Yes, location within the state. Flagstaff gets lots of snow, enough for skiiers, and hosta dormancy. ;-)

-Babka

That is indeed surprising!!!

Yeah the higher elevation parts of Arizona would probably be hospitable to hosta. But not most of Arizona. I wonder if they sometimes grow them as container annuals the way we might grow things here that are perennial there.

Would hostas survive 110 degrees in the shade, if watered daily? Doesn't seem likely.

I spent some portion of my gardening life trying to "fit a square peg into round hole" when moving from traditional sunny gardens to shady gardens... Even if one able to grow some of the plants they just never look good or right.... too much energy spent

well .. who knew ... someone with actual experience ...

whats your elevation nan??? .. do you think that is the key here???? [wiki says 5000 feet.. i have no clue what that means..... other than the obvious ...]

ken

We're about 5200 ft in elevation, considered high desert, Flagstaff is about 7200ft and Phoenix is less than 1000. We are listed as a Zone 6 or so but can push it and grow some plants listed as 7. I have had winters that have gone into single digits so I usually try to grow plants that are Zone 5or 6 I have lots of trees for shade and do water a lot. I have brought hostas, daylilies, iris and peonies with me from Chicago and they do fine. I think the key is doing your homework, compost, mulch (not stone!!) and water, oh and a little love.

I see a LOT of hours of love in those photos.

-Babka

Beautiful garden comprised of beautiful plants. I really enjoyed your photos, thank you.

Is that a Rainbow's End in the foreground in the first picture?

Thank you,

That's Cherry Berry in the first picture, Rainbow's End is in the second picture in front of the fountain, kind of hard to see.

Beautiful pictures, chi2aznan! I love the way you have the minis displayed and I see some other really interesting embellishments. I'd love to see more!

The elevation here in Arvada is about the same, but probably a bit less "dry". I'd never expect to hear myself saying that since it's horribly dry here.

Thank you, Chi. I did not recognize Cherry Berry! I had one but not long enough for it to mature into the rounder leaves. RE has all those stripes so I assumed that is what it was perhaps. I'm going to the Hosta Library to look up photos of the various cB's... :-)

Edited to add:. The Library photos all show longer, narrow leaves on Cherry Berry. Yours are quite unusual in comparison. A lovely plant nevertheless.

Just my opinion but I think you have the names confused.

Looks more like Cherry Berry in front of the Fountain and Rainbow's End in the first picture.

Dave

you can confirm cherry berry by the cherry color of its scapes ... ken

Esther, hosta do fine in just fine in 105 degrees as long as they are in shade and get plenty of water. I think most days have been over 100 since early June. It's been unusually hot, even for Texas. It could well be 110 before August is over. So, I may know for sure by fall whether hosta can survive it.

bkay

Well you definitely got me wondering looking at the pictures in the Hosta library, but the thing is they were bought several years apart. I got Rainbows End last year through Hallsons and I picked up Cherry Berry about 3or 4 years ago at a local nursery. I know plants do get labeled wrong, but both these would have had to been mislabeled years apart. There is no chance I mixed up the tags since they are in different areas and the CB tag has been on it since it was planted. I put the tags in when they are planted to keep track. Some of my older (10 yr or so) plants I had to go back and figure it out. I still am not exactly sure between my Blue Angel and Blue Mammoth, but CB and RE are labeled from the places they came from. Interesting to see how they will mature.

I'd had both plants and RE is almost phoney, plasticy in look and feel. Very shiny.

Cherry Berry is smaller and not shiny and more elongated leaves and those red colored petioles.

Can you take some closer photos with a pen or beer can right next to the leaves for size?

-Babka