a fairly shaded area,

==>>>

hosta are a shade TOLERANT plant ...

they can do very well in sun ... but you dont mention where you are ... they also sweat.. and problem with sun.. usually happen.. when they give off more water in afternoon sunshine.. than they can pump to the leaf.. leading to burning ... so try to avoid hot afternoon sun.. but as much sun as possible otherwise.. unless you are in tX or some such... though that pic doesnt look like a TX garden bed ...

the leaves are etoliated.. stretched out.. probably/maybe due to darkness ...

sounds like you might have more than one.. if so.. move one to much more sun ...

dont know your hosta knowledge level.. but they are what they are in any one season ... so.. depending how big they were when you bought them.. you need to be patient ...

in july.. they start growing roots.. to store energy to pop out of the ground next spring.. so move them around that time or so... so they can start the process ... but water them like heck if its hot out... and then there is the potential of burning them.. if you go from too dark.. directly to sun ... try to avoid that ...

welcome to hostamania ...

ken

Thank you, jimr and ken! My location is listed after my name, but I've read that doesn't always show? I am in SE Michigan, zone 5b. My hosta experience is zilch outside of growing these particular ones and also Patriot, which grows beautifully and looks great every year. There is every possibility that I am doing something wrong, as I am pretty much doing nothing and they seem to have gotten smaller since planting them a few years ago; I thought perhaps this particular hosta might need some sun to thrive. Or that maybe I purchased a known dud and ya'll would tell me not to worry, that even the most experienced gardener can't successfully grow Hosta X. I need a list of "easy" hostas, hee hee...

It looks like Golden Meadows. Watch to see if it turns all green to be sure. It's so pretty with the bright gold in , I always hate to see it color up. Mine is in open shade wih some morning . Try the old varieties if you want something foolproof. Ventricosa and undulata are tough. You'll find them at plant and garage sales, rarely at a nursery.

your location IS your name.. lol ..

i was just adding additional info.. for other readers ...

i dont think you are doing anything wrong ... i dont think you bought a huge plant last year .. and im thinking the transplanting.. just numbed it a bit for this year ...

just be patient ... and see what happens ... or move it if you want .. whatever ... i often suggest you dig them up.. and throw them on the driveway as discipline.. if they are not pleasing you.. and then replant them the next day ... not sure it does anything for the plant.. but often.. it makes you feel better ... lol ..

im not sure.. but i think GMeadows.. greens up later in the year ... so dont freak out.. if it does ... im sure i will stand corrected if that is wrong ...

there are some spectacular hosta gardens in MI ...... if you like road trips ... one out near me.. is hidden lakes gardens in tipton MI ... a very enjoyable day trip.. if you want to get out of the city ... they are related to that green school.. but i will forgive them in respect to the gardens.. lol.. they also have a spectacular conifer collection .. if you want to know what grows in SE MI ... this is the place to go ...

ken

I note prideofowner has written: "they seem to have gotten smaller since planting them a few years ago." So I have to wonder whether there is tree root competition. Certainly something I have experienced in my garden. After removing the hosta and removing the tree roots circling around the hosta roots, my hosta have increased eyes the following year.

My vote is Golden Meadows also. You will know for sure when the center darkens later in the season. For example, mine has darkened to this:

Prideofownermichiganz5b says he has had these hosta for a few years. Since I've never had a Golden Meadows, nor do I live the the midwest, I have to ask you guys who have one, "Is it so slow that it still looks like this after a few years?"

I agree with ken that it's not getting enough light. If they both look this "straggly" after a few years I would move them to more sun. Given you are in Michigan, maybe now is a good time to move them. Let someone else advise you on this. I'm in Texas and I don't disturb anything very much after about May 1st. I do my best to do anything disturbing in the early spring. Of course, nothing freezes her for more than a day at a time.

This is a great resource for you: http://hostalibrary.org/g/g.html. Photos of hosta are listed in alphabetical order. There are several different photos of Golden Meadows, including one of it later in the season where the center turns more green. Maybe you can judge if this is the same hosta you have.

bkay

Hi all, thank you so much for your feedback, and I am a she, not a he. :-) Hmm, I was thinking golden meadows also after looking at on-line images, but these hosta definitely do NOT turn all green as the summer progresses...could they be great expectations instead? I think they do need more sun; the one shown in my picture is the best looking one and gets the most dappled sunlight. The one at the end of the bed gets no sun and is just one sad little leaf sticking out of the ground.

There are some nearby trees, but none of the dreaded life-sucking maples. My nearby Annabelle hydrangeas seem to do okay, but I did lose a couple of rhodendendron last year, so I just don't know!

Thanks for the on-line resource, bkay! I'll definitely check that out.

Ha ha, Ken, my son might be going to that green school in another year, either that or the maize and blue school...he can't decide, we still have to do the school tours. I've been to the umich gardens, but never to the state gardens...I'll have to check them out - thank you!

there is only one reason to go to moo U .... and that is if he wants to be a farmer.. lol ... moooooo

just joking around.. sounds like a fine young man ... either will do him well ... good???

it is definitely not GE .... too ruffled on the edges ...

ken

What you describe is often the growth habits of GE: very slow, or no growth, or dwindle in size. I'm on my second (and last) GE.

IF the center doesn't turn mostly green during the summer is very probably not Golden Meadows. GM has undulating wavy twisty leaves (kind of like yours). I recently acquired a GM which I thought might have been a GE based on the spring coloration but the undulation hinted at GM (great call, newhostalady), it has since turned mostly green.

I don't know the growth habits of GM but my expectations are greater than for GE (Low Expectations would be a better name)!

Definitely Golden Meadows. Mine has been here for at least 5 years so it is definitely a slow grower and isn't going get big. 2 feet across right now and it gets less than 1/2 day of sun.

-Jon

Does Golden Meadows need sunlight to turn green in the center? These don't turn green at all, they hardly get any sun at all, just a bit of dappled sunlight. I'm frustrated with them. I'll try moving them to an area that gets more sunlight. I am jealous of the size and beauty of my neighbor's large hostas - Frances Williams...I look at hers and then at these scraggly things and I just want to rip them out. Would Frances work better for me than Golden Meadows in my nearly always shaded bed? Or are their easier hostas for novices such as me? Thanks!

Could it be Andrew? http://www.hostalibrary.org/a/a.html

Seems to me I've heard the same complaints about GE and Andrew. Andrew would also need more sun.

Poom, More sun would lower the green. The green is Chlorophyll which is captures the sunlight and helps convert carbon dioxide into plant matter. A hosta will turn greener in the Fall with less light because with the lower light the plant needs more chlorophyll. This is why darker hosta are better in more shade and can tolerate more or even very dark shade and lighter hosta need more sun and thrive some even in full sun. Of course all plants require some sun.

- Jon

Thanks, Beverly, I checked out Andrew, but Andrew's lighter center seems much paler than the center of mine. My gosh, I never knew there were so many different kinds of hostas!

Thanks, Jon, that helps! I'm glad I appended "michigan" to my screen name, lest I be referred to as "Poo"... :-)