I have a couple of September Suns that are three years old. They have been so-so growers for me. My Paradigm is two years old. The color is better, but it is also on the slow side. It is in the creep year, but not fast by any means. These are container plants, but I would probably try SS in the ground because Paradigm will make a stunning potted plant.

Babka,

You're in 8, so to maximize the potential of a plant in the ground you should have the following:

1. A plant with the largest root system you can get.
2. Lots of water (maybe drip irrigation)
2. Full shade or high dappled shade
3. Lots of water
4. Loamy soil, with lots of organic matter
5. Did I mention lots of water?

I would go with the So Sweet that is larger. It will have a better chance of thriving. Root competition will be too much for a baby plant. My guess is that once you baby these plants for a few years they will thrive on their own. In fact you may want to grow Paradigm and/or September Sun in pots until they are large enough to go into the soil. Even people here in the Great White North do that.

Remember you are pushing the envelope in Texas zone 8, so you have to have all other conditions to be optimum. Given that I think it will work.

Steve

Oops, Steve. I think you meant that message for Bkay in Texas. I am (Babka) in Zone 9, bay area, south of San Francisco, and don't grow any hostas in the ground.

-Babka

Mea Culpa, Babka.

Thanks guys. I hadn't thought about growing the September Sun and Paradigm out in a pot until they get a little bigger and stronger. I'm going to try some of my bigger pots out there to see how the colors look. I don't have any yellow/gold except Sum and Substance. Maybe that would work better - to plant one of my already big ones in that spot.

Thanks again.

bkay

I have S. Sun and Paradigm, Paradigm is a bigger plant. I would vote for putting Paradigm in the ground where it can flourish and put down those big roots, pot up September Sun.
Good idea on separating the So Sweet and replanting, btw it looks pretty good for going through a hailstorm!