The concept is simple. If you want more PLANTS, you divide. But, when you divide, you sever all the large roots. Large roots = large leaves. So, your hosta never reach maturity. MOST hostas do not need division. Unless you have die-out of a section of the plant (uncommon), there's no botanical reason to divide.
To me.... there's no such thing as "too large". Perhaps "too crowded", but hosta are, IMO the most beautiful when they're big!

I know there's a website for identification, but I'm not sure what it is. I know hostasdirect.com has a lot of info that might help you with identification.

Just wondering if it's necessary to divide.

===>>> no never ...

SOMETIMES they fairy ring.. and at that point it is beneficial to dig and replant ...

otherwise.. its just good exercise ...

if it dont fit.. GET ONE THAT DOES.. theres only about 4000 varieties ... crimminey ...

we are the site for potential ID ... then you take what we suggest to the hosta library ... google it ...

but you need to order one.. mail order from a reputable source.. try hallsons hosta ... link below .. or wait until august.. when they bloom and visit a local hosta nursery .... buying in bloom avoids trusting a stranger ....

i think i posted my pic for you elsewhere... .. will post it below .... I WILL YELL ...

NO OTHER HOSTA HAS 6 INCH FLOWERS ...

all other near white flowers that are fragrant are between 3 and 4 inches..

if you have the small flowers.. and the same apple green foliage ... look up royal standard ... at the library .... also very common ...

ALL other fragrant hosta have some amount of purple in the flower buds.. which will fade quickly ... like in half a day ..

AND!!!! plantiginea bloom in the evening ... most the others bloom in the morning .... with all the other flowers ....

ken
{{gwi:2050}}

Here is a link that might be useful: another high five for chris ...

Thanks Ken. Sorry for making you double post. I had to go back and search for my thread on the perennial forum, it was already three pages back. I have been out of commission for a week or so.

Thank you for the absolutely wonderful pic. As soon as possible, I'll post a pic here of mine, and hopefully we can identify.

I'll tell you, whatever they are, they are HUGE hostas with very similar leaves. I think they'd look spectacular by my fountain, and hopefully the extra moisture will keep them looking healthy. They were moved last year to full sun, then yellowed out and edges fried. I didn't water enough for full sun, and eventually moved them up front to a shady area.

I'm hoping that they are plantangea so I don't have to wait for any new hostas to reach maturity.

Is that really your clipboard?

even my hand writing .... lol ... and its not easy to squat and write ...

i was NOT concerned with a duplicate post ....

look forward to your pic ...

plantaginea... and most fragrant hosta... can take near full sun.. less of course as you go further south ....

but being hosta.. the more sun.. the more you have to try to drown them ....

if you could plant a fragrant one .. in all sun but for say 3 to 5pm.. the high heat of the day.. most likely.. it will thrive... once it restores its root mass after transplant ... and that is why your burned.. as you suspected

ken

As a fellow Wisconsinite I can definately say that Royal Standard, Plantaginea, and the like will do BEAUTIFULLY in full sun. For the matter, I have a mature Sagae that gets full sun froim 11am on and it is HUGE and healthy! :)

Dave

the peeps in MN and WI can get away with a lot more sun.. than say those nearer the mason dixon line ....

they are above the 45th parallel [half way to the north pole] ... intensity of sun matters.... as well as temps related to such

but that wouldnt limit me trying in full sun, further south .... just that if i saw burn later in the season.. i might move them again ....

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: the Mason-Dixon Line symbolizes a cultural boundary between the Northern United States and the Southern United States (Dixie).

Dave, got any pics?

Now I'm excited. I found some pics yesterday that I have of my unidentified hostas on my photobucket account, but not close ups or good views. Hopefully we'll have our computer back soon.

Ken, I never would have thought of putting hosta here. I think they're going to look spectacular, and will draw the eye more to my fountain as well.

Pics later...

Ok, FINALLY, here is my pic. Please help me identify. Gift from MIL. Is this Hosta plantangina (sp?)...

{{gwi:948021}}

Wondering if it might be venticosa.

Paul

Here is a link that might be useful: Hosta Library

Ugh. That bites.

I'm confused about this classification I found:

Hosta 'Royal Standard'

Hosta plantaginea grandiflora Royal Standard

I thought it wasn't Royal Standard, but they seem to be used interchangably? How do I know which to purchase if I want plantaginea?

Bummer, I found another pic with a lowly purple flower peeking through one of the leaves, still, a nice hosta. Wishful thinking.

Have to add plantaginea to my shopping list.

plantiginea is a species. Royal Standard is a cultivar within the species. They are not interchangeable.

Purple flower is definitely not plantiginea, the species hosta. Sounds like a cultivar to me.

I so often tell garden visitors here that Hosta are NOT shade plants, merely 'shade tolerant'. In their native home of Japan, Korea, and China, there are huge 'drifts' of them in full all day sun. The difference between there and here is H2O, over there they get many more times the annual water that we do here, naturally.

Just like the fallacy of not planting 'blue' Hosta in the sun, BS. Yes, at the end of the season the 'blue' Hostas will go towards green, but in the meanwhile, they will grow like weeds, and be beautiful in their blue-green wonder.

As for species Hosta, you will be able to properly ID them if you observe and document them for an entire season, enjoy!

hh

Regarding location of planting...I am in Wisconsin...and have hostas in the sun and shade. I think you have to consider your own habits and lifestyle. A big, beautiful hosta in full sun with a big ugly sunburn is not attractive. My S & S got sunburned last year when I was away for a long weekend, and it looked bad the rest of the year to me. Think about the hostas planted out in front of businesses in stone...they usually look decent through June, and then they are an ugly mess for the rest of the season. I am a lazy gardener when the July/August heat waves hit and I also like to travel. No one in my family but me cares about the hostas, and I can't afford to hire someone to water when I am away. For all those reasons, I don't really like to plant my hostas in full sun if I don't have to.

Thanks Mary for the feedback. I stated earlier in this thread that the hostas will be placed below a fountain, which splashes consistently, leaving the ground below with a constant source of moisture. The source of consistent water was the idea behind planting hostas here, and why they would likely grow successfully in this location.

Sorry, somehow I missed that part of the thread! It sounds like a great plan! :)