What colors do you want? With a 3 ft or so wide bed, you will have to stay with a medium. Do you like blues? Do you want fragrance for a couple of weeks a year? Do you want something that reaches up and slaps you in the face or something soothing and calming? Since you are in Minnesota, you can grow hosta well. As long as you water, most hosta will do well in your environment with afternoon sun.

Give us a little more information. There are probably 200 stunning hosta (depending on your taste) in the size category you mention.

(Where is Gesila when you need her?)

bk

You might like what Ruth of Missouri did with Liberty. Search "Landscaping with Liberty" in this forum to see her May 2014 post.

Steve

Put Liberty in the middle.
Put Halcyon + Vulcan on the left
Put Luna Moth + Dancing Queen on the right

That's just me......

If you only want one type of hosta in a medium size then I recommend June. I have a lot of beautiful hostas but visitors always zero in on June. As a bonus, it looks great for a very long season.

ConnieMay

Who knows but what Great Expectations would work in MN.

Well, I have already killed my quota of Great Expectations, but that would look great.

June was my first thought. I don't think I could go wrong with June, but I was curious what suggestions you all had.

I love Liberty and that post is stunning, but wouldn't that be too big?

Bk, I want something that jumps out at you. Something that proves to certain doubters that hosta aren't boring.

Pauls glory is still a favorite of mine!

Sherry

Two stunners to me are:

Seducer
{{gwi:1091628}}

Broadband

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DD

Did you look at the photo of Brother Stephan on the other current thread? Mine is still young, so has not reached anywhere near that beauty. It's listed as 36" wide.

Liberty is too large for your space, as is Paul's Glory.

Seducer is listed as 36" wide. There's not much out there about Broad Band, (not registered) but seems to be widely available from mail order sources. The Hosta Finder says it's a medium. Be aware that the photos are from the hosta library and are not photos of DD's personal plants.

One of my favorites is Lakeside Cindy Cee. It's new this year, so I don't have any great photos.

I've posted a link to some of UK-hostaman's photos. There's several of LS Cindy Cee and one of Seducer. His LS CC was the one that sold me on that plant.

Did you ever stick around for the alphabet? Paula is hosting it at present. She starts it on December 26. She starts with A, and we all post our photos of hosta that start with A (Aphrodite, Ann Kulpa, August Moon). The next day, she does B and so on. You will see actual photos of other people's hosta and maybe find one there that rings your bell.

You're not planning on planting it until spring, anyway, are you?

bk

Here is a link that might be useful: Uk hostaman's hosta

I remember his garden!
Bkay, thank you for the link to uk-hostaman's post!

It's been a while since I've gotten lost in these pics. A wonderful garden room, inspiring for us 'pot-heads' ;-)

Thanks to all of you for the info.

Bk, I'm planning ahead. Its Minnesota, so its already too late for just about anything else. I did notice the Brother Stephan, and since I do have a brother named Steven, that is a thought.

I will enjoy checking out all the other suggestions. I've never even heard of Lakeside Cindy Cee.

Oh wow, what a great link. Those are some beautiful hosta. Lakeside Cindy Cee and Seducer, can't believe I've missed those two. Just gorgeous!

Evermore Steve..... The landscaping with libety is also one of my favorite yards. Ruth , When ever I see the picture I drool over the beautiful front yard arrangement and wish for it myself

All recommendations would work. Then it is personal preference. I really love Lakeside Cindy Cee. It is a good grower for me and it is still look as fresh as it was back in June, without any slug damage in a bed infested with slugs

Another option that is striking and can take a lot of afternoon sun is Touch of class. Here is a picture I took in July, a young plant from Land of Giant. It is still good looking. It is much more upright and not as wide as June.

Next to it is Liberty (bought at a local nursery) and Montana aureomarginata (this year from Land of Giant). Both of them have started to show signs of fall and not super good looking now. But Touch of Class is still as good looking as it was back in July, similar to Hosta June. If the location is a place you want the hostas to stay good all seasons, I would add that into considerations.

Another consideration is that all Haylcon relatives seem to take a lot of sun, slug immune, and do not mind to be left dry for a long time (which is a requirement for me as I travel a lot internationally during the summer for work).

You can't go wrong with any of the recommendations in this thread. Good luck and let us know what you decide.

Vivian

Hi Jamie......June is always a winner, so I concur (whatever that means) with your original choice. You just CAN'T go wrong with that plant. : )

Would work great with the size of your area you have to work with, too.

Don B.

That's a good point vivian. Something that looks good all season is important. You are right about Touch of Class. I added one last year near my front door, and it looks just as good now as it did this spring.

I am thinking Lakeside Cindy Cee, because its one that I don't have already. If it's too expensive, or hard to find next spring, than I think June will be my second choice.

Thanks for all the help. It's nice to think spring when winter is breathing down your neck.

I got my Cindy Cee from Land of the Giants. According to the 2014 hosta finder, Glenbrook, hosta patch, LOTG and O'Brien have it. Land of the Giants is the only one I know anything about.

bk

Thanks bk. I will bookmark this so I can remember where to get it. I appreciate your help.

DD, your Seducer and Broad Band look amazing!

Don B.

P.S. What is the little hosta under Seducer? Thanks.

Sorry if I mislead you, Don. As bkay pointed out, they are photos from the Hosta Library. My Broad Band is just a baby, now, but looking forward to a beautiful plant. My Seducer bombed, but I'm going to replace it and plant it in a better location.

DD

It might get too big for your bed, but take a look at Minnesota Wild. It's got a broad white edge, lots of rippling, and has a fun name for a Minnesotan.

I added one this year, but it's still tiny. Here's a link to a better shot.

Here is a link that might be useful: Minnesota Wild

My smallish-medium standouts this year were Rainbow's End, Remember Me, Grand Prize, Maui Buttercups and Rainforest Sunrise. Gorgeous!

Thanks for reminding me about Minnesota Wild. It probably wouldn't work in that spot, but I will still put it on my list. I've seen it on here before and with that name, I guess I have to have it.

And I will check those out too, esther I am always interested in any hosta someone feels is gorgeous. Thank you!