June to early JulyWorld CupHosta of the Year booklet
MidsummerBlue Mouse Ears, Patriot, Liberty, Sagae, HalcyonHosta of the Year booklet
Late July to mid-AugustFirst FrostHosta of the Year booklet
AugustGuacamole, Stained Glass, So Sweet, Sum and SubstanceHosta of the Year booklet
July to AugustHosta plantagineaChicago Botanic Garden
Mid-August into SeptemberSummer FragranceHosta Helper
Late August into SeptemberPerfectHosta Helper

The RHS gives late summer to autumn for H. plantaginea in the UK, which is why it is often called the August lily.

Scape height matters too. Miniatures such as Blue Mouse Ears have short scapes, registered at 15–19 cm (Hosta Registry). Empress Wu has scapes registered at 117–147 cm (Hosta Registry).

Which hostas are fragrant

A hosta in bloom is not automatically fragrant. Of the species, Hosta plantaginea is the one our sources single out for scent:

So the scent is strongest from late afternoon into the evening. Plant fragrant hostas near a path, seat or window you use at that time of day.

Fragrant cultivars

CultivarFlowersLink to H. plantaginea or noteSource
Summer FragranceVery pale lavender, strongly fragrantSeedling × H. plantagineaHosta Helper
PerfectPure white, very fragrantSport of H. plantagineaHosta Helper
Fragrant BouquetPale lavender, nearly whiteHosta of the Year 1998Booklet
GuacamoleLarge, pale lavenderSport of Fragrant BouquetBooklet
So SweetPale lavenderFragrant Bouquet × seedlingBooklet
Stained GlassLarge, near-whiteHosta of the Year 2006Booklet
Royal StandardWhiteNamed as a sun-tolerant hostaMissouri Botanical Garden

“Booklet” means the American Hosta Society Hosta of the Year booklet.

Several of these fragrant cultivars, including Guacamole, So Sweet and Royal Standard, are also listed as tolerating more sun than average. Plant Delights adds that hostas carrying the fragrance genes are well adapted to hot, humid summers. Even so, most gardens will still give them their best with morning sun and afternoon shade. See hostas for sun.

Growing Hosta plantaginea

  • Light: partial to full shade, according to the Chicago Botanic Garden and the RHS.
  • Size: the Chicago Botanic Garden lists about 64 × 102 cm (25 × 40 in), and the RHS gives flower stems to 80 cm.
  • Hardiness and pests: the RHS rates it H7, which means very hardy, and notes that slugs, snails and vine weevil attack it.

Should you cut hosta flower stems?

Both choices are reasonable:

  • Leave them if you like the flowers. This matters most for fragrant cultivars, since the scent is the reason to grow them.
  • Remove spent flowers. The RHS suggests this so the plant does not spend energy on seed.
  • Cut scapes early if you grow hostas mainly for their leaves and find the flowers untidy. This is a matter of looks, not plant health.

How to do it:

  1. Wait until most flowers on the scape have faded, unless you are removing it for looks.
  2. Cut the scape near its base with clean secateurs, without damaging the leaves around it.
  3. Compost the stems. If you want to try growing from seed, leave a few scapes until the pods ripen; our hosta seeds page covers that route.

For the rest of the season’s tasks, see what to do with hostas in the fall and the general hosta care guide.

Sources