I may not be an experienced grower yet but I have ordered three time in the fall and when the plants come up in the spring they are that much farther ahead. The root system seems to establish before any frost where I live but then again I am in zone 5
( borderline) and not too sure about zone 8. I have a few of the ones you ordered and really good choices. Another that is one of a bullet proof for me and a beauty is Antioc.
Super Sague sound and looks great and if it grows like my Sague it will be a winner too
Happy planting
Faye

Thanks Faye, That's good to hear, I find it strange that people buy bare rooted plants during the growing season but then I'm only new to party so to speak. my plan is to pot all of them up for the winter and put them under cover while I work the area where they are going ready for spring planting. We have had a couple of slight frosts so far and the forcast is looking mild through November(mild being low teens celcius).

Is that Antioc in your pic?

Hi there, Denis!

We could get a lot of mileage with 'Little Stiffy'! Lol. It deserves it's own thread, don't you think? Lol

You've ordered yourself a nice bunch of hosta! I have four of them: Francee, Guacamole, Krossa Regal and a very handsome Sagae (it leapt this year). I'm in zone 5 so I can't offer any advice re planting now ...but.....my First instinct is to say yes, go for it for the very same reason Faye mentioned and that is to get ahead and get them established in time for spring emergence.. :-).

KR and Sagae both look majestic in the garden with their upright habit. I sometimes like to plant lower mound-shaped hosta in front of them to hide their bare legs, although some gardeners like to see the entire plant in all it's splendour. I like both looks really, I guess....depending on the room I have available.

Congrats on your choice to include a fragrant (Guacamole) hosta as part of your order. You will love it, to be sure! :-)

Denis, you are well on your way...please don't forget to post pics when your lovelies arrive! We'll be waiting, chomping at the bit, lol.

Jo

P.S. Here's a pic of Sagae...boy, do I love this one!

Haaaa! 'Guacamole'! Wonderful choice Denis, just like most of your others, you're gonna enjoy this plant. It's a very great plant that can take a good deal of sun (as long as is watered generously). What I love on 'Guacamole' is that the variegation starts out real mellow and subtle; In muted sun/more shade it stays REALLY subtle, but still pretty. AND still grows up and out just fine. But for more pronounced (My favorite kind) variegation, morning sun and later afternoon sun on the same day is great. Then you certainly could, since you ARE a fair piece North, try 'Guacamole' out in a bit of full sun (not right away, might want to wean it into the sun, bit by bit more over several days, see how it reacts, and of course, never skimping out on the water. I'm just acting like an excited rookie because I have a couple dozen 'Guacamole' plants, and by the end of this growing season, I'm seein how different many look depending on the sun/shade/overall brightness of sunlight being direct or a patch of bright shade, etc...

Much of hosta planting learning is trial and error. Hostas are very forgiving plants, Denis, and if it looks like you may have destroyed one, just keep watering it during the growing season. If a plant is fried from too much direct sun and looks like it might be dead, get that plant to a more shady place, plat it as you would an undamaged one, and water water water. You probably can call this a 'Low Risk/High Reward' re-planting, because hosta are tough like that.

If the roots look nice and good-sized, I'd plant em in earth now. Of course, not if no beds are ready. In that case, you'll probably do OK in pots...That's my ramble for the evening. That is a great order you've gotten together, I personally don't see a 'dog in the bunch' if you get my meaning. Have fun and prosper, Denis. Hostas are supremely FUN!

Experts please feel free to correct me on any erroneous info I may have passed on to Denis. EXCEPT the lighting/sun/shade info for 'Guacamole'. That's all good (Just kidding, that is my own personal experiences, and if they need correcting, then correct away). : )

Enjoy, sir!

Don B.

This post was edited by Don_in_Colorado on Sun, Oct 27, 13 at 2:04

Oh Jo, that sagae is lovely, there is something about it that really appeals to me. I like the bare legs, so sculptural. I plan to plant it close to the edge of my lane where the ground level is near waist high and it would be wonderful to see that close up and mabey some wee mouses at its feet!

Don't worry there will be loads of pics when they arrive, now that I can share the experience with people who don't think i'm "Special" lol.

I will leave little stiffy in your hands if you want to start a thread ;-)

You really like Guacamole don't you Don! your enthusiasm is infectious.

No shortage of water here this is Ireland after all ! I havn't managed to kill one yet, I have a division of elegans in full sun and is doing fine it's saving grace is the good moisture in the soil and it stayed blue. I have a Patriot in too much sun for it and the white edges fried in our few days of 30. C this july so she needs moving, yes they are very forgiving bless em.
Glad you don't see a dog amongst them(I must be learning!) this will bring me up to 38 woo hoo!

Thanks for the Guacamole tips you really know your avocados!

Lol...lol...lol...

Hi Everyone!

I am gonna make my appearance. I have been lurking for a while now. You have ALL been very entertaining! I have enjoyed all the knowledge you have provided. Thank you!

