Keeping the tags and making a list is good. When you start getting so many in the garden a bubble diagram of your beds is an excellent way to keep track. You can either put numbers in the bubbles and have a corresponding list or simply write the name in each bubble.

I keep a list of all my hostas and heucheras on my computer. Each one has an aluminum I.D. tag next to it on an aluminum stake in the garden. I realize this would be cumbersome for those of you who have dozens of hostas, but for my few dozen, it works fine for me.

spreadsheet .. like excel ... and pix ... with file names changed to the hosta name plus pic date ...

garden art .. or the old standards.. with pix of multiple hosta can help .. e.g you will always know your sum and substance ...... so you might be able to ID the plants around it by reference ...

also.. a properly labeled reference bed wouldnt hurt.. as you spread divisions around the yard ... and in this bed.. i would use zinc standards with brothers ptouch labels ... there should be many old posts about that ....

ken

Take photo, number the plants, record names below. i found this idea on Hallson forum. Works for me! Edited To remove section where I repeated myself!

Also have a spreadsheet: hosta name, date purchased, nursery, price, #of pips when purchased, size. Because winters are long I have time to make a page for each hosta.: photo, (plant, leaf, flower) some info, garden location, #of pips each year. Also hand drawn map. Also list of all Hostas. when that's all done I make lists of Hostas I need. At least I don't talk to my Hostas...until the spring that is!

I saw a cool tip for all those tags. Punch a hole in them and put on a key ring. One way to keep them all together. I use an Excel spreadsheet where I keep a list that includes the name and the year acquired (or demised). Then I use labels at the plants themselves. I've been using garden markers that I bought online from Idealgardenmarkers but I see their page is currently not working. You can see pictures of them though if you google. I have some other markers that I use as well. I like the idea of a picture map too!

Excel spreadsheet.....other than that, I know every spot and name in my head

I have posted about the aluminum I.D. tags I use. They are laser engraved pet tags I get online at https://www.pettags4less.com. I usually buy their "extra large circle" with a loop attached to it. I buy aluminum tent stakes (I like the Coughlin ones) to mount them on. And I use Chicago screws, the new little ones, as a perfect, neat, weatherproof way to mount the tags onto the tent stakes so that they do not twist to the back or anything. I use a Microsoft Word document table to list all my hostas and heucheras.

Jerry Hadrava (Rosedale hostas) gave me the best tip for keeping things permanently labeled. Every time you plant a new hosta, write in PENCIL the name of the variety on a plastic label (the 4 inch or 6 inch by 1/2 inch ones work fine), dig your planting hole, and drop in the label, then plant the hosta on top of it. If all the above ground labeling gets lost, and you can't remember what the plant is, you still have an option of prying the plant up on one side and checking the underground label.

Jerry used this for hostas, daylilies, and Siberian iris. The pencil will last a very long time underground, whereas a grease pencil or permanent marker will degrade and become unreadable.

I find it is also helpful to use the plastic photo tag that comes with the hosta, but push it almost completely into the ground, so only the very top shows. This prevents much of the breakage and raking up that wreaks havoc with labels.

i also used a good old fashioned clipboard ... and drew maps .... random decorative rocks and garden art.. help as static points to work off ...

and yes.. the carbon pencil lead has a half life of a bazillion years ... and back in the day.. i used to garbage pick white mini blinds .... for free tags ... of course now.. you can probably buy them at big box for a couple bucks ... and when i made such tags.... they always went directly behind the plant.. from the viewing point ... so i had a basic idea where the tag should be ... and the trick was.. the written part underground.. to avoid uv issues ...

ken

I have a computer list, also all 40 are committed to memory. When I start to have memory lapses, I'll know I'm getting senile. :)

Ken, thanks for the tip, "underground". I've used and still do use the venetian blind pieces but have to renew the writing at least every year. i also use magic marker which is probably not a good choice. For display i like painted rocks but they have a lot of drawbacks too.

Donna, I once thought i would remember them all but my senility set in early.

Ah-haaaa Pencil! So simple easy, yet I did not consider it. I was also renewing writing annually because I used a black sharpie and then the next year a thicker black sharpie marker.

Thankfully I learned from previous years posts about mapping the gardens for reference...

Thanks for the underground/tuck mostly into the ground tips.

An old saying, The worst pencil is better than the best memory.

My best advice is keep up with it. Keep what is easy for you, like keep markers and tags handy. Have a special box or bag or something to keep all your notes in one place. That way, even if you just quickly scribble something down with a note and throw it in the box as you walk in the house, it will be there for when you have more time.

I use a very detailed Excel spreadsheet that has every plant ever bought, date, source, price, picture numbers, etc. Also pictures taken every couple years (sometimes groups, sometimes individual). I use MS Publisher to create maps with N/S/E/W directing and landmark items.

You could also buy 3x5 index cards and write up one per hosta. Keep them in a recipe box. That way they are easily sorted/replaced etc. You could buy an address book that has the alphabetic dividers and ringed pages that you can use one page per hosta. Add/replace pages to easily update.

Here is the best garden pen I have found. https://www.dpind.com/productcart/pc/Garden-Pen-0-8mm-tip-3-Pack-p161.htm

I hate to admit it, but I just read all the tags. Great selections! At that price on June, I hope you bought 10. Best hosta ever.

