Abstract: Fragrant plantain lily is a usual ornamental plant in China nowadays, with some interesting historical records in the traditional literature. The records related to the ‘fragrant plantain lily’ were settled together, and the morphological characteristics, the original recordation, the original illustrations were studied carefully in order to make sure the clear systematic positions of the original plant. At the same time, the method of plant taxonomy, and comparative morphological analysis were used in the research work. The result showed that the original plant of the ‘fragrant plantain lily’ belonged to Hosta plantaginea (Lam.) Aschers. in Liliaceae. The investigation on the original records of the ‘fragrant plantain lily’ showed that there were some clear taxonomic features that were recorded although no integrated and precise plant taxonomy system was established in the past in China. At the same time, as there was the record of the ‘make-up’ function of the ‘fragrant plantain lily’, the information of the Chinese ancient cosmetics was analyzed, and the plant-based materials in the rouge were selected. The knowledge on the ‘fragrant plantain lily’ of the Chinese in the past, accompanied with the use of the plant in daily life, revealed that the botanical features of the ‘fragrant plantain lily’ were the main reason for human choice.