It may depend on just how hot it is this summer and how much rain we get. I agree that a longer growing period will lead to better growth, but only if conditions are right.

There is a good reason hosta do so much better and get so much bigger in the north is because of the longer dormency period there.

I really don't think that the length of dormancy has anything to do with how big a Hosta grows. Do you have any evidence of this?

It would seem to make sense that Hostas would grow bigger in those places that have a climate closer to their native climate. That would mean average rainfall closer to 60 to 70 inches, and summer temps that don't burn them out and interrupt the growth cycle. Of course, you can provide supplemental water to make up for the difference in rainfall and full shade to ameliorate the temps.

I doubt that a longer dormancy means bigger Hosta. Certainly there has to be a certain amount of rest that a Hosta gets during winter. However, at some point there must be a diminishing return from the number of days of dormancy. Otherwise we would see the largest Hosta being grown in Zone 3, in Alaska.

A long cool rainy fall followed by a winter with full snow cover would probably be ideal. Sounds like Bernd's climate.

Steve

I have some that are still thinking of waking up. Patriot, Sleeping Beauty, June (she was the last to go dormant in December),and Whirlwind. I have pips so I figured nothing even Florida sunshine can change a dormant period. Waiting on the Devas. Have a great day all, Paula

You are in zone 9, I thought they should be out now. In my zone 5 temperatures still go down to 35, and Patriot and June are still not up, but Whirlwind has large pips now.
Bernd

There was a study in the Hosta Journal years ago that showed the effects of dormancy. MUCH larger, more vigorous plants when they had a good 6 weeks of total sleep. The sun is totally different way up in Alaska and they don't get enough of a growing period to get good roots. Besides, a moose or polar bear would probably eat them first. ;-)

-Babka

Bernd, the three slowest hosta to emerge were the three in the ground here in Mobile. And we are on the same latitude as Jacksonville, just 450 miles further west, and not directly on the ocean/gulf.

I thought my Blue Angel, Winter Snow, and Fragrant Queen (in the ground) were eaten by something, but when they started to come up, the two NON plantaginea types went hog wild. The Fragrant Queen just dallied and still hase about 4 or maybe 5 leaves.

Fragrant Queen in the ground (from PDN) but QUARANTINED

Winter Snow (from Lowes--QUARANTINED)

Blue Angel (from Lowes--QUARANTINED)

Babka,

6 weeks (or 42 days) is about what I would expect. The ground is frozen here in zone 5 from early to mid December through mid to late March (in a typical winter). That's about 14 or 15 weeks. I doubt if I lived in Fort Kent, Maine, which is zone 3b, that my Hostas would be larger, due to the fact that they have 20 weeks of dormancy rather than my 14 weeks. I haven't been to Fort Kent in decades. Maybe I should go back to check out their Hosta.

Steve

42 days was the minumum amount of dormancy recomended in that study.

Jeff White

Steve is correct length of dormancy would have no effect on how large a hosta will get. Rather rain fall amounts in spring and fall along with food will determine such. Rainfall is key in spring and fall as typical monsoon rains occur at this time in their ancestral habitats. Foliar growth does not occur for most during summertime and the next years growth-eyes have already been produced by early summer of the previous year. Other plants native to the region also have similar growth patterns such as Rhododendron. Even US natives mimic this growth pattern Rhodendrons that is.

Scott

Well I will say they do better overall in zones 4 & 5 than 6 & 7 that is well known. And they have longer winters and that makes for a longer dormancy. My fellow hybridizing/seedgrowing friend Jim lives in very northern Minnesota zone 3a and he has 4-6 weeks more winter than me in my Iowa zone 4b and grows his hosta very well. It is a combination of many factors in what determining how well they are going to do, but come late September most are very tired and ready for a nice long nap here and they benefit from it.

Alaska has zones 3,4,& 5 and they do grow hosta there.

