Look-a-likes

Cynthia · Post by **Cynthia** » Jul 03, 2007 11:58 am

Help please--which of these hostas look and perform better: Brother Stefan, Paradigm, Captain Kirk, or Dick Ward? I'm assuming that they are all rather similar.

Also, Blue Umbrellas, Mississippi Delta, or Millennium? Which one is more upright? I can't even find anyone online who sells Millennium actually so it may not be an option. As far as known comparison, one of the pictures of Blue Umbrellas at the Hosta Library looks upright, angled, and empty at the bottom like an umbrella but pictures I have recently seen on EBay looked somewhat different. The Hosta Library states that Millennium is "semi-upright"; and, I believe, it says the same for Mississippi Delta.

Comments from those who actually see grow/see any of the seven plants often will be particularly appreciated.

Post by **Chris_W** » Jul 03, 2007 12:11 pm

Hi, and welcome to the forums

About your first question, I have Brother Stefan but they are so far kind of slow so I can't comment on it. Paradigm is a good grower, but will take quite a while to reach maturity. Captain Kirk is a very fast grower. Dick Ward can be slow growing to non-growing, depending on the garden conditions. I've seen Dick Ward growing fairly good in moist, rich, acidic soil, but then when I moved here where it is very alkaline my own plants shrank and seem to be permanently stunted.

I don't grow Blue Umbrellas any longer, but to me it was always more mounding and not at all upright. I have Mississipi Delta and Millenium started, but they won't be available for at least another year, possibly two. I'll check to see what their growth habit is like.

There was a not-so-recent posting asking almost the same question which you might want to check out to get some more ideas here:

viewtopic.php?t=44924

I'm sure others will chime in about your three picks, though. I just haven't grown them long enough, I don't think, to know for sure about the habit.

Again, welcome to the forums!

Chris

DBoweMD · Post by **DBoweMD** » Jul 03, 2007 1:26 pm

Regarding question 1
Brother Stephan I think of as being blue or bluegreen with a yellow center, maybe some green markings in between, mine is young. I really like the colors. It's not inexpensive yet.
Paradigm and Dick Ward are both excellent, big, very rugose, both have done well for me, Paradigm is shinier. These two look fairly alike otherwise as they are maturing, but look different when mature. Price is reasonable.
Captain Kirk is green with yellow center that is kind of humped in the center of the leaf, and because of that is distinctive enough for me to be able to tell it apart from the others. the center is narrower, not very rugose.
Second question:
I don't think of the uprights as including those you mentioned. I don't have Millennium, and my Blue Umbrellas and Misissippi Delta are not very big. I think of Krossa Regal and Nigrescens as the classic blue green upright large solid hostas. Elatior for Green, Gold Regal for Yellow (It needs some sun to turn yellow).

Cynthia · Post by **Cynthia** » Jul 03, 2007 1:57 pm

Chris and Dave-Thank you for your prompt input. I'm trying to decide whether I want to order Brother Stephan and Mississippi Delta from Olga (the hosta lady). Millennium was actually my preferred choice but finding it has become, in itself, a chore.

Dave-I checked out your hosta list, rather extensive from my point of view. I am going to the Hosta Library to check out the Elatior et al; they sound interesting. I do have Krossa Regal but finding more of it for increase has also become a chore. I may have seen it at NH Hostas.com however.

Thanks again.
Cynthia

Cynthia · Post by **Cynthia** » Jul 03, 2007 3:36 pm

Continuing the look-a-like strand, I am also trying to find a new gold hosta. I have gold standard and a small (relatively speaking) Sum and Substance. I also had a large one that recently became infected with Hosta Virus X after four years of sitting alone in a barrel.

At any rate, which would be the better choice? Sun Power? Solar Flare? Something else?
Cynthia

Pieter · Post by **Pieter** » Jul 03, 2007 4:07 pm

Cynthia, hate to correct you, but the S&S would have been infected when you got it. Some varieties show HVX within months of infection, however S&S is one variety that is VERY slow to show the HVX manifestation, as long as 6 or 7 years! I've had mine now for 4 or 5 years and I'm still looking at them with a critical eye to look for HVX symptoms. Whenever I see an unusual bump on an S&S leaf I look at it more than once a day (paranoid, obsessive) to make sure it isn't proving to be an HVX manifestation, I've been lucky thus far, but this is one variety that in my mind at least will not be clear of it for at least another 3 years.

JoshS · Post by **JoshS** » Jul 03, 2007 4:07 pm

Mississippi Delta is very much upright. The others you listed are not. MD takes a little time to get there, but is definitely my favorite of the three.

