It is frequently treated as just a foliage plant, in which case it is enhanced by removing the flowering stem as soon as it appears. It likes a fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. It requires plenty of space, plenty of moisture, plenty of food, protection from strong winds and, in most areas of Britain, a little protection from severe frost by covering the crowns with its own dead leaves plus some bracken or straw in winter. It is possible to stand upright under a single leaf and shelter from the rain - I know this is true because I have done it in a public garden in Devon. Far from glossy, its bright green leaves are extremely coarse and hairy.
Leaves can be as much as nine feet across, even in Britain.
The leaves will grow larger if the strange looking flower spike is removed at an early stage, but some growers prefer to retain it. The size of the leaves is very dependent on growing conditions. Hostas reputedly need very damp soil, but are in fact surprisingly drought tolerant. However, for the largest leaves it must have ample supplies of both food and water, and a mature plant can then sometimes produce leaves as much as two feet long. With poor conditions they may be well under half that.