I have a love for the fragrant hostas also. It started with Royal Standard, then I got a Guacamole. G has bloomed until November every year--think this is year 4 now. My neighbors love what I have done to the yard--but probably think I am nuts walking around my yard August til November, sniffing my flowers! Bought Fragrant Bouquet & So Sweet last year. Avocado this year.

Yes, I did get caught up in the Hosta Library Auction this year. I got 11 new plants! Then, I went to an end of year sale at 60% off at K & K Gardens, leaving with 9 more!

Here is a picture of 2 Guacamole(had to have another one), Great Expectations is in the middle, hiding under the ugly fern. Taken 6/28/13.

Welcome, Terri. That's a beautiful pic; I love what you've done with your yard, too!

Regards,
Don B.

Good to hear from you Terri! I lurked for ages before jumping in.

At first glance I thought your "ugly fern" was a small Sago palm...I thought we had another subtropical hosta garden in our midst. :) Look forward to hearing from you more!

MountainMan, enjoy your new arrivals. I'm sure they'll do great in pots or in the ground. I have a "temporary" planting bed that I cobbled together until I have more beds prepped. I also have quite a few ready to overwinter in pots. So far, so good!

Denis, this isn't my pic, but yeah, 'Antioch' I think is the plant in Faye's pic. Great plant, can get quite large, very tough. Oldie but a goodie. Inexpensive.

Don B.

I have four of the hosta on your list and each of them are real performers here with little maintenance. I think you're gonna be happy with these:

In this pic from last spring, Sagae is on the left (shortly after its transplant), upriight Krossa Regal is in the center with Guacamole to its right.

Paul's Glory is a strong grower with great staying power as this early October photo illustrates..

MM, I have a Francee, Guacamole, Krossa Regal, Paul's Glory
Pineapple upsidedown Cake, and Stilletto. I have had Francee the longest. It is tough as nails. Here it is in full sun. It used to be in shade, then the neighbors remove a row of trees. There is a 12 inch ruler to let you know how big it gets.
Happy Planting, Beverly

Yeah, Francee is as tough as nails and it looks good all summer. She also does well in a pot. I also have Guacamole and Paul's Glory. They've done well in zone 8 and in a pot..

bk

Really nice pictures guys, I like to see how different people arrange their hosta.

Guacamole seems to be really popular with you guys, Is it because its fragrant? I have to admit that was not the reason I ordered it , I liked it for the subtle variegation it seems to show in deeper shade but as Don says above I must try it in a few different positions. I have yet to smell a fragrant hosta so am waiting and willing to be enlightened.

Is there much of a difference between Francee and Antioch?

Harry, Beverly and BKay...Great pics!

Don B.

I bought Guacamole for the color and gloss of the leaves. Being one of the first hostas I bought--daylilies were my plant of choice--I FELL IN LOVE when it bloomed! Not only was the flower beautiful--white with a purplish iridescence, but it just smelled heavenly!

Terri

Sounds nice Terri, you sell it well, I can't wait for spring.

Welcome, Terri! And Denis, congrats! Nice order! I have all of your choices except for Pineapple Upsidedown Cake and Stiletto. I've had Guacamole for three yrs, beside a bench in one garden, but don't usually get around to sitting there, so never noticed the fragrance. However, this summer I was at a local co-op and stopped in my tracks trying to discern the ambrosial scent. I smelled everything near where I was standing, finally the only left was the G. I thought, come on, it can't be the hosta. Wrong! Wow, it is a treat. KR, love the vase shaped, upright form, and this one gets TALL scapes - I've seen over 48'' high in a 1gallon pot! This was my 2nd yr for Sagae - it went from about 4 leaves last year to to a 30" wide clump this year. And Ivory Coast is lovely, form similar to S, but margins much brighter gold in spring, lovely. All nice choices, have fun with them.

I have all of those except for Ivory Coast.

Francee and stiletto are slight under-performers for me ...
but I had a friend across town that had no problems with them.

The rest are magnificent. Krossa Regan may take a bit of time, but it should get quite large eventually. I am quite fond of Sagae too

Nice choices!

dave

I bought 'Guacamole' for it's beautiful variegation. Later I learned that it's flowers were fragrant. I love the looks of almost all the fragrant varieties I've discovered; The fragrance, to me, is just a very nice bonus.

Don B.

Thanks Don.

That picture reminds me that a big hosta must be respected. Sagae, Big Daddy (foreground) and the young Lakeside Beach Captain were all transplanted last spring.

This fall I have had to move June who is being crowded out by Guacamole and Krossa as well as Lakeside Beach Captain. Plus the rock, the Mountain Laurel next to the rock and a fern which is behind Krossa. The Huechera won't be far behind.

There are some big hosta on that list. Give them some room!

