Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Hosta Fabulous Hosta

Over the years, I've learned not to share my latest exciting hosta news with my mom. Mostly because she thinks I'm nuts. She does not understand why I drool over hosta websites and fret over quirky new hybrids when there is a whole slew of perfectly fine, you can't kill'em hosta's under her trees.

She's seen my plants and can't tell the difference. I don't mind one bit. Her lack of hosta appreciation means there is no guilt in not offering to split a special plant that took me years to grow up! One of these plants is Whirlwind. Slugs ignore it, it's always glossy and the curve of the leaves is unique and pretty.

White Christmas is another such variety. This plant has so much white that it's picky about where it lives. It's a slow grower but worth it. It lights up deep shade and looks fantastic paired with red begonia's or impatiens.












I learned my lesson about splitting special hosta's years ago with Great Expectations. This plant used to get me compliments from people walking their dogs on the street. Then I split it. It has taken years to recover and it's still not there. I think it is one of the prettiest hosta's out there but it's picky. Very.

I've read that Hosta Thunderbolt is another variety that people have trouble with as it gets older. So far, for me it's been carefree, and starting to get really big. I love big hosta's in my shady areas because they keep the weeds way down and are great looking, even from a distance.
Slugs and deer both leave Thunderbolt alone.



Liberty is a plant that the bambi's chew on every spring without fail. It doesn't hurt an established plant like this, it just looks bad. In a couple of weeks I will cut off the damaged leaves and it will look like new.

Tokudama Aureonebulosa is a full lush lovely plant that the bambi's love to snack on in the early spring. These shades of blue/green look great with every color that is placed next to it.

Paul's Glory is a massive hosta. A specimen that is super easy to grow and one that grows fast. I've never fed, trimmed weeded or otherwise pampered this big boy. It is easily 3.5 feet tall and even wider that that. You have to plan for a big plant when you plant PG. It killed one of the bushes next to it with ease. Hosta shade is dense, lol.

I hope you've enjoyed the tour of part of my hosta collection. I wish I had a camera and skills that did these plants justice. If you haven't tried hosta, give them a shot, but treat yourself to one of the fantastic hybrids that are out there. They easily beat the ten foot rule and are virtually carefree once established!

10 comments:

Sandra said...

Beautiful! My favorites: white Christmas, Thunderbolt, and Liberty - even with the bites. I like hostas and have several kinds but I don't know their names.

Helen said...

Love the hostas. Thanks for the tip on Great Expectations, which I just added. Also have and love Striptease. June is a favourite, and her sister in name (not in heritage) Janet. Golden Tiara is a reliable girl for me. Plus I have some of the blue-leaved hostas, including a Tokudama and a Halcyon. Interestingly, the latter is just beginning to sport for me. Halcyon is the parent of June. So, who knows, perhaps there'll be a Hosta 'Helen' one day.

Stacy said...

You have great hosta taste Helen! Striptease croaked for me but it's very cool looking. I have June and Golden Tiarra to. I was just drooling over some of the new varieties at White Oaks Nursery. I really need to do some work on the new shade bed...

Tatyana@MySecretGarden said...

Wonderful collection! I love them all! Should try PG, never heard of it before. Thanks!

Stacy said...

Tatyana, Paul's Glory has been around for years. It's a fabulous hosta. Not at all needy and very fast growing. You won't be disappointed!

Beegirl said...

I love hostas too. A friend of mine had some in her backyard and wanted them gone, so I went over and loaded up. FILLED the trunk of my car with grocery bags full of the darn things. It is a lovely dark leaf variety ( I should look it up.) They have taken off and need to be divided again. The deer, however, love them too. Woke me up at 0300 mowing them off outside the bedroom window like a salad bar. I need to rent a dog...

Erin @ The Impatient Gardener said...

Funny that you mention whirlwind. I bought it at a local plant sale a few years ago, dug out of someone's garden, and just stuck it in in a not to great spot. It's not one of my favorite hostas.

Stacy said...

LOL Bee, the deer here just smirk at my dog when he barks at them. It's funny, they trash the same couple of hostas every year and of course every single tulip blossom but leave the rest alone.

Impatient: I curse Whirlwind for three years straight. I had it in a perfect spot and babied it like crazy. The dumb thing still refused to grow. Then one summer it came around and it is now one of my favorites. Now I curse Brenda's Beauty. That hosta is even worse than whirlwind.

Ellie said...

I planted two Paul's Glory four years ago, early morning sun, dappled shade, very good soil, watered, I have not fertilized (lazy) but my plant is hardly larger than it was four years ago. I'm jealous. What have you done to make it so large?

Unknown said...

Wow! very nice. I like your wonderful collection.