Hosta

The Hosta is food for slugs, snails, deer, rabbits, voles… I guess I sympathise. Acrylics and coloured pencil on paper – 31 x 23 cm.

£350.00

The Hosta family

The hosta comes from China, Japan and Korea. The American Hosta Society recognises over 7,200 species and cultivars. It was once thought of as a type of lily but now belongs to the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae. Looking at the plant you might be forgiven for failing to see much of a resemblance with asparagus – though there is more similarity to the agaves and yuccas of the subfamily.

I’m not usually interested in garden plants, but I’ve always liked the hosta. It grows in shade where other plants will not. In late summer it is often seen almost completely shredded by slugs and snails. Deer, rabbits and voles all love it too, and many other creatures invade its leaves. I guess that I sympathise with it.

Edible Hosta

I didn’t realise until I wrote this description that Hosta is edible. The young shoots and flowers are eaten, and taste (according to this author) like asparagus with a hint of spring onion. Other Western recipes roll the leaves around beef or braise them with a cheese sauce.

You might also be interested in this painting of Sour Fig or this still life.