Mountain Man,I have all of those,except Ivory Coast. All of them are good choices.Everyone's right,Francee is almost impossible to kill. I have three of them. Here is a pic of my Sagae from spring of this year. Mine has only four eyes,but the size of the plant,and leaves,more than make up for it! Phil

gardens1, Guacamole's scent sounds powerful, Sagae seems to be a good grower, I just had to have Ivory coast when I saw many many pics of it.

Dave, ya krossa regal seems to be a bit of a slow developer but worth the wait I guess,

Don, same as, I didn't know it was fragrant till you said so, major bonus.

harryshoe, I will make sure to give the big guys plenty of room to strut!

Phill, very nice sagae, with only four eyes it has a presence already, I like your jade pot behind too.

Oh mercy, HarryShoe, that Krossa Regal is SUPERB. I did not realize it would stand up so tall like that. Mine was new this year, and it was okay, but I'm hoping it winds up looking like yours.

And Denis, I could just see Don swelling with pride that you are another fan of HIS Guacamole favorite. Indeed, they have more than fragrance to recommend them.

Denis, you made some great selections from Fransen. I do not have Stiletto or Ivory, but it seems the others are all familiar.

This thread is so new, but it is already lengthy and full of snap and energy. Don't guess the forum is close to winding down yet. Sorry that I've been a bit absentminded, I have so much on my mind right now, with appliances going kaput, and the contractor ready to get the building permit and such. Which means I'll have to corral my hosta to protect them from workers and building materials. Gosh, next spring is going to be beautiful around here! I know it will be also at your place, Denis.

moccasinlanding, Yes my choices seem to have passed muster with the great and good of the forum, phew!

Its good to see the enthusiasm here still even though most of our brood are settling down for their winter sleep, roll on spring, am so looking forward to getting mine in the ground.

Today between the downpours and wind I rescued a couple of hosta from where my new bed is going, Ventricosa and Great Expectations, they have been in a couple of years and have done virtually nothing as the soil is compact and poor in nutrients and a bit wet, have potted them up so I can tackle the area.

I hope your building work goes smoothly and that the workers respect your garden.

Spring will be fabulous, photos will be posted, all will be right with the world! Amen. :-)

Mountain man, I agree with your selection, have all of those. These are well growing plants and will make little trouble. In respect to fragrant hostas, I have planted them in sunny spots where others burned, in the front of my house. So neighbors and passersby see me older guy sniff those Guacamole, Avocado, Fried Bananas, Holy Mole, Fragrant Bouquet and Fragrant Dream. My h.'Ivory Coast' loves it under a downspout. Bernd

Bernd, at least you can bend over to smell your fragrant hosta. Sigh....Hard to get down on the knees at this time of life, which makes POTS a good thing to use. And pedestals.

I did not realize until today that I have hosta pictures still in my camera from Oct 11, which seems so distant in time now....but some of my best babies are flourishing still....like Paradise Island is more vigorous today than it was in August. I suppose that means their roots are going crazy with growth, anticipating the big sleep.

Hope there is a big sleep.

Did I mention that I pre-ordered from Naylor to get their great discount? That let me afford some of the more expensive offerings, including some of the newer fragrant ones. I knew I needed one (in limited supply) quickly before they were all gone....another order will follow before Christmas, you can count on it.

My order from Naylor includes:
Erotica
Stargate (my second one, from a different source, fragrant), The Sweetest Thing (fragrant)
Parthenon (sport of Athena, fragrant)
Bamse (looked good to me, named for a dog)
Irish Eyes (for my hazel eyed DH)

And if you get the Naylor mailings, they use a HOSTA STAMP as US postage. :)

I got an email from fransens today, they are on their way ! Battling their way through the storm from the land of the tulip to the land of the shamrock, getting over excited now !

Lovely Ivory coast Bernd, Ireland is under a downspout so it will be very happy, are those primroses underneath?

moccasinlanding, Erotica, The sweetest thing and Bamse seem to be missing from the hosta library are they very new?
Glad you got a good discount, nice touch with the hosta stamp.

Mocc,

I've met Bamse at Mason Hollow. He's a very large Bernese Mountain Dog that greets visitors.

Steve

Denis, thanks for the heads up about no pictures in the Hosta Library. Perhaps soon someone with a grown clump can help there. Yes, they are very new. Erotica comes from Europe, might check the Fransen website for a picture. Or, look at the Naylor Creek website, which is updated for 2014 already.

And Steve, I had no idea it originated at Mason Hollow. Bamse and the hosta both. Some of my favorite hosta came from MasonHollow in 2012, like Smooth Sailing, Hoosier Harmony, August Moon, Midas Touch, Clear Fork River Valley, Sugar And Cream, Invincible Spirit, Spinach Souffle, Gold Standard, My Friend Nancy, and White Dove. Never a moment's trouble with any of them, so I hope Bamse from Naylor is fine too. MasonHollow offers some of their plants in 2 gallon size, and the more mature plants have worked great for me.

'Big Daddy' is a nice strapping blue with great substance, corrugation and beautifully-cupped leaves. Not expensive, either. : )

Here To Help,
Don B.