This widely cultivated octoploid (2n = 120) is rarely naturalized in North America. There are a few colls. from valleys of the Appalachian Cliff Section. These plants were far from obvious evidence of old home sites or gardens, and in some cases colonies appeared to be spreading in the woods (Poindexter & Thompson 2008). However, the species is relatively palatable to mammalian herbivores, and deer can largely eliminate it in some regions (Williams et al. 2006; C. Sither, pers. comm from MERC; D. Dourson, pers. comm. from Roan Mt. NC). Hosta also has much history as food or medicine for humans; roots, however, may be moderately toxic (Yang & He 2021). Its chemistry includes diverse "steroids, flavonoids, alkaloids, furan derivatives, phenylpropanoids, phenethyl derivatives, terpenoids, aliphatics and others".