Sun Power and Montana Aureomarginata are two obvious selections.

"So...what else makes you want a closer look from 30 feet away?"

Poor eye-sight?? Sorry about that, Linda!

Good question and I think Cutting Edge is one as well as Sea Gulf Stream and Jimmy Crack Corn
and Sunpower! I love those ruffles and just have to get a closer look and feel! Also, Lady Isobel Barnett,
Summer Breeze and Earth Angel begs a closer look in my yard!

I can't tell you how difficult it was, to not put those ""'s around those names!!! Arrggggh

janice

LIBERTY!

Invincible, Blue Mammoth, Blue Angel, Abiqua Drinking Gourd, Niagara Falls, Jade Cascade, Alex Summers, Spring Fling, Whirlwind....

Big Daddy is a show stopper in my yard...beautiful texture to the leaves and a great blue color. Also, Fire and Ice is having a difficult time this year due to tree roots and the roofing contractor but it was incredible last year.

From 30 feet could you tell a difference between Blue Mammoth, Blue Angel, a small Elegans and a host of other big blues...including Big Momma and Big Daddy?
Or jopw different is Montana AM from Sagae? And how about Sun Power? From 30 feet could you tell it from August Moon?
See ya....I am heading to the Hosta Library to look up Jade cascade, Niagra falls Spring fling, Liberty and a few others....

I think the much maligned Frances Williams is also an eye-catcher at any distance!

janice

Montana AM and Sun Power are pretty easy to tell apart and from Sagae or August Moon. The first two are two of the most distinctive and beautiful hostas in the landscape. Sagae is sometimes confused with Regal Splendor.

I have Sagae and Regal Splendor pretty much side by side....both are spectacular...but Sagae about trice the "pow" factor.
I agree.... FW is an eye catcher.

Jade Cascade, I second that one!
Tidewater...new for me..WOW.
Krossa Regal
FW
Sea Fire
Montana Macrophylla
Mont. AM
Praying Hands
Bridegroom

Lakeside Shore Master really stands out.

I can easily differentiate between Blue Mammoth, Blue Angel, Elegans and Big Daddy because of their difference in color, texture and leaf shape. Elegans for instance is more of a green color compared to Blue Mammoth with a much soft blue color.

Papou

Could it be that just because we know our own hostas in our own yards we think we would be able to spot the same hostas in another yard. Not always true for me!

I have mostly older varieties and when it comes to the new introductions of the last 5 to 7 years I am not as sure about recognizing them elsewhere.

If I spot a "beauty" from afar it draws me closer to really inspect it!!

Thats what all the tags we use are for!!!

Connie

Papou, want to visit? I have some big blues I can't identify but love too much. It drives me crazy, because I trade.

I love 'Patriot' and 'Wolverine' with their strong whites. 'White Christmas' should fill that bill, but eh. So far, pathetic slug food.

I love my 'Yellow River', which is very Sagae-like, but so far, taller and more dignified.

Some of the yellows, like 'Chinese Sunrise', 'Wagon Gold', 'Kabitan'. janice, I, too, find the 'Francis Williams' and 'Francee' fitting this rule. My 'Lancifolia' is gorgeous and kind of waves in breezes.

Sometimes, the big, dark colored ones could be justified as exemptions to the 30' rule when they're used to frame more vibrant hosta, don't you think? After all, the show-stoppers wouldn't be anything without the right backdrop. :)

I have to think about that rule. Perhaps I should try to apply it to my heuchera/tiarella/heucherella collections. I've just recently gotten into shrubs and the rule, before I knew there was one, definitely applies. Gotta be unique.

Oh! 'Shade Fanfare' is beautiful, too. I'm loving Ester_Opal's 'Gold Regal...'

I, too, speak in elipses. [LOL]

Christine