For the past couple years, I have been making labels using a P-touch labeler with their "Xtra strength" label tape. It's holding up very well stuck to just about anything.

I starting tagging my plants with Esther's tag system. I do like these tags but it will take a while to convert all my tags. I also keep an Excel file with all my hostas. I struggle with finding all the information to put in this file it would be nice to look in one location. I like to have height, width, sun tolerance, slug resistance, leaf substance, plant shape, plant size, growth rate, leaf color detail, leaf corrugation, leaf shape, leaf size, fragrant flower along with a picture. I know it is a lot of information but I like the detail.

btw .. even better than a pencil.. is a scratch awl on the plastic ... thats is definitely there forever ... grip it more like a pencil for better precision ...

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=scratch+awl&t=ffcm&iax=images&ia=images

if you do use the pencil ... and you pull it out dirty.. dont try to swipe it clean ... as that is basically sandpapering it off ... let it dry.. and see if you can make it out ....

regular sharpie is useless ... you can get paint pens at hobby lobby/joannes ... the paint last forever.. great for black plastic pots ... though fine point ones are hard to use ... [i see sharpie offers paint pens .... go figure..lol]

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=paint+pens&t=ffcm&iax=images&ia=images

in the formal garden i used zinc plates on standards.. with UV brother labels on such .. some have lasted over 20 years .. i used to order 500 at a time ...

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=zinc+garden+labels+on+standards&t=ffcm&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images

4th pic is the type i favored

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=eon+zinc+garden+labels+on+standards&t=ffcm&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images

wax pencil also works ... and the trick with those.. is to leave the label in the sun.. until it heats up ... so you can write pretty ...

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=wax+pencil&t=ffcm&iax=images&ia=images

apparently.. i may have tried everything.. lol ...

ken

Thanks for all the links, tips, creative ideas, and complements. I realize now, I should have stayed more current with documenting my purchases. Edit: Another one added 4/24. Edit: I bought 7 more. I just bought 10 more to add to my collection. They would be the newest of this simple list I just started on. Is there one main thread where people post their collections? I'm sure I have more. I've been at this for years.

First Frost

Ben Vernooij

Dutch Flame

Fire Dance

Forbidden Fruit

Orange Star

Purple Haze

Zorro

hosta Wu-La-La

Bulletproof

Red Hot Poker

Captain Kirk

June Spirit

hosta Picasso

Hosta Pebble Creek

HANDS UP HOSTA

MINKE GIANT HOSTA

POPCORN HOSTA

HOSTA 'PURPLE HEART'

HOSTA 'APPLETINI'

HOSTA 'SUN MOUSE'

HOSTA 'DESIGNER GENES'

Touch of Class

Justine

Revolution

Blue Elf

Montreal Blue Ice Storm

Blue Umbrellas

hosta ANGEL FALLS

hosta CRACKER CRUMBS

Komodo Dragon Hosta

Christmas tree

Brim Cup

Wide Brim

May

Empress Wu

June

Dream Queen

Summer Breeze

Rainforest Sunrise

Munchkin Fire

Blue Umbrellas

Fire and Ice

Touch of Class

Wiggle and Squiggles

Catherdral Windows

Heat Wave

Fire Island

Purple Heart

Blue Angel

Stained Glass

Liberty

Lakeside Paisley Print

Neptune

Praire Sky

Paradigm

Sun Mouse

Blue Mouse Ears

Earth Angel Designer Genes

Praying hands

Well, we do the Hosta Alphabet every year starting Dec. 26th. That day we show pics (or lists) of all of our ones beginning with the letter A then two days later B until we reach Z, after that we do some categories. Our fearless leader is Paula who posts every second day and regales us with jokes. If you have never checked it out you really should.

Here is Hosta A to start you out.

Highlight the hostas in your last post. Right click and copy. Hover over your name. Then click on Ideabook. Create a new Ideabook. Name it HostaList or whatever. Paste what you just copied (ctrl and right mouse button). Make your Ideabook public or private and save your Ideabook.

I do not see a way to attach a file here, but I did a little start on your list. If you use Excel, follow me and I'll see if I can send it to you as Excel also. In the meantime I saved your list in my Ideabook, maybe you can just copy the contents and paste into your Ideabook.

Ok. I think I did all that you suggested. Thanks. My MS office just expired. Contemplating getting a new pc with Windows 10. So, not sure I would buy a new product key right now. It still works. It just has limited functions and I could open what you sent me. Once, I get things sorted with my pc I could do more to the list. Appreciate the help. Surely this will only make me seek out more hostas.

Oh my gosh, Ken, you have tried everything. Really great advice, as always. I never knew there was a scratching device. I've used the same metal tags as you (they came with heavy carbon pencil) and sometimes scratched just part of the name on the back with a nail. I mentioned the marker I like, but I'm going to give the paint marker a try. I meant to order some engraved markers this winter, but time slipped by. Guess we could even buy an engraver.

Thanks again Ken and all who reponded. It helps us all. Lots of creative ideas. I wish I had put all the tags on keyring. Meant to try Brother label maker, but never did.