Three Katherines...

4 years ago

...and the effect of lighting/sun exposure.

I have several 'Katherine Lewis' potted up and in different locations of the lot. Thought it would be interesting to see how light affects the overall colouration. The first one is one I have in full open shade, pot-in-pot under a rhododendron in the front yard.

You can see some instability happening at around the 3 o'clock position but I rather suspect that will prove to be transitory and likely will not see it again next year. I've had this variety since about 2008 and have not seen any sporting from it.

This one is on the other side of the carport and receives direct sun until around 1PM this time of year. The variegation is quite a bit brighter but does not result in any burns.

And finally this one sits in pretty much full sun all day this time of year. It's got the brightest variegation and later on in the season that will have gone almost completely white, just a hint of cream.

We're all quite familiar with how variable 'June ' is, depending on sun exposure. While not my personal experience, 'June' is prone to reverting back to 'Halcyon', and the 'June' we know as 'Touch of Class' certainly has been prone to sporting for me into 'Touch of Class'. So for me with this other 'Halcyon' sport I have not seen any of that, but YMMV.

Pieter

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Pieter zone 7/8 B.C.
Original Author

4 years ago

There you go!

It's part of a grouping of three draped hypertufa pots, as in this one below...

Front left is 'Empress Wu' which almost hides the 'Guacamole' that's right in front of the maple.

Pieter

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Comments (9)

djacob Z6a SE WI
4 years ago
Hi Pieter, all three of them are lovely…….the first one reminds me of a June, sec second one also. But the third is really my fav and reminds me a bit of Orange Marmalade. Any relationship among them?

debra
Pieter zone 7/8 B.C. thanked djacob Z6a SE WI
Pieter zone 7/8 B.C.
Original Author
4 years ago
Debra, there's no familial connection between OM and the Halcyon/June family.

Pieter
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newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada
4 years ago
Amazing to see all the different colors the same hosta can produce! Any chance you could get another photo of the 2nd one when it is in the shade?
Pieter zone 7/8 B.C. thanked newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada
newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada
4 years ago
Thank you Pieter! All three variations are pretty, but now that you took the second picture over, I think that was is my favorite variation. So, so pretty! A perfect specimen! Gorgeous Empress Wu too!

P.S. Not sure you saw my last entry on the post here:

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/5908335/container-hosta-s#n=24
Pieter zone 7/8 B.C. thanked newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada
miles10612
4 years ago
Very interesting to see how different the same variety can be in different amounts of sunlight.

I've seen differences in my 2 Junes but nothing as drastic as your pictures. Thanks for sharing.
Pieter zone 7/8 B.C. thanked miles10612
Pieter zone 7/8 B.C.
Original Author
4 years ago
Gorgeous Empress Wu too!

I have two Empress Wu, one in the ground and this one in the pot. The potted one is a division of the in-ground one. The potted one has about 40 shoots on it but its size of leaves pales in comparison to the in-ground one, which only has around a dozen or so shoots. I'll have to make a point of doing some comparison shots and post them...

Pieter
newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada
4 years ago
Lucky you Pieter to have two beautiful Empress Wu's. When you divided the one in the ground, were the two EW's approximately the same size? So the in-ground one is growing better and faster?
djacob Z6a SE WI
4 years ago
After the second shot, I also like the one by your Wu. Beautiful color and shape! Thanks for sharing!,

debra