Lakeside Paisley Print Plantain Lily

Lakeside Paisley Print Plantain Lily (Hosta plantaginea 'Lakeside Paisley Print') is a shade foliage plant with broad, pointed, rippled leaves marked in several shades of green through the centre. The leaf mound reaches about 30cm tall and 70 to 80cm wide, and tall stalks carry pale lavender purple flowers above it from late spring. It is the plant for shady beds where little else puts on a show.

Why you'll love it

• Foliage first. Rippled, pointed leaves with green variegation through the centre give texture and pattern from spring to autumn.
• Flowers in shade. Tall stalks lift pale lavender purple blooms above the leaves from late spring, in the kind of spot where few plants flower.
• Frost hardy. It copes with cold winters, dying back and returning in spring.
• Fine under trees. It suits the moist ground beneath trees, provided you water or irrigate through dry spells.
• Pots work too. It grows well in a container, which brightens a shaded patio or courtyard.

Where it works best

Shady beds and borders. Plant 70cm apart in a drift along the shaded side of a house or fence. At 70 to 80cm wide the clumps meet as they mature.

Under trees. Plant in the moist soil beneath trees, where dappled light suits it. Irrigate in dry spells, because tree roots take the water first.

Cottage gardens and pots. The soft, lush look fits cottage planting, and one plant to a wide pot will brighten a shaded entry.

Growing Lakeside Paisley Print Plantain Lily in Australia

Position and climate. Plant in a sheltered spot out of direct sun. Deep shade is tolerated, with slightly paler foliage colour. It is frost hardy and suits cool temperate and warm temperate gardens best. Hostas dislike heat and humidity, so in subtropical gardens give them deep shade and plenty of water, and in the tropics choose another plant.

Soil. Most moist, well drained soils suit it. Enrich the bed with plenty of organic matter before planting, and mulch to keep the roots cool.

Water and feed. Mulch the bed and water regularly while the plant settles, which takes around 12 weeks, and keep watering through the growing season. Apply a slow release fertiliser in spring and a liquid fertiliser every two to four weeks while it grows.

Pruning. Little pruning is needed. The plant dies back in winter, so clear the dead leaves then, and cut off the flower stems once they finish.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Lakeside Paisley Print Plantain Lily as tube stock and in 140mm pots in packs of 10. Tube stock is a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly, and the 140mm pots give a fuller clump on day one for a bed or a pot. Expect a small plant on arrival that bulks up over the seasons. Slugs and snails like hostas, so check the new growth in spring.

The tube comes from our grower and is not always in stock. When the grower has none, it shows as sold out, and the notify button on the page emails you the day it is back.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Plants for partial shade
• Plants for full shade
• More frost hardy plants
• Shade gardening: what to plant where

Common questions

Is it safe for dogs and cats?

No. Hostas are toxic to dogs and cats if eaten and can cause vomiting and diarrhoea, so plant them where pets cannot chew the leaves.

Will snails eat it?

They often do, especially the soft new leaves in spring. Check regularly, pick off snails and slugs by hand, and consider a pet safe bait. A pot can be easier to protect.

Does it need full shade?

It does best in a sheltered spot out of direct sun. Deep shade is tolerated, but the leaves may colour up a little less strongly.