H. plantaginea 'Venus'

Ever since I first learned that there was a multi-flowered FRAGRANT Hosta I've been keeping an eye peeled. Some call it a triple flowered Hosta, others refer to it as double-double. Whatever it is, there certainly are more than the usual 6 petals. And it's large. The flower that is, the plant is closer to medium size. It's a sport of a sport, 'Aphrodite', which itself is double flowered. Imagine my surprise when I spotted one in a local nursery. Goes without saying that one came home with me May 4th 2007, picked the one with the most shoots. Can't wait until it flowers....which wouldn't be soon enough for me. Bob Axmear writes in the Hosta Library:

Plants belonging to this species have the best flowers in the genus being more than twice as large as those in other species, with a pure white color, heavy substance and a waxy surface. It is the only night-bloomer with the flowers opening late in the afternoon, their fragrance is most noticeable during evening hours. Plantaginea is a parent to a number of fragrant hybrids and several variegated sports. This species requires moisture and extended, warm summers to flower and set seed well.

So, I can only hope it stays hot enough, long enough this summer. Some would say the species tolerates sun very well, others say it prefers sun. You get the drift though, this is one Hosta that will not stay in the shade in our yard.

Here it is, late May and the plant was transplanted to the jardinier which had a variegated Fuchsia in it that didn't come back up in the spring.

When we first got it about all there was were some of the smaller, brown-rimmed leaves. The brown rim is being put off to frost damage. There is good new growth and it is all nice, green and shiny.

There may well prove to be 5 or 6 shoots on this crown and if that's the case, once the plant has settled down a bit more we'll take one or two divisions.

There in fact are only four good shoots on this crown and I opted to leave it alone this year and see if can get it to flower rather than divide it.

By the middle of July it has settled in nicely and is showing good vigour. Good sized leaves, nice and shiny, and I hope we'll see flowers on it this year, but it's a little early yet to start seeing those.

Well, here we are, August 29th 2007, and there actually are three scapes developing on the plant. Now, oooooh that wait for the flowers.....

My first year Venus has three scapes with buds on it by September 24th. No need to tell you that's late in the season, even for a plantaginea, and it'll be touch and go as whether or not I'll actually see the plant in bloom before senescence sets in. All I can do is wait and see and keep my fingers crossed.

I'm afraid I'll have to keep my fingers crossed for a while. I took a closer look at the buds on the 26th and unfortunately it looks as if I'm seeing the first effects of fall in this plant: a couple of leaves are turning brown at the edges and all of the tips of the buds are going brown as well. So, it is starting to look as if I won't see it in bloom this year. Sad but likely very true. It's good to know though that it was a ready bloomer for me in its first year, that makes me look even more forward to the next.