Use & Care NotesCompanion Plants
Royal Crest Hosta: Fragrant White Trumpets for Late Summer
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Royal Crest hosta is a fragrant hosta with a polished look. Its broad, pointed, heart-shaped leaves are glossy medium green and noticeably thicker than those of older fragrant types, and they build quickly into a large mound about 28 inches tall and 4 feet wide. In August and into early September, 35-inch scapes carry big, pure white trumpets with a sweet, lily-like scent that is strongest in the evening.
Royal Crest at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Hosta 'Royal Crest' |
| Foliage | Glossy medium green, thick, heart-shaped |
| Flowers | Large pure white trumpets on scapes about 35 inches |
| Size | About 28 inches tall and 50 inches wide |
| Bloom | Early August into early September |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 9 |
| Light | Full shade to morning sun; more sun if kept moist |
| Fragrance | Sweet and lily-like, strongest in the evening |
How it fits with lavender
Royal Crest is more sun tolerant than most hostas, which makes it tempting to plant near the lavender. Resist putting it in the lavender border itself. Lavender needs dry, lean soil, and this hosta needs soil rich in organic matter that stays evenly moist. Give it a separate bed, perhaps one with morning sun and afternoon shade, alongside daylilies, astilbe or ferns.
The two do make good garden neighbors in time and scent. Your lavender's fragrance peaks in early summer; Royal Crest brings a second wave of perfume in August evenings, after the lavender is cut. Plan both beds in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting bare root hostas
Royal Crest arrives as a dormant bare root plant. Plant it in spring in rich soil, with the crown just at the soil surface and the roots spread out. Water deeply and keep the soil moist while the first leaves unfurl. Leave plenty of room; this hosta reaches about 4 feet across.
Care through the year
- Light: full shade to morning sun. In more sun, steady moisture prevents leaf scorch.
- Water: deeply in hot, dry weather.
- Slugs: the thick leaves resist slug damage better than most hostas.
- After bloom: remove spent scapes.
- Fall: cut the big leaves down after a hard frost, and do not pile heavy, wet mulch over the crown.
- Dividing: split crowded clumps in early spring.
Enjoying the fragrance
Plant Royal Crest within a few steps of where you sit on summer evenings: beside a patio, along a front walk or under a window. The flowers also rate good for cutting, and a few stems in a vase scent a room. Bees and other pollinators visit the blooms too.
Frequently asked questions
Can it really take full sun?
In cooler climates, it can handle full sun if the soil stays consistently moist. Morning sun with afternoon shade is the safer choice in most Michigan gardens.
Is it safe for pets?
Hosta foliage is listed as toxic to dogs and cats, so keep it out of reach of chewers.
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