I stopped by my local hosta nursery this morning while a fellow hostaholic from "up the valley" was visiting. Cam home with 'Raspberry Sundae'. So far I've not been able to find any info about its heritage. It's lovely - "stark white leaves trimmed by a moderately wide, deep green margin. Deep raspberry-red petioles carry color right into the base of the leaf." Hence the impulse buy. PPAF but so far, no indication of its heritage. Not yet registered although it is listed on the MyHostas Database.
Very interesting. I wonder if it's another of those Terra Nova plants that doesn't grow well beyond the PNW, but it's sure pretty. Their website says "[we] worked on this one for many years" so it's some kind of hybrid. The late blooms and red petioles must come from longipes blood. Not sure why they haven't registered it yet, but maybe it's pending.
We are growing it, and it grows very well for a white centered plant with red heritage. No losses the first winter and they are now setting dormant buds so I expect to have some with multiple eyes when we start selling them next spring. Terra Nova prefers to keep its heritage a bit of a secret so that others won't try to reproduce their work. When I was there in 2005 they had some amazing red stemmed hostas that they had been working on, including one that had red up the margins that just blew me away. Dan mentioned he was concerned that they were too fertile, and didn't want to introduce offspring until they had some sterile hybrids.
Thanks, Chris for the explanation of the deep dark secret of the heritage. And thanks also for indicating that they are growing well for you and for fixing my typo.
I should know better than to go visit my local hosta nursery (a good one) because I know for sure I'll come home with an impulse buy not on my list. However, this one may be a winner.
Should also have said that if Chris is selling this one the rest of you in the USA should be lining up for it. It's not supposed to get too large so probably just about anyone can fit it into their garden.
I picked my Raspberry Sundae up a couple weeks ago here in Peterborough. Couldn't pass it up. I can't wait to see it when it is mature.
I also picked up another new hosta called The King. It has some tan/brown huges in the leaf. I hope it stays that way. I think it was a medium/large hosta. I haven't really researched it too much at this point. Is anyone familiar with H. The King?
I got Raspberry Sundae from Casita Azul this spring. So far it looks good, doing well, but no blooms yet. It was a kind of an impulse buy after I had already bought Raspberry Sorbet (but none of you know anything about impulse hosta buying, do you? I thought not, lol). Love the red in the stems, looking forard to the flowers! It looks as if it will be stunning.
PPAF but so far, no indication of its heritage. Not yet registered although it is listed on the MyHostas Database.
