Perennial herb with thickened roots from a short rhizome. Inflorescence to 35 cm, floral bracts purplish. Leaves broadly ovate to heart-shaped, thick, tough, to 18 cm long, 10 cm wide, leaf stalks long, channelled, purple spotted, leaf apex acute, base rounded, slightly undulate, 6-9 vein pairs, waxy blue-grey above and below. Flowers pale violet to pink, anthers grey-purple; late summer.

Garden Origin.

A hybrid between H. tardiflora and H. seiboldiana var. elegans with several selected cultivars.

H. tardiflora (W. Irv.) Stearn, Aki-gibo-shi is known only in cultivation. It is a perennial herb with thickened roots from a short rhizome. Inflorescence to 35 cm, floral bracts pale purple. Leaves lanceolate to elliptic, to 15 cm long, 6.5 cm wide, leaf stalks long, channelled, purple spotted, leaf apex acuminate, base tapering, slightly undulate, 4-5 vein pairs, mid- to yellowish green above, dull to shiny below. Flowers bluish-purple, anthers grey-purple; autumn.

Source: Conran, J. (2005). Hostaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.