Black Hawk Giboshi

Allnitro I do beg to defer on hostas growing better in zones 4&5 rather than 6&7. One most are native to the equivalent of zones 5 through 7 in China, Korea and Japan with a few such as plantaginea growing in lowland areas of Shanghai which is in southern China along the East China Sea and mimics zone 8. Secondly you will find many growers myself included who grow and have grown exceptionally large hostas in zones 6 and 7. The first Sum&Substance I bought over 10 years ago grew to more than 7 foot across before I dug it up and gave it away it was so large and I'm in 6b. Regardless zones 4 and 5 do not produce larger plants due to area. If you find larger plants in those zones when compared to areas in zones 6&7 you have seen it would only be because of better care such as watering and feeding. Alaska has zones up to 7a west of Juneau and south along the coast.

Scott

I think that having the early warm weather will be detrimental in more ways than one. Many hostaphiles will have frost and freeze damage. I also believe that the hosta that have risen early will also be going dormant early. If we have another Summer like last year, things will even be worse.

Last Summer I kept things well watered through the heatwave. I didn't have a single crispy hosta. After the heatwave broke I had some that started to go dormant very early. I attribute it to the stress of the high temps that lasted too long.

I also believe that the drastic changes in the temps this Spring is also having a negative affect on leaf development.

Yes this weekend's frost, after such an early spring was a bummer! The lancifola's which had never been so beautiful... lush, and shiniest I had ever remember seeing them, are now sad sad things. After the frost two of them look like an army of slugs had invaded them in August. A variety of my hosta that had just been pips a the beginning to unfurl.. look like someone chewed on their heads. Some of those that continued to unfurl yesterday have major leaf damage. It appears as if not all the hosta were hit by the frost. Time will tell. I haven't reviewed if there was any damage from last night At least there wasn't any frost on the grass... so I am hopeful my backyard stayed warmer.

I can't say what is the contributing factor in large hosta growth. I know,in my zone 6,the hostas are growing very well. I have seen Janices garden in Ohio,and she has some amazing hostas,as does Van Wade, farther up in Ohio. I don't fertilize,and still the hostas grow well. The only thing different is this year,when it got warm way sooner than in the past,but it remains to be seen if there will be an appreciative difference when this year is done. Now if I can just get thru this current cold spell! Phil

I think one thing we can all agree on...that hostas will grow and flourish under the loving care of a true hostaholic in a wide variety of situations and climates. Banner year? Possibly. But some years are better than others due to circumstances beyond our control..uh, like weather. With hostas growing in such a wide geographic area, someone here will probably have a banner year. Take notes in order to compare this year with next. Or not...and just enjoy 'em while you got 'em.

-Babka

Remember zones are about winter and average low cold - not about spring and summer growing conditions.

and Babka
+1

Paul

Zone 7a here in central Delaware. The climate on this penninsula is moderated considerably by having large bodies of water to the east and west. I think the ground does freeze some winters, but only on the surface. I water, put down compost (and now alfalfa pellets) and that's about it. I am not a hosta fanatic, just a gardener, have been living here 6 years, planted all of the hostas that are now in the yard , which is about 40, so they are all 6 years old or less and I'mn overjoyed with how they perform. A few of the large/jumbo varieties had leaves in excess of 12 inches wide last year. The pip count is good, with Regal Splendor the winner with 26 pips this year, June 23, Thunderbolt 18, Patriot 22, Frances Williams 16. This is of course not scientific, only anecdotal, I've never read a hosta book, but things seem to be humming along nicely here. Maybe it's worth mentioning that the soil is quite acid here.
Happy gardening to all.
Christine

Paul, hardiness zones also indicate how early a spring will be. I.e., Phil in NC has his hostas up much earlier in his zone 7 than I in my zone 5. But two zone 5's (Iowa and NY) will possibly have differences in how much leaves are showing now.
Bernd

Bernd,I am actually in zone6,because of the mountains. Zone7 is the piedmont,and over toward the eastern part of the state. Phil

Phil, sorry, there it shows 6 on the posted line! Bernd

Bernd, I'm also in zone 5 (b), and I've noticed I'm WAYYY ahead of you in terms of leaves showing. I have several hostas that have put up scapes 1-2 weeks ago, although with the cooler temperatures, most haven't broken out into full-blown blooms yet (only Spacious Skies is in full bloom). I am learning a lot about zones and my pre-conceived misconceptions about them this year!
Karen