Your Last Season Winners / My This Season Must-Haves!

[kaylyred]

Just like the title says...what were your winners last season? Which hostas did you absolutely love? I'm making my list for this year (it chases the winter blues away) and I'd love to see some pictures and hear some tales of good growth and garden performance. Show off your favorites!

Here are a few of my (new) favorites from last year to get things started...



'Sagae'. New to me, but huge and glorious. This was a Wisconsin Hosta Society auction win last year. The photo shows it newly planted.



'Vulcan' was also new, but looked great all season and grew well. It colored up beautifully in deep shade.



So far so good with 'Rhino Hide.' I don't expect it to be a fast grower, but it sure is a handsome hosta! And, true to its name, not a slug or bug hole in sight all year.



'Twilight' is two years old in this shot taken in spring. I especially love the spring coloring on this plant, but it stays attractive all season.

[Linda P]

Hi, kaylyred! It's good to hear from you. You were really lucky to get that huge Sagae. You're well on your
way to a knock-out plant there. I lost my big one to rot several years ago, and got a one-eyed replacement
for it. It's taking forever to get going, thought I must say it's not planted in the best spot.

If you don't have Rainforest Sunrise (center front in this shot) get it! This plant pictured is in year 3... a super fast grower, and just a beauty all around. Here it's showing a little bit of sunburn, since an ice strom took out a huge branch that shaded this part of the bed, but it's doing well anyway. Behind it is Allegan Fog, which is another one I woudln't want to be without.

[kaylyred]

Sorry to hear about your 'Sagae.'

I do have 'Rainforest Sunrise!' I picked it up last year along with 'Maui Buttercups.' They're another two of my favorite new plants, so I can't wait to see them this year.

'Allegan Fog' is on my want list! Those hostas in your photo look lovely.

[Chris_W]

My continuous, forever and ever winner has to be Regal Splendor, but I'm sure you have that one already. (I have Regal Supreme planted, a wide margined sport of Regal Splendor, but don't have any opinions on that one yet. I worry that it won't get as big and glorious as the original, and the name doesn't inspire me that much I'm afraid, but it is one to watch for now - it should be in our 2012 catalog).

Another that I really love is Mourning Dove. Same coloring as Regal Splendor but if you don't have the room for a monster I really like this one:



Paradise Island was another favorite last year. I really think this is a must for the garden. It grows so much better than Fire Island but still has the great red petioles and brilliant spring coloring.

High Society, Touch of Class, and El Nino are all up there near the top of my list too. All Halcyon relatives that are all beautiful. High Society was a dud for me the first time I tried to grow it, but with some soil improvements it has taken off and will be one of my top plants.

Those are just a few, heck, so many good ones out there these days it is hard to not keep going

Chris

[kaylyred]

Thanks, Chris!

I've only been living in my house here two complete gardening seasons (and let me tell you, it was, and still is, a mess...I'm working on it!) Don't assume I have anything just because everyone does. In fact, I probably have more less-common hostas than common ones.

That said, I did pick up 'Regal Splendor' last year for just $8 and it had 12 eyes--a nice hosta for the price! I planted it in a very prominent spot by my front door. I was impressed with how tall the flower scapes got on this hosta! It really is a beauty. Plus, I'm a sucker for the upright, vase-shaped ones.

'Lonesome Dove' looks gorgeous. I'll have to look into that one. The color (though not the shape, of course) looks similar to 'Wolverine,' too. I have 'Wolverine' and it grew great and looked good all season.

So far, I've ordered two hostas from Hallson's this year--'Rainbow's End' and 'Alex Summers.' I would've ordered more, but my hosta society is hosting the regional convention this year (in Madison, Wisconsin) and I'm saving space for the hostas I'll surely pick up there.

[tsbccowboy]

This thread is a good place to do some shopping.

Two more must-haves are Golden Meadows and Liberty.


Golden Meadows
6/14/09


Liberty
5/26/10

[kaylyred]

Wow, those are both amazing. I bought a nice little 'Liberty' last year and ended up giving it to my mom before I could get it planted. She'd picked up a bunch of hostas from a friend and she was so excited to show them to me. I took one look at her favorite of the bunch (which I'm guessing was 'Guacamole,' but I'm not sure) and knew that it had HVX. Came here and posted pictures and Chris confirmed that it looked like HVX. My mom was so devastated that I gave her 'Liberty'...and had her disinfect her tools before planting!

Even though I do have 'Sagae,' I think 'Liberty' is so showy that I'm going to have to put it on my list this year. 'Golden Meadows' is gorgeous, too. Why must there be so many great hostas? I can't afford them all...and I don't have room!

[Linda P]

Karen, Here is one that really looked good last year. I realized belatedly that I had not given this one
nearly enough room! The picture isn't the best, but seems to be the only one I took of it.
Cowboy...I'm with you on those two!

[SWMOgardens]

I am a big Touch of Class fan.



And Sum and Substance grabs your eye from across the garden.

[kaylyred]

Wow, 'Sum & Substance' looks great with the liriope!

'Key Lime Pie' is a pretty one, too. I don't have a hosta with a pie crust edge and I'll probably be looking for one this year. So many great hostas out there make it tough to pick just a few every year.

[ViolaAnn]

Nice hostas above. I'd post pics, but time doesn't allow me to make them small enough to post here just now. I've got 4 orchestras on the go just now.

One comment though - I don't share Linda's enthusiasm for Rainforest Sunrise. But maybe largely because my trees are always dropping stuff and the very cupped leaves just catch it all and that really looks ugly. Hence, I've learned to stay away from severely cupped leaves (although I do have RS).

I can hardly wait for my Liberty to emerge. It was a large plant when I got it and came on very well last year - its 2nd in my garden. I'm hoping it will move into the 'spectacular' category this year.

[thy]

Not from last year but 2 or 3 years back

Huge or large: Mount Tom- fast and very lovely and Earth Angel

Ripples, I love them - Emerald Ruff Cut have been very good and a fast grower for me
Vase shaped... aren't they just beautiful`?

For a vase shaped with ripples and in my fav. color blue, h. Queen of the Seas