The Hostapedia by Mark Zilis (2009) says, that this species is "...native to Mt. Ibuki in Japan...closely related to Hosta lancifolia; probably a green-leaved form of Hosta sieboldii; listed by Schmid (1991, p.58) as the Ibuki Gibōshi and closely related to Hosta sieboldii spathulata... small size mound of green foliage with purple flowers from mid to late July in the wild..."

The flowers of the species have yellow anthers and it has wide, winged petioles on the leaves.