Great Expectations

last year

Both of these are supposed to be Great Expectations. One was purchased at a large nursery. The other was dug up at a gardeners home whose house was going to be bulldozed along with the garden. She was a very knowledgeable gardener. But they are both emerging so differently. The variegation is present from day one on the nursery plant, but is emerging slowly on the other, makes me wonder if they really are. I lean to the one dug up at the gardeners home being correct as nurseries can often have things mislabeled.

What does GW say?

Nursery GE.

Gardeners GE.

Featured Answer

Babka NorCal 9b

last year

Colors can lighten and darken as the season goesn on, but the patterns don't change that much, and the garden hosta has much narrower centers and wider margins than the Nursery one. They look like two totally different hostas to me.

Wondering if that garden hosta had been there long enough to sport to "Dream Weaver". Take a look at that one at the HL. GE has the reputation for being finicky. I had at least 4 before I gave up.

-Babka

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Comments (9)

Babka NorCal 9b
last year
Your Gardener's GE looks more like h.'Thunderbolt' to me. Do they have the same amount of light exposure?

-Babka
SeniorBalloon thanked Babka NorCal 9b
SeniorBalloon
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
The "gardeners" hosta has been in the greenhouse over winter and was planted out about 3 weeks ago. It has gotten (in greenhouse) and does get more where it's planted than the nursery hosta. The nursery hosta has been in the ground for 2 or 3 years.

I should add that when I dug up the "gardener" hosta it had much more yellow variegation. I've never seen, or never paid attention, a hosta whose coloring was only apparent after it had aged so to speak. Is that uncommon?
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lindalana 5b Chicago
last year
I have noted that quite a few of my hostas start off muted tones and develop more coloration as summer goes. Not sure if this is because am in colder area or sun exposure. Not all do that though.
SeniorBalloon thanked lindalana 5b Chicago
nicholsworth Z6 Indianapolis
last year
the Nursery GE resembles my GE..my yellow centers have been bright yellow ever since I bought it..
SeniorBalloon thanked nicholsworth Z6 Indianapolis
djacob Z6a SE WI
last year
I agree the nursery GE looks like GE. I agree with babka. The other resembles Thunderbolt as she suggested.

debra
SeniorBalloon thanked djacob Z6a SE WI
SeniorBalloon
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
In terms of leaf shape and puckering Thunderbolt does look similar, though it's variegation is brighter than mine. I'll keep an eye on mine and if/when it changes will post another pic.

Thank you everyone.
lindalana 5b Chicago
last year

This is old well established Journey end. Go figure
Babka NorCal 9b
last year
Journey's End is a sport of Choo Choo Train, which looks like your photo.

That was quite a transformation! Did it happen in one season, or several?

-Babka