Can you help me w/my hosta homework??

twoblackdogs · Post by **twoblackdogs** » Jun 05, 2008 2:03 pm

Hi fellow hostaholics! I was hoping I could get you to help me with my homework - seriously!

I'm in the midst of taking classes for a career change - I'm going back to school to get a degree so I can teach biology and chemistry in grades 7-12. One of the classes I am currently taking is a literacy content class, where we are learning to help kids of all reading abilities/level learn successfully. One of my homework assignments is writing a multi-genre paper on a favorite topic. So I have picked something I really enjoy - hostas!

What I would like to do is pose a couple questions, and you answer them, and then I can print the pages for use as part of my homework. I checked with Chris first for permission as it is his website/forum, and I'm good to go. So if you would be able to help, and don't mind being part of my paper I would most appreciate your help.

Can you answer these:
How did you become "addicted" to hostas?
How many do you currently have?
What are your absolute top 5 favorite in your yard?

I'll reply to myself to start off! THANK YOU!

twoblackdogs · Post by **twoblackdogs** » Jun 05, 2008 2:08 pm

How did you become "addicted" to hostas?

We moved to our current house - almost all shade - 11 years ago, where I "inherited" some. They grew like gang busters when hardly anything else didn't, and I found out they came in more than "green"!

How many do you currently have? Working toward 350+ types.

What are your absolute top 5 favorite in your yard?
Sagae
Blue Angel
Guardian Angel
Spartan Glory
Sea Fire (in the spring) - otherwise, Guacomole

Cathgreen · Post by **Cathgreen** » Jun 05, 2008 2:22 pm

I became addicted to hosta collecting when an older woman gardener showed me how to divide one large hosta into many, many single-eyed dvisions. Instant garden!

I have over 400 named varieties, and well over 3000 plants, due to my need to divide and propagate.

My five favorites this week are: h. Praying Hands, h. Sagae, h. Blue Lightening, h. Pineapple Upside Down Cake...and my fifth has to be a whole group... anything mini!

Don Rawson · Post by **Don Rawson** » Jun 05, 2008 2:34 pm

When I was a kid, my mom had a green one (Lancifolia) and variegated one (Undulata mediopicta). Then after I grew up and got married, my wife and I built a new house. In the process of landscaping my yard, I discovered the wonderful world of hostas! I began collecting every variety I came across, only to find out that there were more and more!!! Needless to say, I became a hardcore hostaholic and the addiction has never waned.

I love hostas, and think there is just so much variation and differences between cultivars that this plant truly has a rightful place as America's #1 perennial!

Every hosta grower has their own favorites, and I'm no exception. But it's oh so agonizing to narrow it down to just 5...or to 10...or 20! But here are some that are definately at the top of my list: Big Daddy, Liberty, Great Expectations, American Halo, June, Tokudama Aureonebulosa...oops...I knew I couldn't narrow it to just five.

Don Rawson

playinmud · Post by **playinmud** » Jun 05, 2008 2:53 pm

How did you become "addicted" to hostas?

I went to a hosta show in 2005 offered by the Tri-State Hosta Society and was amazed by the 100's of leaves all lined up, sticking straight up out of in clear bud vases. I wrote down the names of the ones that I liked on the show's program to check them out later online. Then I went to the vendor area and bought my first hosta, H. 'Candy Dish'. It was the begining of a great friendship between me and this great genus, hosta.

How many do you currently have?

I have acquired over 300 hostas. I'm slowing down (haven't stopped buying though!!), as I'm running out of garden space.

What are your absolute top 5 favorite in your yard?

'Amazing Grace'
'Candy Dish'
'Sails Ho'
'Sally and BoB'
'Yakushima'

Nathalie23 · Post by **Nathalie23** » Jun 05, 2008 4:59 pm

How did you become "addicted" to hostas?

When I visit a garden where the owner was addicted... A beautiful garden full of mature hostas!!! Wow!

How many do you currently have?

I have about 150 variety untill now.

What are your absolute top 5 favorite in your yard?

