I have and like Queen of the Seas, Clovelly, Reptilian, Manhattan, Elvis Lives, Marilyn Monroe, Permanent Wave. Niagara Falls and Komodo Dragon also will have a piecrust, but mine are too young yet.
Bernd

I have Dawns Early Light,and Queen of the Seas,and they are both good growers. Dawns Early Light is beautiful in early spring,when the leaves emerge as acid yellow in color,then turn more green later,but still very attractive. Phil

I must admit to an affinity for 'Dawn's Early Light', it is one I cannot wait to see again coming spring.

And there's another piecrusted early riser I'm fond of, and that's 'Sea Octopus'.

Pieter

I must put in a plug for "Niagara Falls'. It's piecrust edge is very prominent and it has a lovely, graceful, flowing shape to set it off. It is one of the most asked about hosta that I grow.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Dawn's Early Light in the spring! It positively glows like no other plant in my garden.

Queen of the Seas is a fantastic grower. I have her in full mid-day sun and she still looks great at the end of the season.

Also consider Dancing Queen. She really accents other hostas nicely!

Thank you all

Next to Journeys End, I have now decided to put Dancing Queen and Clovelly - I found that they are related and everyone seems to like them.

Follow up questions:
Can I believe the 30 inch spacing I find on various online sources?

Ben - nice collection. It seems you and I are starting about the same time. I have Journey's end, Marylin Monroe, Fragrant Star and Mirage for my ripples, bought last year. I also a PAUSDC someone gave to me.

Phil and Mellisa - thanks for the input, does Dawn's Early Light take sun? I think I have to find a place for that one. Queen of the Seas seems quite large. I think I know where that one might go.

Pietre - Sea Octopus looks great. I have plenty room for that. Does it have some substance? (Rabbits) When I googled it I didn't find anyone selling it.

Ninamarie - I agree Niagara Falls is fabulous. I'm going to buy it and get it started, even though I don't know where it goes. What conditions is yours growing in?

Again, thanks for the input, now I'm shopping for smalls and blues.

Beverly

Interesting, Beverly. Both Dancing Queen and Clovelly were introduced by Kent Terpening. Earlier this year he posted on this forum about DQ and how it does in the sun. Bottom line is that Kent says he hybridizes all his plants to be able to take a lot of sun. Below is the link to the DQ thread.

Steve

Here is a link that might be useful: Anyone Grow Dancing Queen?

Bev, 'Sea Octopus' has decent substance, but I think there's little that'll deter a determined rabbit. You're right, it's not a variety you see very often, I got mine in a local trade and while initially it was not what I'd expected/hoped for, it has certainly become a favourite because of the shape and vigour. It's a ready bloomer with rich purple flowers and it's very fertile. I seem to be at odds with the indicated blooming period from the registration for this cultivar, mine flowers considerably earlier than September, like mid-June, and sees a second flush in September. Given it's heritage, that's unusual and unexpected and perhaps what I have here is not as indicated. Oddly enough, my favourite yellow seedling from it, flowered mid-August last year, so, what's up with that?

Take a look at the pix in the HL for this one, you'll see 2 seemingly very different forms, with the narrow-leafed ones from Patty Woodbury and Shauna Cannon being the ones I'd hoped to get, but the registration shows a much wider leaf (12x3) than what shows in those shots, which makes me wonder if those 2 are indeed the variety in question.

Pieter

Beverly,I have Dawn's Early Light in morning sun,and plenty of sun during mid day,then it goes into dappled shade until sunset. It seems to like it very well. When it comes up this year,it will be the third year. Phil

Here is a pic of my Dawns Early Light. Phil

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Beverley, I planted H. 'Niagara Falls' in a lot of sun, just tucked in behind a large clematis.
It has fared very well, and grown very quickly under these conditions.
It's a tiny, postage stamp of a garden, in which 'Niagara Falls commands pride of place. It has exhibited good sun tolerance, and does not seem to be bothered by slugs or sun damage.

Thanks all for your help.

Ninamarie, I do have a spot with a lot of sun now, but it gets late afternoon shade. The spot gets more shade each year as trees grow. I love Niagra Falls, always have, but struggle with where to put it. I'll try it in this sunny and move it if I have to later.

Pieter, I noticed in Papou's album, another great sea octopus - very nice. Still plan on getting it.

Phil, thanks for the picture of Dawn's Early Light - fabulous.

I'm still shopping, Beverly

As for spacing, a mature Journey's End could be a 70-inch hosta, so you would want to give it room to show off.

Mine is 67 inches across. Was 58 the year before and 43 the previous year.

Bev, I just came across Papou's picture of 'Sea Octopus', seen here below. While his certainly looks like what I have here, I couldn't help but notice the date on his picture and the fact that I cannot see even a hint of scapes in this shot.

Papou being an ex-military man I suspect the date indicated is 7 June, not July 6. Mine here out West is in full bloom by mid/late June and by July pods are developing on the scapes. All very puzzling. I'll have to get a division of mine into the hands of someone back East to get a better idea of when it blooms in longer, colder winter climate areas.

Pieter

What's the rush, I am still waiting to shop for hosta plants. Land of the Giants Hosta Farm is not showing the 2012 catalog yet, though someone in the Seed Growers Forum says it will happen soon. Until recently I was still shopping for hosta seeds to plant them now.
Bernd

I agree with you Bernd. I'm waiting for Venero to update their catalog. I see Land of the Giants is in Wisconsin, I'll check them out too. Thats why I'm just "shopping" and have not ordered yet. I have a great time on these cold days, imagining what plants I might buy. Once I commit, the fun of shopping is over.

Beverly
Still Shopping

Now also the 2012 Hosta Catalog is up at the Land of the Giants Hosta Farm web site. Now I will start looking for a few.
Bernd