Plantain Lily

Hosta 'M. Owen Papuga' Asparagaceae

Growth habit

Herbaceous

Perennation

Long-lived polycarpic perennial

Location

North Walk

Source of plant

Steve Chamberlain

Description

Plant: medium sized, 45 in. (114 cm) diameter, 22 in. (56 cm) high upright. Leaf: 11.5 in. (29 cm) long, 6.5 in. (16.5 cm) wide; 9 pairs of veins; dark green with a slightly rippled margin and with a dark green, reddish purple at base of petiole; slightly shiny on top and slightly shiny underneath; moderately wavy, ovate, tapered base. Scape: 45-47 in. (114-119 cm) long; dark green; inflorescence leaves. Flower: 2.5 in. (6.4 cm) long, near whitel; pale purple stripes inside; tubular; Manlius, NY: 7/31-8/25-9/2 (*codes 4.5-5.5-5.5) Seed: sets seed, viability is unknown; pod is medium green Clump History: original seedling, 6 years old, Manlius, NY. Notable Characteristics: very dark green, ovate leaves in open, upright clump.[H. ‘Sum and Substance’ hybrid] Note: Since registration, the seed has been shown to be viable.Additional Registration Information: Clump History. This cultivar is an open pollinated seedling of H. ‘Sum and Substance’ that originated at Academy Gardens. It forms a distinctive, open, upright, medium-sized clump with very dark green leaves. The scapes tend to emerge at an angle rather than vertically. Significance of the name. M. Owen Papuga was the part time gardener at Academy Gardens in the late 1990’s. He was responsible for planting many of the new trees in the garden following the devastation of the Labor Day microburst. He created the new bed in which this seedling was grown. Papuga is a graduate of the undergraduate bioengineering program at Syracuse University and is currently finishing his PhD in biomedical engineering at Case Western Reserve University.

USDA Hardiness Zone

5