Pic of the Day--Moonlight Sonata

[Hank Zumach]

Hi All--Moonlight Sonata is another relatively new variety that went into the Friendship Garden last summer, when it measured 23x13. It was registered in 2004, although some had been in the trade a few years before being registered. I am expecting the plant to quickly develop into an upright form about 55x24. It should have shiny leaves and fragrant flowers by mid summer.

Registry - http://www.hostaregistrar.org/detail.ph ... t%20Sonata

MyHostas - http://myhostas.be/db/hostas/Moonlight+Sonata

Hosta Library - http://www.hostalibrary.org/m/moonl.html

[Jamie]

Sorry I can't comment much on this one yet. I planted it a few years ago and forgot about it until I noticed it last year. It's got a faded blue color to it with shiny leafs..

[LucyGoose]

MS is the hosta HD won up at Chris's year before last.......So this is HIS hosta! It's got real thick leaves...

I have to say that it has done very good in full sun.....Remember we lost 2 trees and never did get shade made....(we best this year).....Here are 2 picture's of it......remember, it's in full hot sun....

[renaldo75]

You'll like Moonlight Sonata, Hank. It is a fast grower & the flowers smell wonderful. It starts out a nice dark bluish green & later is dark shiny green. I got mine from Brenda/green nature lady in the last Hallson trade she participated in so it & the other hostas she sent are pretty special to me.

Greg Johnson, the hybridizer, said at one ROHS auction that Moonlight Sonata was one of his 1st hybridizing efforts & he thought he was very fortunate that it exceeded what he'd been hoping for from the cross. According to Mr. Lemke's files, it's an 'Invincible' x 'Northern Halo' hybrid. 'Invincible' is a Paul Aden plantagenia seedling [Aden 314 x Aden 802]. Northern Halo is a sieboldiana 'Elegans' sport from Walters Gardens. So basically Moonlight Sonata is a plantagenia x sieboldiana 'Elegans' hybrid a couple of generations removed. It would be interesting to know what Aden's 314 & 802 had in their backgrounds to get 'Invincible'.

leaf detail

moonlightsonataleaf-b 5-1-06.jpg (36.3 KiB) Viewed 4581 times

Moonlight Sonata last May 1st

[hummingbird]

Yes I agree with Reldon, great trouble free grower and the fragrance of the large blooms are yummy! I have a large clump I left behind in Canada, it about 6-7 yrs old. I'm sure you'll enjoy this one Hank. You can view the pic of it on my website, the link is below.

[sugar]

Superb Hosta... all year round in full sun in the container, and doing very well....

[Linda P]

Moonlight Sonata is one of my favorites. Love the name (and the musical piece that shares the name!), love the texture, the fragrant flowers, the excellent growth rate, the sheen on the leaves, the clump form...
Here's a not-so-good spring pic of it, shoving aside all neighbors. (Yes, LG, I'm going to move some of those this year... )
Linda P

[newtohosta-no more]

I'm a fan of this one also. From what everyone has said it seems like it grows well just about anywhere you choose to plant it.

[LucyGoose]

I didn't say a thing Linda.....

[jgh]

I like this one... my most recent indexed pic is from 2005...

and his companion reflects my current posture, returning from a tropical paradise to 20+ inches of snow on the ground...

[Hank Zumach]

Welcome back Jim!! I see that you had the good judgment to be in the tropics for the entire time that we were having blizzards up here in the Frozen Tundra.

[Eleven]

Moonlight Sonata, new from last summer. I can't wait to smell the flowers when it blooms.