Untill now, here are my favorite mature plant (a lot of my hostas are still baby so I think my favorite will change in the future!!!)
Alex Summers
Carnival
Abiqua Moonbeam
Liberty
Tokudama Flavocircinalis

loisf · Post by **loisf** » Jun 05, 2008 5:05 pm

I've always lived with hosta. My grandmother raised lancifolia in Chicago (she called them funkia), and when we moved to Minneapolis in 1949, she sent some along with us. They have multiplied and moved many times to many new homes. I have a descendent of her plants in my garden now. In 2006 I decided to give up on the azaleas and rhododendron I was trying unsuccessfully to grown on this berm at my home, and I thought of hosta. A trip to the garden center brought a whole new world of hosta to me. I bought about 15 varieties and planted them. Then I thought of all the other places in my yard that they would work. I kept buying and planting, buying and planting. I now have 90 varieties. I love them dearly, even though my husband and children are a little concerned for my sanity. It's a wonderful hobby.

loisf · Post by **loisf** » Jun 05, 2008 5:07 pm

Oops, I forgot to list my favorites:

montana Aureomarginata
Wolverine
Liberty
Alex Summers
Piedmont Gold

largosmom · Post by **largosmom** » Jun 05, 2008 6:06 pm

How did you become "addicted" to hostas?

I learned about hostas when I moved into my current home, which has large, mature trees. I had never done shade gardening, and not much perrenial gardening, so researched what plants would do well in my area. Hostas were mentioned, so I purchased a few and enjoyed their changes through the seasons. Then I bought a few more, and a few more...

How many do you currently have?

Approximately 125 named varieties. I also have about a hundred or more seedlings which I have grown. Some seedlings are from my own hostas. Other seeds I obtained from other people who cross the pollen on their own hostas, or from purchasing seed on eBay.

What are your absolute top 5 favorite in your yard?

This list changes all the time!
Sagae
Blue Mouse Ears
Jade Cascade
June
Sum and Substance

Arlene · Post by **Arlene** » Jun 05, 2008 9:30 pm

About 20 years ago, on my morning walk, I passed a burn pile . . . there were some upside down plants with dry roots waving in the air and leaves coming from underneath, trying to grow "up." I figured that any plant with that strong a will to live deserved a second chance, so I drove back and rescued them. They were just undulatas, but their determination won me over.

I lost a lot over this last winter, so am probably at about 100-125 named varieties.

My current 5 favorites are probably:

Paradigm
Kiwi Full Monty
Abba Dabba Do
Maui Buttercups
Night Before Christmas

Good luck with your project!!

jobranch · Post by **jobranch** » Jun 05, 2008 10:08 pm

My late mother-in-law gave us several Undulata which my wife and I divided over the years. We added a few every now and then. I have killed roses and azaleas among other plants, but my hosta come back each year bigger and better. About three years ago I saw an article in Fine Gardening called Designing with Hosta by Betty Blanchette and was hooked. I had never before seen the beautiful blue and gold hostas photographed in this article. Specializing in hosta is something unusual here in Alabama and I like being one of the few hosta freaks in my area.

I currently have 60. Since our drought last year, I have reduced the size of my beds. My top 5 are: Paul’s Glory, Bressingham Blue, Regal Splendor, Francee, Big Daddy.

LucyGoose · Post by **LucyGoose** » Jun 05, 2008 11:06 pm

How did you become "addicted" to hostas?

Well, I'm not sure....

I *think* it was Patruskha that kept telling me to check the hostas forum....at that time I was a snooty *thorny*

Then it was a first trade....Pat says it was like in 2003......doing seeds, too.....

.....then the rest is history.....and I never looked back!!

so Pat and I are think that it was 2003, February, March.....

How many do you currently have?

Well, DH says way to many......I say about 150'ish......I don't really know......

What are your absolute top 5 favorite in your yard?

1.Permanent Wave
2.Praying Hands
3.Cutting Edge...this year is just sooo pretty...year 3 for it
4.Dark Star
5. Paradigm

addieotto · Post by **addieotto** » Jun 05, 2008 11:19 pm

How did you become "addicted" to hostas?
My mom also had hosta and I helped her divide and plant them as a kid. When we moved, I remember she would bring some with her. Then when I finally got a yard I went out and bought one - Gold Standard. Planted it in too much sun. Fried it then moved it and divided it at the same time. (Plants are still alive despite my gardening attacks)

Then I "liberated" one that was being neglected in an alleyway of a business

because it was completely different then the one I had. I proceeded to hack that one apart (yet they live to this day). Then I found out I could buy them on the internet rather than steal.. um ... liberate them and it was all over.

How many do you currently have?
I have about 180 named, 250+ individual plants.

What are your absolute top 5 favorite in your yard?
In my yard... hmmm. I favorites that are no longer "in my yard". Since I lost a few of the ones I really loved I'm just going to go with what I love this year. Moonlight Sonata is always near the top of my list, Touch of Class, Ginsu Knife is getting really cool, Guacamole and Dancing Queen which is just slapping around the other plants with her brilliant color this year.

MrHeinz77 · Post by **MrHeinz77** » Jun 05, 2008 11:19 pm

From a current Biology and Chemistry teacher to a future one.

