Hosta plantaginea var. plantaginea ("Marubatamanokanzashi")

Japanese name: マルバタマノカンザシ （丸葉玉簪）
Scientific name: Hosta plantaginea var. plantaginea

[Overview]
A perennial 40–80 cm tall.
It has a rhizome.
The leaves are simple and basal, ovate-round, 14–25 cm long and 8–16 cm wide, with a glossy upper surface.
They have long petioles.
The flowers are borne in a raceme, with bracts at the base.
The bracts are ovate to elliptic, 2.5–7 cm long and 1–1.5 cm wide, and remain green and firm even when the flowers are open.
The flowers are 13 cm long, pure white and 6-petaled, opening at night and withering by morning, lasting one day.
The flowers are fragrant.
The filaments are fused to the base of the perianth.
The fruit is a capsule, and the seeds have a wing on one side.

[History]
It was imported from China in the early Showa period, and cultivation began.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by division.
It prefers sun to bright shade and moderately moist soil that is well drained and moisture-retentive.
Strong direct sunlight in summer can scorch the leaves, so move potted plants to airy shade in summer, and plant those in the ground under deciduous trees or similar.
For potted plants, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries; for plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient unless summer brings a long spell of sunny weather and the soil dries out.
Apply organic fertilizer placed on the soil in spring and autumn.
Pests and diseases include southern blight, viral diseases, aphids and slugs.

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