Hosta, African

The African hosta goes by a few different Latin names, including Drimiopsis maculata and Ledebouria petiolata. Its placement in a plant family is not fully agreed upon, with some experts putting it in the lily family and others with hyacinth and related plants. Regardless of its classification, African hosta is a warm weather plant, growing best outdoors in USDA zones 7b through 10. What draws most gardeners to the African hosta is its unique, spotted foliage. The leaves are oblong in shape and fleshy. Most noticeably, the leaves are green with spots that may be darker green or even dark purple. Spotted foliage is not typical, so these plants add a bit of flair and visual interest to the garden. The flowers are nice but not spectacular. They are white or white with a little bit of green and grow in clusters. Each individual flower is bell-shaped.