I am a lover of Olga's plants...I'd go for Brother Stephan, too. It is most similar to Dick Ward, but seems to be faster growing.

Cynthia · Post by **Cynthia** » Jul 03, 2007 4:14 pm

Pieter-
You caught me. I misspoke. I should have said "just recently showed signs of hosta virus x." Thank you for keeping me on my toes.
Cynthia

DBoweMD · Post by **DBoweMD** » Jul 03, 2007 4:25 pm

Some of my favorite big solid golds are:
Great Lakes Gold
Sun Power
Stardust
Piedmont Gold
Golden Waffles
Jimmy Crack Corn
Sea Gulf Stream
Midas Touch
King Tut

I think this is in decreasing size from top to bottom.

Cynthia · Post by **Cynthia** » Jul 03, 2007 5:35 pm

Dave-
I just had a few minutes to check the Hosta Library on your choices. I've decided to get Sun Power and King Tut and add the others to my wish list (it's long).

Thanks for the input.
Cynthia

ademink · Post by **ademink** » Jul 03, 2007 10:17 pm

I also love anything "Olga" - she is a great hybridizer!

I have King Tut and LOVE IT. Another beauty for me has been Gold Sculpture.......and Rascal......and Solar Flare.......and Sun Power.....and....

You might want to check out Dawn's Early Light...speaking of Olga.

ademink · Post by **ademink** » Jul 03, 2007 10:21 pm

Oops...forgot to post this. My 'Blue Umbrellas', though not very blue in this photo...is definitely upright:

Spider · Post by **Spider** » Jul 03, 2007 11:20 pm

"not very blue in this photo...is definitely upright: "

And well watered, lol

Marlys · Post by **Marlys** » Jul 03, 2007 11:46 pm

Millennium has really grown quickly for me & it is not mound shape but not vase shape but it is what I'd call upright. A Hallson hosta friend sent me Millennium as a surprise and it has never quit surprising me. It is becoming a favorite! And it is very large / big. Go for it!

Welcome to the forum!

Dick Ward is realy awesome in my garden this year. I can't believe how big it got since last year. Brother Stefan has grown quickly for me and is beautiful too.

Blue Umbrella isn't very blue and has grown very slowly. It does grow upright but is not vase shaped either IMHO.

A mature Paradigm is really an awesome sight to behold. Grows easily & quickly / mound shape plant.

Captain Kirk is a favorite as our friend Josh shared his plant with me. (Long story) However my plant has struggled with crown rot! That isn't the plants doing.

All Olga plants are wonderful!

Enjoy,

MM

ademink · Post by **ademink** » Jul 03, 2007 11:51 pm

Yes, it was that day! It was raining!

Cynthia · Post by **Cynthia** » Jul 04, 2007 12:04 am

To Ademink-Your blue umbrellas is gorgeous, blue or not.
To Marlys, Dave, George, and all-I finally found Millennium online at Sebright Gardens in Oregon as well as Blue Umbrellas and Sun Power at at NH Hostas. I may wait to get Mississippi Delta next year.

I'm still not sure about the differences between Brother Stefan, Paradigm, Dick Ward, and Captain Kirk even after going to the Hosta Library. The pictures there are lovely of course, but I'm all too well aware of the magic of Photoshop in pictures.

More untouched pictures of them anyone?
Thanks again.
Cynthia

newtohosta-no more · Post by **newtohosta-no more** » Jul 04, 2007 7:29 am

I think I have a couple of those and some pics.

Cynthia · Post by **Cynthia** » Jul 04, 2007 11:13 am

Joan-
That's exactly what I needed to be able to see--actual colors free of Photoshop and color dispersion. Thank you.

They really are pretty aren't they?
Cynthia

Joe · Post by **Joe** » Jul 04, 2007 6:22 pm

Cynthia,

Here are pics of all four I took yesterday. Brother Stefan is the most distinctive, in my opinion. Paradigm is a great grower and pretty trouble-free and definitely gets better with age. I have moved Dick Ward a few times so it's probably a little stunted because of that, but still a very nice hosta. Captain Kirk is ok but not one of my favorites. A little too ordinary looking.

Joe in CT

Joe · Post by **Joe** » Jul 04, 2007 6:24 pm

Not sure why the 4th didn't make it. Here is Dick Ward.

Hallson Gardens

Look-a-likes

Look-a-likes

Gold Look-a-like Choice

Vase-Shaped vs Upright