I became addicted when I started spending a lot of time at In The Country. Seeing all of the different sizes, shapes, and colors was amazing. I currently am trying my hand at hybridizing along with Josh S.

I have probably around 150 - 200 named varieties and a ton of seedlings. I need to learn how to cull.

My favorites are: Peacock Strut, Blue Lightning, Christmas Tree, Grama Jo (a seedling from Josh's Gramdma), and Brother Stephan. (this list changes from minute to minute to include any streaked breeder and any large) If I found a huge yellow upright hosta with red petioles, that would top my list.

Good luck on your paper. (Reading strategies are always something school districts here like to look at. Pay attention in your Special Education classes. Knowing the rights and wrongs in this area can be important.)

Jim

grdnnkd · Post by **grdnnkd** » Jun 07, 2008 4:14 pm

How did you become "addicted" to hostas?

My grandparents had them and when we moved, our yard was more shade than sun. It just took off from there.

How many do you currently have?

~100 named varieties and some seedlings.

What are your absolute top 5 favorite in your yard?

Clovelly
Dancing Queen
Silk Kimono
Lakeside Mom
War Paint

markluvskathy · Post by **markluvskathy** » Jun 12, 2008 3:26 am

How did I become addicted to hostas?

I had about 4 plants in my front yard that had been there 3 years, and I noticed I did not have to do a darn thing to them, and they still came back. (I've literally killed a cactus- so I was impressed!) A family friend came over (my hosta partner now

) and told me they were hostas that are called Patriot. Well, I am a big Pats fan (football - yeah I know - LOL!) so the combination of the two started a great love of hostas. I went to her house, and she generously shared about 30 of them with me, and it has been non stop ever since.

How many do you currently have?

can I plead the 5th? went from 350 to 500+ this year

Top 5 in my yard-

The first one to catch my eye is Liberty when it comes up.
second- Paradigm
third- Big Daddy
fourth- Paradise Glory
fifth- June

newtohosta-no more · Post by **newtohosta-no more** » Jun 12, 2008 6:54 am

I was never a gardener, but a gardening friend suggested I try hosta , because they were a very durable plant. So I did and the rest is history!
I currently have over 500 cultivars.....but who's counting?

My top five.....today....because it changes from day to day:

June
Nigrescens
Dust Devil
Majesty
Alex Summers

Oh....did I mention June?

morgansrgr8 · Post by **morgansrgr8** » Jun 12, 2008 3:39 pm

How did you become "addicted" to hostas?
MIL gave me the green and green and white one when I got married. Divided them and had them everywhere. About 2000 found a few varieties at the garden store. Then I found Hallsons forum in 2002 and the rest is history.
How many do you currently have?
I had 150 varieties until last year. I am starting over again and have about 25 to 30 varieties.
What are your absolute top 5 favorite in your yard?
My absolute favorites I no longer have. But that is only just a matter of time. So the favs that I do have are Golden Oriole, Blue Mouse Ears, Blue Angel, Guacamole, Chinese Sunrise

Judysue · Post by **Judysue** » Jun 12, 2008 10:02 pm

How did you become "addicted" to hostas?

I have long thought that hostas are the perfect plant. My eyes were always drawn to the symetrical green and white clumps in other people's yards, and discovered that they are quite easy to grow. As soon as our yard had enough shade, I bought a few different varieties. Then when the grass would no longer grow under the trees, we made a lasagna bed and planted more hostas. Well, as everyone knows, a few lead to more, and soon we had to expand the bed. The addiction comes in when I read forums like this one, see new varieties I don't have (but must).

How many do you currently have?

185 (for now)

What are your absolute top 5 favorite in your yard?

1. Sagae
2. Blue Mouse Ears
3. June
4. Inniswood
5. Striptease

(This is by no means my final answer!)

KatailS · Post by **KatailS** » Jun 12, 2008 11:14 pm

How did you become "addicted" to hostas?

I'm not addicted, I'm not addicted, I'm not addicted.... really... I'm not addicted! People tell me that there is a 12 step program that can help me.... but I am not addicted!
I just love hostas.... alot! I got started ~12 years ago when I visited a friend's garden and she had about 10 varieties and I was in awe of them. She gave me a chunk of each.... and my addic.... er... passion began.

How many do you currently have?

I stopped counting at ~1200... three years ago. Have bought a ton since, have lost a ton to voles and have been growing seedlings. In short... your guess is as good as mine.

What are your absolute top 5 favorite in your yard?

Changes every day... today's picks would be:
Sagae
Komodo Dragon
Blue Mouse Ears
Queen of the Seas
Liberty

Good luck with your homework!
Cheers~
Kathie