— Excerpt from Foraging New Zealand by Peter Langlands
Hosta spp.
Description
A broad-leaved flowering plant. The leaves have distinct indented lines that curve from the rib of the leaf up towards the pointed tip. While there are varieties with differently coloured foliage in gardens, the ones you’re likely to encounter in the wild are a bright light green. The pendulous flowers grow on long straw-like stems and are white or purple, opening into stars.
Distribution
Mainly found in urban centres where the species is a garden escapee.
Habitat
Found primarily in abandoned sections or near the edge of cultivated garden environments.
Seasonality
Fresh growth primarily in spring with the plant flowering over summer.
Key edible uses
The new shoots have an asparagus flavour and are good raw in a salad or cooked in stir-fries with the young leaves and crisp stems, which can be slightly bitter as they age; their flavour is best when lightly steamed. Chopping will overcome their potential to become fibrous, but young leaves make good wraps. The flowers are also edible, though use as a garnish as they are rather bland.
New hosta plant leaf sprouts coming out of the ground in spring,
