WILD
FOODIES' HOME PAGE
PLANT PROFILE LIST
NAME: Hosta
LATIN NAME / FAMILY: Hosta / Funkiaceae
OTHER COMMON NAME(S): Plantain Lily
CONDITIONS:
partial shade
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EDIBLE |
TASTE |
RAW/COOK |
SEASON |
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All |
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Shoots |
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green bean |
COOK |
Spring |
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Leaves |
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green bean | COOK | Summer |
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Stalk/Stem |
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Buds |
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Flowers |
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Fruits |
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Pods |
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Seeds |
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Nuts |
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Roots |
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Bark |
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PORTION: small-medium
COMMENT: PFAF says only to cook young leaves and leaf stems, but other sources say that buds and flowers can be also eaten raw or cooked. Hostas can be used as Nature's Taco Shell when leaves are fully unfurled. Hosta is our exception to the Wild rule. Most hostas in US are cultivars, but they are all edible, although with different flavors and textures. Hostas introduce people to the concept that there are lots of plants in your garden that may be edible. // “Today, the plant is sold as Urui, and the shoots, leaves and flowers are all edible. The soft texture and mild, less bitter flavor of young shoots is preferred to older growth. It is best to harvest leaves in the morning, when they have the highest moisture content. They can be eaten raw or cooked (boiled) and I have seen descriptions of taste which include snow pea pods, asparagus, lettuce and spinach. Snipping the blooms may seem gruesome to some hosta fanatics, but the flowers are also edible and can be used to beautify your salad or featured as a cake decoration. Although all species appear to be edible, H. montana and H. sieboldii are the most common vegetable favorites, while H. plantaginea is preferred for the sweet delicacy of flower consumption. An interesting aside, the Chinese frequently plant fields of H. plantaginea for honey production.” (4)
CAUTION: PFAF says only to cook young leaves and leaf stems, but other sources say that buds and flowers can be also eaten raw or cooked.
NUTRITION/MEDICINAL: https://www.webmd.com / https://draxe.com/
LOOK-A-LIKES:
POISONOUS LOOK-A-LIKES:
OTHER USES:
SOURCE LINKS (may include nutritional and medicinal info, plus other uses):
- https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Hosta+species
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosta
- http://www.foragingtexas.com/2012/05/hostas.html (good photos)
- https://www.hostasdirect.com/blog/hostas-are-edible
- https://practicalselfreliance.com/edible-hostas (recipe)
- https://foragerchef.com/eating-hosta-shoots (recipe)
- https://scottishforestgarden.wordpress.com/2012/05/07/hostas (recipe)
- https://druidgarden.wordpress.com/tag/hosta-recipes (recipe)
- https://www.backyardforager.com/roasted-hosta-shoots-recipe (recipe)
- https://www.syracuse.com/food/2017/05/how_to_cook_hostas_yes_you_read_that_right.html (recipe)
- https://www.mnn.com/food/healthy-eating/blogs/hosta-shoots-are-edible (recipe)
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https://www.backyardforager.com/roasted-hosta-shoots-recipe
CULINARY SPECIES or CHEF PREFERENCES:
- https://www.pfaf.org/User/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Hosta+montana (vegetable)
- https://www.pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?latinname=Hosta+sieboldiana (vegetable)
- https://www.pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?latinname=Hosta+plantaginae (flowers)