Replace a large Komodo Dragon? I...I don't understand.

She wants something to impress people.

IMO a large Komodo Dragon will impress the right people.

My garden is for me- impressing other people isn't even on my radar.

Try Victory

Linda, you have two very different hostas planted at each side of a walking bridge. Naturally the most colorful draws attention and different hostas are very unbalanced in this situation. The only answer is another Liberty or another Komodo Dragon to present a balanced entrance. My choice would be another Liberty and find another spot for the Dragon where it can stand alone without any distraction. Jon

At present time Komodo is not going anywhere.

Ken, this is one magnificent specimen!

Mine is about 6 year old and I like it enough to keep it. What it does not do is balance out brightness and boldness of Liberty so from symmetry standpoint it looks very lopsided due to being placed on sides of the bridge. Liberty ends up being central point and attention getter...

Jon, am coming to same conclusion however space being premium duplicating Liberty sounds depressing lol

Gary, I was looking at Victory but methinks any hosta with same variegation will end up margin visual comparison. Something opposite but just as bright providing leaves have same upright holding pattern?

go all kermit on it ... ken

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRZ-IxZ46ng

Ken, LOL. Yes, being all green is tough

How about a Sagae??? It is after all...all in the family? Sagae has enough presence (as does KD) to shine on its own. The similarities in leaf size would be the draw, maybe? I think dividing your Liberty might be an easy solution but I get your rationale. Key West also might fit the bill - your criteria - and has enough Pow to compete with Liberty perhaps? Designers tend to repeat same plantings on sides of bridges/columns/entries with good reason - most folks are drawn to symmetry. My two cents...

This is why I mentioned Victory.

It will be difficult to find something to "balance Liberty" in my opinion. Liberty has been in the top 3 of the AHS Popularity Poll since 2008. And that is for good reason. I like Jon's idea of growing another Liberty in place of Komodo Dragon.

"however space being premium duplicating Liberty sounds depressing lol" I understand about your space being at a premium as I have that problem too. But most of the hosta that I love, I have duplicates of! You could try something different like---Majesty, Ivory Coast or Clifford's Forest Fire---which are look alikes of Liberty. That way you would have something different, but very similar to Liberty. I agree with Jo that symmetry is the way to go for your bridge. But you need to be happy with your choices.

How 'bout a nice yellow/gold? Sun Power, for example...

If you want another variegated, try Goodness Gracious, Earth Angel, Atlantis or Montana Aureomarginata.

Thank you much for suggestions!

I do have some of those hostas mentioned above, Earth angel, Atlantis, Angle falls so it is cool to think of possibilities.

Victory looks surprisingly good! I was thinking that coloring has to be opposed in order not to put visual pressure on the margins but it works...

I got this year Ivory Coast and and Magic fire/ is this similar to Cliffird Forest fire? We will see next year how they show off.

Komodo looking great though

Bought last year and spent last summer in a pot. I think 2 Ivory Coasts flanking the bridge would be an excellent choice.

-Jon

That is one gorgeous plant. Did it overwinter in the pot as well?

No Linda, when winter was coming I just dug out a hole, mixed in the extra potting soil reserving a ball of soil so it never knew it was moved. Thank you.