I have two Hosta species in my yard, one of which came in as a NOID. It's the one I'll start off with: Hosta clausa var. normalis.

The first shot is from mid-March last year and shows a number of recent divisions, as well as a nice sized clump in a 2-ballon pot. This is a rather rhizomatous specie, some people consider it borderline invasive.

The second shot is probably the same 2-gallon pot about 3 weeks later, filled out quite nicely. You can probably see a nice red ridge on the back of the petiole if you look closely at the center of the picture.

It flowers profusely with a nice dark, rich shade of purple.

The second specie I have is Hosta sieboldii "Alba" and while it too is rhizomatous, it's not near as bad as clausa. Cannot seem to find any recent pictures of it just now, will post if and when I find them.

Pieter

WOW! The blossom of the H. clausa var. normalis is beautiful. It is very similar to my H. ventricosa which has just a bit more white. How LONG they are! I like it. What are the conditions where you have it planted, or is it still potted?

Thanks for sharing, Pieter. If I wanted to blow the picture touse as a framed wall photo could I get your permission? I don't know how to do that yet, but would like a grouping of three Hosta blossom photos on my LR wall and that sure qualifies.

Les

Les, I'll have to make a point of measuring it this spring, but it doesn't strike as overly long, 'bout the same size as 'Golden Tiara'.

If you want to print out that picture, I'd be happy to provide you a copy of the original -around 4MEG- just contact me off-list thru my website and we'll take it from there. The original will make a way better print than what you see here.

Pieter

Here is a link that might be useful: Pieter's website

Just one species hosta. Same one most folks have since it may be the first hosta here in the U.S. The Chicago Botanical Gardens says its referred to by some as the "Winnetka Weed", others simply call it "The Green One." I still like them. They came with the house and I moved them to this spot about 20 years ago.

Hosta lancifolia (3 plants-and a Jack-in-the Pulpit)

tj

Hate break the news to you. TJ, but 'Lancifolia' is NOT considered a specie, it is a cultivar, likely of sieboldii origins.

Pieter

Aw, Pieter, no reason to hate to break the news, the truth is a good thing. Why do places such as the USDA and UK Flora and others list it as a species?

tj

(aside to Ken-is this Cham nootka thing?)

kikutii var. caput-avis - didn't realize this was a species until I looked at listing on HL. It was very late to come up last year....thought I had lost it, but then came on strong. A low cascading form. Planted on a slope so it could flow down, but it may be too tight to nearby plants.

Low-held flower scape

yingeri - pretty spider type flower (sorry I don't have a pic)

Hypoleuca is one I would like to add. I have Maekawa which is a selection of hypoleuca. Slow growing.

Maekawa - two leaves total on two divisions

Paul

Huh-I arill have been treating my lancifolia like it was a species. I will whisper when in its presence if I need to say it isn't. I feel it is like having to tell a kid he or she was adopted. (lol). I was given some H. plantaginea and H. ventricosa last year, and had H. lancifolia. They all seem to be so hardy. In my limited experience I can't remember ever having lost a lancifolia to weather,disease, munchers or vermin. Not that they don't get eaten. They seemed to get stronger from it. They might even survive on ken's driveway! How about it ken-keeper of the plantigenea.

Paul-almost a piecrust on the maekawa! Is that typical?

Somewhere in my genetic encoding I must be tied strongly to heritage. I have strong feelings about my Irish heritage. Now I find similar feelings toward the origins of our hostas. It also explains my fascination with learning the language of the Anishinaabeg. I feel if my ancestors adopted this beautiful land I live in we adopted the heritage of the people who cared for it for so long before us. We need to show our respect and honor them. Two miles north of me is the Midewin National Tallgrass Prarie. Midewin (more properly "midewiwin") is the Anishinaabe word for the Shinab's "Grand Council of Healers", and its members are Mide (pronounced mid-day). Sweet grass is one of a mide's essential herbs.

There are only a few postings here so far but what has been posted I find very stimulating. "Keep the cards and letters coming folks!" (trivia-who was the radio/tv host who made that phrase his trademark? I can't remember)

Les

Had to do a bit of digging, Les, but I did find pictures of my sieboldii 'Alba'. The plant was obtained in trade in 2008, these pix are from 2009, it's first full year in our yard. As said, it too is rhizomatous, but it's much better behaved than clausa in that respect. Like most of my Hosta, they are potted.

Pieter

P.S. If you would like the flower pictures, contact me by e-mail, either through my profile, or via my website, and I will be happy to make the originals available to you. The size of the originals is likely too large for e-mail, but I can get around that.

Les, you need to get your arms around George Schmid's tome "The Genus Hosta." He dissected flower parts etc. and has many, many photos, as well as abundant species info.

-Babka

Les, you asked "almost a piecrust on the maekawa! Is that typical?", yes - I believe the picture is very representative of edges and colors for Maekawa.

Paul