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randeld

New hosta bed

17 years ago

I am starting a new hosta bed. I already have:

Dancing in the Rain

Dick Ward

Earth Angle

Fantabolois

Grand Prize

Guardian Angel

Minute Man

Montana aureomarginata

Night Before Christman

Paul's Glory

Tokudama Aureonbulsa

Tokudama Flavorcircinalis

Yin

I am planning to head to Kansas City this coming weekend to Made in the Shade Gardens to buy a few hostas for this bed. I need to call them yet to see if they will be around.

Please give me some advice on my list of hostas to choose from. How many do I want/need to round out my bed? All of them! Are there some I should possible cross of the list because of difficulty to grow? I have some experiance but do not care to spend time or money on a plant that is extra hard to grow. Maybe I could narrow the list because two are so alike?

The area of this new bed will receive about 5 hours of morning sun.

Here is the list I am considering:

Atlantis

Blue Angel

Blue Mouse Ears

Fire & Ice

First Frost

Formal Attire

Fragrant Blue

Frances Williams

Frosted Mouse Ears

Gold Standard

Great Expectations

Guacamole

Halcyon

Loyalist

Magic Fire

Majesty

Niagare Falls

On Stage

Prange Marmalade

Patriot

Popcorn

Queen Josephine

Regal Splendor

Sagea

Stain Glass

Sun & Substance

Thunder Bolt

Vulcan

Whirwind

Thank you for your advice

Maybe, there is one on the list that is hard to grow that should be replace with another not on the list.

Thanks Again

Randy

Comments (3)

  • 17 years ago

    Ok, that's a LOT of hosta to start with. I'm assuming this "new bed" is nothing short of HUGE... Please post a pic!
    My opnions are to stay away from Fire and Ice. I, like others have bought and lost 3. I will not spend money on another one. I have better luck with Dancing in the Rain.

    On the rest of your list:
    Atlantis-I don't have it
    Blue Angel-neutral
    Blue Mouse Ears-I'm not a fan of minis, but it's cute
    First Frost-very nice!
    Formal Attire-I don't have it
    Frances Williams-burns very easily in the spring and doesn't recover
    Frosted Mouse Ears-super cute, but I am not a fan of mini's
    Gold Standard-a great choice
    Great Expectations-hard to grow
    Guacamole-neutral.... it's just kinda there
    Halcyon-LOVE LOVE LOVE! MUST HAVE!
    Loyalist-neutral
    Magic Fire-don't know
    Majesty-don't know
    Niagare Falls-gorgeous when mature. Mine majorly declined this year.
    On Stage-MUST HAVE. In fact, buy 2! LOVE
    Prange Marmalade--Orange Marmalade is a great hosta but is a bit finicky... however you will not find another hosta to compare to the orangish tone.
    Patriot-neutral
    Popcorn-lost mine this year
    Queen Josephine-not a great grower for me
    Regal Splendor-must have!
    Sagea-Sagae is a MUST HAVE!
    Stain Glass-MUST HAVE
    Sun & Substance-SuM and Substance is a great hosta and does even better when given lots of sun & water!
    Thunder Bolt-can be picky, but is super cool!
    Vulcan-I don't have it
    Whirwind-VERY cool!

    Here are a few that I would also add to your list:
    June-everyone who walks thru my garden comments on June being amongst their faves!
    Paul's Glory-I almost always want to buy another one
    St. Paul-LOVE this companion to Paul's Glory. Interesting variegation.
    El Niño--this is probably one of my absolute fav's--the most amazing powdery blue!

  • 17 years ago

    Here are my comments on the hosta that I have experience with. Wow, what fun you must be having.

    Blue Angel - big and beautiful
    Blue Mouse Ears - we all love this one
    Fire & Ice - I've heard this one is difficult
    First Frost - Very nice; needs some sun or the margin stays yellow
    Fragrant Blue - lovely, aqua-blue
    Frances Williams - one I would skip; I hear Olive Bailey Langdon is a better choice
    Gold Standard - a great hosta; fast multiplier
    Great Expectations - grows well for me in full shade; I hear others have trouble with it
    Guacamole - tolerates lots of sun; fragrant flowers
    Halcyon - a must-have
    Loyalist - my performs poorly; I'd skip this one
    Niagara Falls - a great green hosta
    On Stage - I love it.
    Orange Marmalade - Very nice
    Patriot - Good grower
    Popcorn - Just bought this one
    Queen Josephine - So shiny and still beautiful in August
    Regal Splendor - a fantastic must-have hosta
    Sagae - another must-have hosta
    Stained Glass - tolerates a lot of sun; fragrant flowers
    Sum & Substance - leave it a lot of room to grow
    Thunderbolt - slow, but unusual
    Whirwind - slow grower for me, but really beautiful

    I second Melissa's suggestion about June. You could also use some yellow hosta - Daybreak performs well, or Piedmont Gold or King Tut. One of the Striptease family might be fun - Striptease, Kiwi Full Monty, Risky Business all are great growers for me.

    Enjoy your new garden. Lois

  • 17 years ago

    Here are a few thoughts based on my experience with these plants. Good luck. Tim

    Atlantis - vigorous and beautiful
    Blue Angel - slow but very nice
    Blue Mouse Ears - love it
    Fire & Ice - poor grower for most
    First Frost - nice plant
    Formal Attire - ok
    Fragrant Blue - ok
    Frances Williams - burns easily better options available
    Frosted Mouse Ears - don't have
    Gold Standard - oldie but goodie
    Great Expectations - great disappointment - poor grower
    Guacamole - vigorous and sun tolerant
    Halcyon - a real beauty
    Loyalist - poor grower
    Magic Fire - don't have
    Majesty -don't have
    Niagare Falls - very nice
    On Stage - very nice
    Orange Marmalade - nice plant
    Patriot - good plant
    Popcorn - very nice
    Queen Josephine - nothing special
    Regal Splendor - oldie but goodie
    Sagea - must have
    Stain Glass - vigorous and colorful
    Sun & Substance - can't do without it
    Thunder Bolt - very good grower for me
    Vulcan - don't have
    Whirwind - oldie but goodie