Is this Lancifolia???

[party_music50]

I think this is my 5th year with this hosta -- it was given to me as Lancifolia, but I've always questioned that. I checked and the leaves are roughly 5" long, which seems too short.

[Tigger]

I'd have to check (memory isn't what it used to be!) but shouldn't Lancifolia have some speckles on the petioles? This color doesn't seem as rich, and the leaves do look a little short.

David

[party_music50]

Thanks for the reply David. I looked it up in the hosta book for size/characteristics before I even posted, and I think this hosta doesn't even come close to the description of Lancifolia. lol! The leaf size and vein count seems wrong, and I couldn't detect any red speckling anywhere, but I'm no expert like many of you are.

[Chris_W]

At first glance it looks like lancifolia to me. Being up against the house like that might be keeping it a little smaller. When it flowers you could post pictures again.

David, if not lancifolia, what else would you suggest?

[kaylyred]

Looks like the lancifolia I have growing in deep shade. With more sun, the leaves are more elongated, but my shade-dwellers (also directly under a soul-sucking maple) have shorter, smaller leaves.

[Tigger]

I think there's a chance it is Lancifolia, but would want to see blooms to be sure. Other options would be something like Raspberry Sorbet, but the substance here is more like Lancifolia. Since Lancifolia is on my top 10 list of found/pass-along hostas, I'd say stick with the ID.

[redcrx]

What about the all green form of Ani Machi - I don't have one to compare? My Raspberry Sorbet has more ripples in the leaves though.

[party_music50]

Chris, I always forget that the flowers are used for ID purposes. I'm thinking they aren't as dark as I expected them to be, but will check for sure this year.

kaylyred, it never occurred to me that sunlight would make that kind of difference in the leaves, but I'd say this hosta gets a mix of conditions more like part sun. It has a southern exposure, but is partially shaded throughout the day. BTW: the 'soul sucking maple' cracks me up!

Tigger, I've got Raspberry Sorbet so know that's not what it is. This guy came in a trade. I sure do hope that someone reminds me to get photos of the flowers this year.

redcrx, I'll have to do some research to see what that is...

Thank you for the replies!

[Tigger]

It finally stopped raining so I could go poke at my Lancifolia. The red speckles only last a couple of inches along the petiole from the ground. Worth checking.

[party_music50]

OMG, I pushed everything back to inspect it and there are red (brownish red?) speckles and noticeable striations all up the stems, from the ground to 5" up or so. By striations I mean vertical lines of reddish color that are about 1/4" long. Weird. I have never noticed them before because I always look from the top. lol!

[loisf]

When we moved into our home 13 years ago, we had tons of Lancifolia along our driveway and in another area, tons of a very small hosta that looks and flowers just like Lancifolia but is much smaller. These clumps have never gotten any bigger than 12" across. I haven't checked for spots on the petioles, but I will. These small plants get plenty of late afternoon sun and grow in an area that has many other varieties of hosta that grow according to expectations. I have never been able to figure out what they are if not Lancifolia.