Okay all you flower naysayers - H. 'Grand Slam'

Post by **Chris_W** » Jan 01, 2008 3:36 pm

Going through all of my pictures while working on the catalog I found this picture of H. 'Grand Slam' in bloom. To me this is such a beautiful display I just can't imagine cutting them off.

It seems that more and more I seek out hostas with nice flowers, and this one has such pretty little inflorescence leaves. I also seem to be more and more attracted to solid colored plants.

So what do you think. Cut them down?

allnitro · Post by **allnitro** » Jan 01, 2008 4:44 pm

Not until spring Chris.

sugar · Post by **sugar** » Jan 01, 2008 4:51 pm

For hostas, in general the flowers seldom match variegated plants (unless they are pure white), but on solid colored plants they sometimes really work

Best flowers over here are those on Roller Coaster Ride

Spider · Post by **Spider** » Jan 01, 2008 4:52 pm

H

no, don't cut down those flowers!

Those are nice and dark purple.

SUEDIA · Post by **SUEDIA** » Jan 01, 2008 5:53 pm

Keep the flowers, purple is one of my favorite colors for blossums. I have Honeybells that has the most beautiful flowers. I know the hosta isn't that special, but I sure know when it is blooming. I always keep the flowers, you never know what color of baby will come up as a volunteer. I'm not into the growing part.(YET) You never know though, the forum has special powers along that line.
Sue

Carol W · Post by **Carol W** » Jan 01, 2008 9:25 pm

SUEDIA wrote:Keep the flowers, purple is one of my favorite colors for blossums. I have Honeybells that has the most beautiful flowers. I know the hosta isn't that special, but I sure know when it is blooming. I always keep the flowers, you never know what color of baby will come up as a volunteer. I'm not into the growing part.(YET) You never know though, the forum has special powers along that line.
Sue

Well said! I've often wondered if some of those sports aren't from seeds from the plant and grown/growing?

But no I wouldn't cut the flowers on any hosta! I believe the flowers just add to the beauty!

newtohosta-no more · Post by **newtohosta-no more** » Jan 01, 2008 10:04 pm

I don't cut the scapes either, because I do love the flowers. (so do the bees and hummers) That pic is absolutely gorgeous, Chris! I'll have to pay attention next year when my 'Grand Slam' blooms.

largosmom · Post by **largosmom** » Jan 01, 2008 11:15 pm

I'll take flowers like that any day.

Laura

Linda P · Post by **Linda P** » Jan 02, 2008 11:24 am

The only hosta flower scapes I ever cut are the ones I bring in the house to put in bouquets.
I do cut the scapes on undulata albomarginata when they're done blooming. Everything else stays, even through the winter, when they serve as markers in the snow.
Linda P

jgh · Post by **jgh** » Jan 02, 2008 12:07 pm

I'm always curious when a new green hosta is marketed... always want to know what qualities it could have that could make marketers go up against the casual shopper's "green hosta? I've already got the green one" attitude.

Grand Slam has apparently been around, but expensive until recently. It is one of Herb Benedict's, registered as Benedict/Gowen, so it must be one of those Hideko Gowen got as the informally-adopted heir to the Benedict hosta heritage. It's primary appeal seems to be the leathery, heavy substance of the leaves and the nice scalloped edges. Flowers are mentioned in the description, but it takes a photo like Chris' to make them part of the appeal.

(BTW - word is, Hideko and Ben are looking to sell their place... too much to keep it all up, even with the help of some hosta lovers who hang out with the Gowens and who have helped clean up the place. Some pretty impressive hostas there...)

zackspapa · Post by **zackspapa** » Jan 02, 2008 10:40 pm

Phantom is the only hosta I never cut because of the color of scapes and flowers together. Beautiful!!!

Larry

LucyGoose · Post by **LucyGoose** » Jan 02, 2008 11:05 pm

I don't cut either.....too many hummers around......I cut them in the fall, hopefully before the seeds pop.

kitgary · Post by **kitgary** » Jan 03, 2008 8:19 am

I don't cut flower scapes anymore either. Our hummingbirds love hosta blooms and won't use our hummer feeders. Besides, I need the hosta seed to grow in winter to stave off hosta withdrawal!!!!

Pieter · Post by **Pieter** » Jan 03, 2008 1:10 pm

Our hummingbirds love hosta blooms

Boy, wish the hummers we get visited our Hosta flowers, must be a species related thing. Up where we are in Richmond, B.C., it seems as if the hummers we get are drawn mostly to florescenses with lots of red in them, so we see them over at our Crocosmias and they love our Honeysuckle, but have yet to see one in our Hostas.....

Post by **Chris_W** » Jan 03, 2008 3:13 pm

The hummingbirds really dive bomb our hosta flowers too. They seem to be picky about which they go to, though.

I'm glad you liked this picture. This was one of my favorite flower pictures this year

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Jan 09, 2008 6:14 am

Thanks, Chris, for a very nice picture. It sure brightens up a gloomy winter day.
This is one of my absolute favorites, no matter how many people tell me that H. 'Marilyn Monroe' is prettier, has more class. Beauty is in the eye ... etc.
Not only does it show a beautiful color display from september until the first frost, but I especially like it as a pod parent in hybridizing, as it has given me some really nice, promising seedlings (red petioles, wavy edges, white backs) and it is extremely fertile.
Furthermore I'm very interested in species, and this appears to be a selected and named H. longipes var. latifolia morph.

Greetings from the Hosta Mill,

Rob

hummingbird · Post by **hummingbird** » Jan 09, 2008 2:43 pm

Beautiful flowers, captured perfectly!

Post by **Chris_W** » Jan 09, 2008 5:06 pm

Thanks for the feedback, and thanks for the information Rob. It bloomed really late here, so I'm not sure how easy it would be to work with but I'll definitely keep that in mind about its fertility.

I did notice that Marilyn Monroe had pretty close to the same flowers, but the flowers I had on MM were shorter, as is the plant overall. I agree they are similar but would want to grow Marilyn Monroe longer before I could compare them more.

tsneal · Post by **tsneal** » Jan 11, 2008 11:42 pm

Cut them off...that is crazy talk

Love the flowers! Thanks for the great picture Chris.

Stephanie

ViolaAnn · Post by **ViolaAnn** » Jan 12, 2008 8:13 am

I really like the purple in those flowers too. The only one I have which is close to that intensity of colour is Clausa and the flowers never actually open on it.

I DO have Marilyn Monroe - will be in its third year in 2008, but it has yet to bloom for me. If it doesn't bloom this year I'll consider relocating it.

Ann