Komodo Dragon

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boops
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Komodo Dragon

Post by boops »

Has anyone else had Komodo Dragon take forever to grow?

Hosta Registry - http://www.hostaregistrar.org/detail.ph ... o%20Dragon
MyHostas - http://myhostas.be/db/hostas/Komodo+Dragon
Hosta Library - http://www.hostalibrary.org/k/komodo.html
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Mark Raw
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Location: North West Britain (UK)

Re: Komodo Dragon

Post by Mark Raw »

Isn't that true of all the biggies? Take forever to get to some size
Especially the big blues
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boops
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Re: Komodo Dragon

Post by boops »

I believe its considered a dark green-and and the Hosta Library says a "fast grower"??? Not mine. But the bugs appear to like it :evil:

Image

But they don't like my Wu- :D

Image
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Linda P
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Re: Komodo Dragon

Post by Linda P »

How long have you had it? Fast growing is a relative term. I'm pretty sure it took about 5 years for
my Komodo Dragon to reach anywhere near its projected size, and it is still not as big as it will be eventually. Mine was planted
in 2005, so it's 7 years old this year. It will also make a difference whether you started with a plant that was grown on for a couple
of years or more from tissue culture. I planted a tiny little tissue culture liner of Elatior in 2000. Thought the thing would never grow,
let alone reach monster status. 12 years later, it measures over 100" across.
Patience is necessary if you're growing the giants. In a few years you'll wonder why you planted them all so close and have
to kill some more grass and move half of them.
And time remembered is grief forgotten,
And frosts are slain and flowers begotten.....
Algernon Charles Swinburne

Latitude: 41° 51' 12.1572"


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boops
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Re: Komodo Dragon

Post by boops »

I received mine spring of 2011 as a half pint-about 1/2 the size that Chris sends, so I guess I'm just impatient. I planted Empress Wu the same time, but she appears to grow faster.
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paul_in_mn
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Re: Komodo Dragon

Post by paul_in_mn »

Here's progression 2009 to 2012 - L to R, T to B. Moved KD in 2011, still a year or two away from mature leaves I think.
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Paul

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boops
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Re: Komodo Dragon

Post by boops »

Very nice-I guess next year I'll see more growth and will be spraying it so the bugs don't eat it. :evil:
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morgansrgr8
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Re: Komodo Dragon

Post by morgansrgr8 »

I got mine in 08 from Chris. It is about 10 eyes now and looks pretty good. I did move it once in the 4 years so I think its doing very well considering the hard time it had this spring.
Linda
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ogrefcf
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Re: Komodo Dragon

Post by ogrefcf »

Mine jumped pretty good from last year. I'll try to get some pictures later. Been a good grower for me.
Owen
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boops
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Re: Komodo Dragon

Post by boops »

Good to hear, looking forward to photos.
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ogrefcf
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Re: Komodo Dragon

Post by ogrefcf »

Here was mine last year. It's in the back left. Couldn't find any closer pictures, but it shows its size.
Image

This year. The Japanese maple didn't grow much and is about the same size. Komodo is almost as tall as the tree,
Image

When there's some more light I'll try to take a picture from the same spot as the first.
Owen
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boops
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Re: Komodo Dragon

Post by boops »

Nice growth-I don't have any pics from last year-but I'll be sure to keep a photo history of it and the rest of my Hosta for comparison.
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NancyL
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Re: Komodo Dragon

Post by NancyL »

Mine grow extremely quickly in my garden in MD. I have had them eaten by voles, mowed down by deer in July and the keep increasing. They are my favorite hosta. Here is a photo of them about a year after I had divided from my original clumps. Their buddies are also a fast grower which I have divided off my originals - Abby. I don't know what they minatures are though.





The second photo is of them about 2 years later. I have more recent photos but can't find them. They are simply gorgeous!
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boops
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Re: Komodo Dragon

Post by boops »

Holey Moley-nice dragons. Mine just isn't doing much this year-I think its the disgusting weather. I should see an increase in size next year.
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NancyL
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Re: Komodo Dragon

Post by NancyL »

Unfortunately, they look like celery stalks right now I am told. I am resigned to digging all my hostas and daylilies and moving them to our place in MI where the deer herd is miniscule compared to MD. Does anyone know the sun tolerance of Komodos? I have precious little shade here.
The kiss of the sun for pardon
The song of the birds for mirth
One is nearer God's heart in the garden
Than anywhere on earth
Doris Frances Gurney "Garden Thoughts"
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boops
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Re: Komodo Dragon

Post by boops »

I have mine in dappled sun (thru pine tree branches above) most of the day. Glad I don't have deer around my place-just rampaging squirrels and an occasional hawk dive bombing the little birds in my yard and totaled my Lord Baltimore Hibiscus plant with an attack on a bird. :eek: :bawl:
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kaylyred
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Re: Komodo Dragon

Post by kaylyred »

My 'Komodo Dragon' is a single eye division from a mature plant that I picked up last year. Still one eye this year, but it's a very BIG eye and the plant looks very nice. I wouldn't say it has grown fast so far (I was hoping it might add an eye this year), but it's a looker. In moderate shade, mine stays a glaucous green. I'd say that it gets dappled shade in the morning, and then about 2 hours of direct sun in summer, followed by dappled shade and then heavy shade in the afternoon.
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kaylyred
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Re: Komodo Dragon

Post by kaylyred »

Was a single eye last year. Here it is this year, growing very well.

Image
~ Karen

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ogrefcf
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Re: Komodo Dragon

Post by ogrefcf »

Here's mine in it's 3rd year. Got quite a bit taller than Lakeside Cha Cha. About 7 eyes.

Image
Owen
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kaylyred
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Re: Komodo Dragon

Post by kaylyred »

Surprising how much taller yours is! Mine's taller than the picture shows, but nothing like that. I hope it does get some height. Mine are still unfurling somewhat and doing their spring growth thing. We'll see how it looks in a few weeks. Still, I don't think it'll be that tall.
~ Karen

Check out Petiole Junction, my gardening blog!
See my little hosta list
I've also got a garden photo gallery.
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