Pic of the Day--Red Dragon
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Pic of the Day--Red Dragon
Hi All--Today's variety, Red Dragon, is an introduction of one of the hosta world's premier hybridizers, Ron Livingston. In 2003 Ron generously sent me a plant to see how it would do in my garden. I am happy to say it has grown very well. It is planted in a spot that gets about 4-6 hours of mid-day and afternoon sun. The first pic was taken on June 3, 2003, right as the plant was about to be put in the ground. The second pic was taken on July 24, 2003. I was really impressed with how much growth had taken place in the first seven weeks after planting. At that time the plant was 15x9. A year later, the 3rd pic, it was way up to 30x16, and by 2005, the 4th pic, it was an impressive 39x19. That is a great growth rate for a plant with an expected mature size as a "medium" variety, perhaps the best I have had. The petioles are a nice red and, as shown in the last pic, the scapes are an eye-catching dark red.
Registry - not registered
MyHostas - http://myhostas.be/db/hostas/Red+Dragon
Hosta Library - http://www.hostalibrary.org/r/reddragon.html
Registry - not registered
MyHostas - http://myhostas.be/db/hostas/Red+Dragon
Hosta Library - http://www.hostalibrary.org/r/reddragon.html
Hank
Better Gnomes & Gardens
zone 4B-5A
Latitude: 43° 48' 51" N
Better Gnomes & Gardens
zone 4B-5A
Latitude: 43° 48' 51" N
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- Posts: 3262
- Joined: Oct 11, 2001 8:00 pm
- Location: Stoddard, WI
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- Joined: Jan 25, 2007 12:51 pm
- Location: kansas, usa zone 5b
Sure, Hank... trot out your Atom Smasher, your Red Dragon... find things I don't have and can't afford so I can't disagree with you!
Seriously, I know this is one of the first of Ron's to hit the market, and it is still pretty pricey. With Red October selling for $10-15, I just haven't been able to justify RD. I don't know if it was for sale in 2003 when Ron gave it to you, but you must have felt rich when you saw it listed in a catalog in 2004 for a whopping $175. The same catalog had it for $80 last year... and $35 this year.
(mantra... patience, Grasshopper... the price will come down...)
So this year I did get to order a few wholesale and will add it to my display and sell a few. Given its attractiveness and good name, I expect we will see the price coming down some more.
Seriously, I know this is one of the first of Ron's to hit the market, and it is still pretty pricey. With Red October selling for $10-15, I just haven't been able to justify RD. I don't know if it was for sale in 2003 when Ron gave it to you, but you must have felt rich when you saw it listed in a catalog in 2004 for a whopping $175. The same catalog had it for $80 last year... and $35 this year.
(mantra... patience, Grasshopper... the price will come down...)
So this year I did get to order a few wholesale and will add it to my display and sell a few. Given its attractiveness and good name, I expect we will see the price coming down some more.
Nice one Hank! I didn't realize it was that visually dramatic a plant. I'll have to keep my eyes open for one of these.
JGH I think it would be worth spending the $35...especially if its as fast a grower as Hank's...my RO will be in its 3rd year and I'm willing to bet its still going to have only one pip when it emerges. It is one finicky plant. It gets tons of water, about 1 hour of sun from around 4 to 5 late in the day. Just MHO tho.
JGH I think it would be worth spending the $35...especially if its as fast a grower as Hank's...my RO will be in its 3rd year and I'm willing to bet its still going to have only one pip when it emerges. It is one finicky plant. It gets tons of water, about 1 hour of sun from around 4 to 5 late in the day. Just MHO tho.
~PIM~
°`°º¤ø,¸¸Kindness is the oil that takes the friction out of life¸¸,ø¤º°`°
°`°º¤ø,¸¸Kindness is the oil that takes the friction out of life¸¸,ø¤º°`°
Got this plant this year. Payed 15 EUR (20 USD) for a plant the size of Hank's in the first picture.
Too early to say a lot on this plant, but the pictures show an excellent plant
Too early to say a lot on this plant, but the pictures show an excellent plant
A Hosta a Day :http://hostatalk.blogspot.com/
Nice pic's Hank!! I don't have it but I do have Red October.....
Playinmud, I will have to go out and look at my RO....It is in full sun, (after losing 2 trees) and I thought it did good....I am going to have to go count eyes....
Sure, Hank... trot out your Atom Smasher, your Red Dragon... find things I don't have and can't afford so I can't disagree with you!
Jim, I love you.....You always make me laugh!
Playinmud, I will have to go out and look at my RO....It is in full sun, (after losing 2 trees) and I thought it did good....I am going to have to go count eyes....
Sure, Hank... trot out your Atom Smasher, your Red Dragon... find things I don't have and can't afford so I can't disagree with you!
Jim, I love you.....You always make me laugh!
Re: Pic of the Day--Red Dragon
I have had this plant since 2010. It sits in strong mid-day sun.
Here it is in early 2010: And with a scape: I didn't get photos of the open flowers but here it is in 2011 coming into flower:
Here it is in early 2010: And with a scape: I didn't get photos of the open flowers but here it is in 2011 coming into flower:
Ed McHugh, Sicklerville NJ
Mockingbird feeding juvenile yellow raisons - never leave home without them.
Mockingbird feeding juvenile yellow raisons - never leave home without them.
Re: Pic of the Day--Red Dragon
And here is Red Dragon in 2012:
- Attachments
Ed McHugh, Sicklerville NJ
Mockingbird feeding juvenile yellow raisons - never leave home without them.
Mockingbird feeding juvenile yellow raisons - never leave home without them.
- kaylyred
- Posts: 533
- Joined: Mar 08, 2010 1:50 pm
- USDA Zone: 5a
- Location: Wisconsin, Zone 5a
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Re: Pic of the Day--Red Dragon
~ Karen
Check out Petiole Junction, my gardening blog!
See my little hosta list
I've also got a garden photo gallery.
Check out Petiole Junction, my gardening blog!
See my little hosta list
I've also got a garden photo gallery.
Re: Pic of the Day--Red Dragon
An update on Red Dragon
In the 2013 season And early in the 2014 season And later
In the 2013 season And early in the 2014 season And later
Ed McHugh, Sicklerville NJ
Mockingbird feeding juvenile yellow raisons - never leave home without them.
Mockingbird feeding juvenile yellow raisons - never leave home without them.
Re: Pic of the Day--Red Dragon
Red Dragon putting out its flower scapes.
Ed McHugh, Sicklerville NJ
Mockingbird feeding juvenile yellow raisons - never leave home without them.
Mockingbird feeding juvenile yellow raisons - never leave home without them.
Re: Pic of the Day--Red Dragon
Red Dragon today:
Ed McHugh, Sicklerville NJ
Mockingbird feeding juvenile yellow raisons - never leave home without them.
Mockingbird feeding juvenile yellow raisons - never leave home without them.