Not being limited for space I collect whatever I like the look of.

Consequently I have over 600 different with the total rising annually.

At present Lakesides, Valley's and streaked are at the top of the list.

Dave

I have limited city space but have many different varieties. I try to collect hostas that I don't already have so everywhere in my front and back garden that you look you will see something different. I am particularly fond of fragrant hostas and love blu as well as variegated varieties. Two of my favorite hostas purchased this year are Rainbows End and Royal Wedding.

I’m in year eight of a ten year garden renovation. I buy what looks fabulous to me, then try to figure out where I can showcase it in the yard.

I buy what I like. Sometimes I try to figure out what would look good in an empty space. Sometimes I go by reputation. Doesn't everyone need: June, Sagae, Guacamole ... I go through phases. Initially, my wife said she didn't like the blues, so I didn't buy very many. But I love them, so then I was focused on anything with blue ruffles, especially if it was upright. I try to stay away from very large Hosta as they take up more space. This past year, I've been buying more solid greens and yellows focusing on leaf shape and plant structure. Also, I've become much more aware of the hybridizer. Anything by Doug Beilstein usually gets snapped up or anything from someone who posts on this forum. Plus, I want to make my own, so I'm grabbing streakers as I can, but now that I've gotten more than a few, I may become more selective.

I have a bit of a problem as I like many more hostas than I can afford to have. How do you eliminate hostas from your list of wants?

First by discounting them as I have a similar one. Then by size if it's too big. Then by price. Then I find something else I like better. Then I just spend too much $$$.

I collect those that are pretty and have good substance, good flowers and hold up well throughout the year. I am trying to cull out the others to make space for new. I like a really nice mounding hosta which is hard to come by given how hybridizers grow their seedlings.

Name some of those Beverly...sounds like what I look for also

Beverly, I like your approach! I think good substance will be very important to me as good substance equals to slug proof in my book.Not that one should not attempt to control slug population but am living in real time here, there will be slugs in my garden.

Good substance will also help with staying power well into the fall. Thus like Dave I too like Lakesides a lot and collected quite a few by now. Have few of Valley's as US seems to be not well introduced to them...

I am interested to hear about hybridizes and mounding hosts habits? I like good shape on a plant.

Steve, I hear you on being similar. Am thinking if I can not ID hosta by distinction maybe it is not worth collecting? Otoh some characteristics do not develop till later at mature stage....

Now that I’m a couple more years into this hosta thing, I’m appreciating the leaf substance factor too. Since I have quite a bit of sun, I’ve noticed that some plants which are reputed to be sun-tolerant (and indeed are sun-tolerant), but which have a thinner leaf, look absolutely terrible by mid-summer. In my yard, that is. For example: Lemon Lime and Winter Snow. Even with lots of water, a bit of maturity, and some protection, they seem to fry. So, going forward, I plan to consider substance more carefully when purchasing. Those with thicker leaves- like Tick Tock, Gold Drop... no problem!

And, as the others said... with limited space and budget, I’m trying not to get too many that look very similar.

I have Dancing queen that looks great in the spring and before I lost a tree. Now it is the first to fry and to look bad.