Charles dickens himself would have been delighted to learn that his classic novel shares its name with this fantastic hardy perennial hosta 39great expectations39 has stiff heart shaped foliage the variegated leaves of which consist of splashes of yellow and green this variety of plantain lily is early to flower producing bell45shaped blooms of a pure white colour in june like the epic journey of dickens39 protagonist the plant39s growth is slow however a happy ending is