Planted LS Black Satin in '06 and just slightly larger leaves and clump, hardly discernible in pics.
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LS Dragonfly added in '08 and seems to be growing okay.

Lakesides added in '10 - April Snow, Cha Cha, Old Smokey, Shoremaster. All nice size plants, so hope they come back strong this spring. I have ordered LS Paisley Print and LS Prophesy Fulfilled.

Here are a couple from AHS Convention this past summer-
LS Party Dress @ Veneros - it was on my list at one time till Dory said it was a slow grower.

From Ryan and Cook garden - LS Surf Rider

and LS Mom

From Bair Fillister Garden - LS San Kao

From 09 MHS Tour - LS Kaledoscope

Paul

I hate to hear that about Lakeside Black Satin. I ordered one this year. I will place it somewhere where I will not expect it to get huge anytime soon.

I have mixed reviews on the Lakeside plants

LS April Snow has been a great grower for me.
LS San Kao, purchased in 2009, showed no growth from 09-10
LS Kalaidescope has been a good grower.
LS Coalminer is a good grower
LS Spellbinder has been a good grower
LS Hula Hoop--hard to say as I was given at tiny tiny division in late 2009
LS Dragonfly-too new to comment
LS Spellbinder-not a good grower
LS Love Affaire-too new to comment
LS Shoremaster-got this one last year, but it was nice size to start with.

That Lakeside Surf Rider is really distinctive and beautiful, a show stopper. Thanks for all the pictures!

In the Hosta on-line journal there is an article about the Traver's garden which contains a bed of 135 different Lakeside hostas. This garden is on the AHS 2011 convention tour. Here are some pics from the journal:

LS Prophecy is a pretty cool plant. You can see the rest of these in person in New England this June.

What a hot topic to start a thread on.

A few years ago I was reviewing what happened since we started shade gardening back around 1997.

One of the conclusions I reached is that we had little luck with Lakeside Hostas even living, yet alone thriving.

I've read, in more than one place, that Lakeside Hostas were specifically bred to be hot climate plants. Last year, 2010, I spoke via telephone to the new owner of the Lakeside Hosta plants and was told at least twice that when this new owner talked to the seller that she denied that story.

It would be useful to verify these circumstances, for history's sake, I think.

All that aside, Lakeside Hostas were born in Tennessee so even if not specifically bred for warmer climates, it seems reasonable that environmental circumstances played a part, don't you think?

In OUR experience, other factors are in play. We were newbies planting TC punies in poor soil in deep shade in a cold climate under trees with invasive roots. Therefore any whine about Lakeside or any other cultivars, by us, are suspect.

We have a few Lakesides that are amongst our faves, and I still work at sneaking some past my wife (recently L.S. Beach Captain is coming on strong, woohoo)!

In conclusion, it appears that, at least here, it may be useful to remove the log from our eye before looking at the speck elsewhere.

Then again, TN really does have a far different climate from northern MI, and at least some of our original thought that perhaps Lakeside Hosta may be better suited to USDA Zones further south from us may do better.

I wish I knew the super-hosta-experts well enough to discuss with them how this topic may relate to the species Hosta in their homeland's varied climate.

hh

I have 5 different Lakesides.Of these,Lakeside Dividing Line,is really slow,but it always returns.
Lakeside Shore Master-a good grower.

Lakeside Love affaire-a good grower for a medio-varigated hosta.
Beach Captain-moderately good
Ripples-a good grower,but I have to watch it,because it comes up early,and may get frozen. Phil

My goodness. That Lakeside Prophecy is wonderful. Slow or not I think I will have to give it a try!

This is very interesting. I know my experience is probably not typical because I do crowd my plants at first. It's only after they expand I look to find a better place for them. I think coralb, you will probably do much better being in zone 7. That Lakeside Prophecy is killing me. At some point, I MUST have it!

One other question - two of my best growers are Carolina Blue and Carolina Sunshine. They must born in the south but they seem to like me. Does anyone else grow them? The Carolina Blue really is at the top of my blues. It stays blue in sun and has grown much better for me than some traditional old favourites like Halcyon. There is a picture of it on the "I" thread with Inniswood and Ice Cream. It is still fairly blue in late August.

Well,being from Carolina,I knew I had to have these! I haven't found Carolina Sunshine yet,but it is on my list. Here is a pic of my Carolina Blue,in this grouping,(the little blue one at upper right). This was its second year last May. Phil

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The Lakesides are a large, diverse group of plants. Some are fast, some are slow. L. Black Satin has never grown well for me and I can't recall ever seeing it in another garden. At least not a big, beautiful clump that made me take notice. It is generally agreed that there was something about Mary's garden that fostered the deep, deep color of her "black" hostas.

Hosta Liners has a 4" sized LS Prophecy for $9.50. It's what they call market sized. I bought one and I'll stick it in a container for a year while I look for the right spot.

Steve

Hosta Choice in Canada lists it but is out. I guess I'll have to wait for next year.

Phil, I wish I could send you a division of Carolina Sunshine. It has been wonderful, fast and totally sun tolerant for me. Your Carolina Blue will soon take over that very nice little triangle.

LS Prophecy goes on my want list!
A lot of places have it, at very varied prices.
ilovehostas - $18
whiteoak - $14
landofthegiantshosta - $35
jims - $25

And look at THIS one, Hosta Lakeside Prophecy Fulfilled

Here is a link that might be useful: Lakeside Prophecy Fulfilled

Myrle,thanks for the offer,but I think I will find one locally. I found a better pic of Carolina Blue. Take a look. Phil

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