Last Year's Favorites

[kaylyred]

This time of year, I'm always starting to get excited about gardening and hostas, so I'm always planning new additions. What better way than to ask everyone what their favorite hostas were last year. So, picture your garden...and tell me, off the top of your head, what your standouts were.

Mine are:

Sagae - Always gorgeous. Also my biggest, so it always gets attention.
Strip Tease - Such a great grower. Mine's only been with me for two years and it's lush and full.
Journey's End - From Chris. Super eye-catching.
Krossa Regal - This sucker doubles its size every year and looks amazing.
Rainbow's End - Another from Chris. The color on this small hosta is stunning.
Paradise Island - Aaaand, another from Chris. Growing fast and looking glorious.
Queen of the Seas - 2nd year last year. Very regal.
Roy Klehm - Slow growing, but beautiful color and form.
Blue Ivory - Also a slow grower, but the COLOR!

That's my list. What's yours?

[Schattenfreude]

With all of the heat and persistent drought last summer, I simply didn't have the desire to take any pics--- there wasn't much photogenic, if you know what I mean. However, my Cathedral Windows really sparkled, despite it all. And my Venetian Blue (also from Chris) really grew a lot from the previous year. The last one I'll mention is Lakeside Meadow Ice, yet another from Chris. It has a wide, low, spreading habit with leaves that don't droop much. I also love the gloss to her leaves.... and I'm not really big into green & white hostas, either!

Kevin in KC

[paul_in_mn]

Some that made a nice change from the previous year-

Atlantis - think this year will be even better
Blueberry Muffin - newer and really took off, nice blue early then early spring 90's got to it
Cathedral Windows - starting to show off
Earth Angel - leaf colors and size really stood out last year
Ginsu Knife - keeps adding long wavy leaves all summer
Golden Meadows - never ending color changes to leaves
Heat Wave - had struggled, but most have found a good spot finally
Hoosier Dome- leaf size jumped
Jack of Diamonds - like Toku. Flavo - can't have too many of these colors
Journey's End - good growth in divisions and leaf size
Key Lime Pie (pic below) - a beauty and growing strong
On Stage - worth waiting for, getting better every year
Pistache - been slowly increasing, but starting to take off
Spring Fling - light edged rippled leaves starting to mature
Sweet Innocence - soft colors

[kaylyred]

'Key Lime Pie' is a gorgeous one, Paul. What's the dark green cupped one to the (viewer) left?

[paul_in_mn]

'Key Lime Pie' is a gorgeous one, Paul. What's the dark green cupped one to the (viewer) left?

Green sport of Clifford's Comet - dark green and has great shape, split off in '08 (pic below from '11). Much bigger than Clifford's Comet.

[kaylyred]

It's really sharp! Were you planning to register it?

[gesila9]

Without a doubt, my Niagara Falls was the show stopper. The transformation from it's first year to second was amazing:

[paul_in_mn]

It's really sharp! Were you planning to register it?

No, I think this family(Francee/Patriot/Loyalist) commonly sports, so I'm sure their is something already out there.

[kaylyred]

Gesila, 'Niagra Falls' was on my "maybe" list this year. Looks like I might have to add it to must-haves.

[Pieter]

Green sport of Clifford's Comet - dark green and has great shape, split off in '08 (pic below from '11). Much bigger than Clifford's Comet.

Paul, that's frightfully similar to the green sports I regularly get out of 'Revolution' -which I call "Green Revolution"-, it's much more vigorous that it's parent and has its charm in its own right. I regularly excise green sports from my 'Revolution' and never have a problem selling them because they look so impressive.

FWIW, some say 'Clifford's Comet' and 'Revolution' are the same cultivar having originated in different places at different times. Use my HLCompare facility to put them side-by-side and make your own judgement.

[ViolaAnn]

How to pick favourites - they are like children, you know. But here are some.

'Curly Fries' was new last year and I really liked it.

'Curly Fries' - July 21

'Fire Island'

'Fire Island' June 7

'Harpoon' - love the free, loose mound it makes.

'Harpoon' - July 3

'High Society'

'High Society' - July 14

'June' - that perennial favourite. And fast growing as well. Interesting because it looks quite different in different light conditions.

'June' - June 13

[ViolaAnn]

'Korean Snow'

'Korean Snow' - June 26

'Lakeside Mom' - love the soft colour and streaks.

'Lakeside Mom' - June 26

'Liberty' - not much room in my garden for really large hostas; so this one is really special and a real drama queen.

'Liberty' - July 3

'Little Sunspot' is a real bright spot in the garden.

'Little Sunspot' - July 3

'Marilyn Monroe' - for a green hosta, this one is great. Wavy leaves with white backs. Spidery flowers if the summer is long enough.

'Marilyn Monroe' - July 3

[ViolaAnn]

Just a few more and then I have to break for dinner and a meeting and some practicing.

'Paul's Glory'

'Paul's Glory' - July 15

'Summer Breeze' is another bright spot.

'Summer Breeze' - July 14

'Wheee!' was another that was new last season and which I think will be a stunner.

'Wheee!' - July 14

'X-rated' is a good grower for a mini, especially one with a lot of white.

'X-rated' - July 3

[redcrx]

Paul and Pieter - I registered one that looked like that - out of Pathfinder.
http://www.perennialnursery.com/forums/ ... 10#p486810

I know I have seen another one in the Hosta Library - found it - Pitch Black
http://www.hostalibrary.org/p/pitchblack.html
- same round leaf and leaf tip.

Here is my Take the Green Path.

Take the Green Path - July 1, 2011

[kaylyred]

Ann, those are some real beauties. I forgot to mention 'High Society' on my list. Definitely a favorite last year. It was my first year with it, and I grew it in a container, but it really took off and looked fantastic. I can't wait to see it this year.

'Lakeside Mom' is gorgeous. Do you use it as a breeder? I'm disappointed that my 'Christmas Tree Gala' came up last year as 'Christmas Tree,' without a streaked leaf in sight.

[ViolaAnn]

Karen - Unfortunately, so far 'Lakeside Mom' has not set seed for me. I'm looking forward to the day it does.

[thy]

Ann, how much sun do you give your X-Rated ?

[ViolaAnn]

Hi,

'X-rated' gets some morning sun, but it's NW of a large oak tree, so not for too long. Only filtered light after that. When I divided a couple of sections off to sell a couple of years ago, I divided the remainder into 3 and replanted into 3 groups. I've done that with quite a few of my hostas and it makes the clump look larger sooner. Also gives me a smaller division to disturb should I divide it in the future.

[thy]

Thank's Ann

Some are always favirites like June, Sagae, BME ect

Queen of the Seas
El Niño
Marakesh
Deep Blue Sea
Neptune

But for never hostas Brother Stephan is stunning and a fast grower

Potomac Pride have been a show stopper the last years. It took it long time before it started to talk, but now is big, bold and beautiful