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Best place to buy hosta in Northern Virginia?

10 years ago

New to hosta (other than a costco purchase years ago). Looking to start a small shade garden. Any recommendations on where to purchase and what to look for (eg how to identify disease or poor quality). Ok to plant now? Thank you

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Comments (10)

jadie88
10 years ago
Welcome welcome!

Bridgewood Gardens in Strasburg has open house dates:

Friday through Sunday, May 17, 18, and 19
Saturday and Sunday, June 7 and 8
Saturday and Sunday, June 21 and 22

I have purchased from them and their plants are healthy and have done well for me, but I have actually preferred several other mail-order sources. I only have personal experience with Hallsons, Naylor Creek, and Green Mountain, and they are all A++. But if you are looking for an in-person experience, those Bridgewood open house dates would be fun!

If you ever have occasion to be in the York, PA area, there is a really cool place called The Hosta Hideaway. I could wander there for hours!

Here is a link that might be useful: The Hosta Hideaway

This post was edited by jadie88 on Sun, Apr 13, 14 at 6:50
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
10 years ago
mail order.. like the rest of us ... as noted hallsons and naylor breek

its like xmas in a box ....

ken
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Jbranch: Regarding northern hostas moved to the south: In April I dug 125-150 hostas in northern Indiana and moved them to middle Tennessee, south of Nashville. We left dirt on the roots of the largest ones; moved all the rest bare root with roots wrapped in wet paper towels and then in zip bags. The last 2 carloads were dug in 56 degree weather with a brisk wind off the lake. When I potted them two days later, it was 95 degrees in Nashville! It's been in the 80s or 90s all summer . . . and they look fabulous -- actually bigger and better than in Indiana -- probably because they're in good potting soil and no maple root competition. I'm a big fan of Hallson's -- I've bought in person at the nursery and online -- they're very on top of the HVX situation and give good value for the $$.
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Thank you guys for all of the quick responces! Just as a sidenote incase anyone is interested: I also enclose in each hosta a second cheap plastic label I stick way in the dirt just incase the metal one gets displaced, so I always have the hosta name in a second place. I notice though that even black Sharpie markers do not last forever. And if the sun hits any part of it, forget it. However, if you get their Metallic Silver markers that are meant to write on dark surfaces, these really stay forever. I have had labels out in the sun for years with no fade so far. And, I also just discoved yesterday at Staples for the first time, that Sharpie now has Oil-Based Paint Markers! They are specifally made to be Weather-Water-Fade-Resistant. The pack I got was one Gold and one Silver. But on the back of the package, it says that they also come in other colors, so I am sure you could find black too at some point. They also have them in different points, med,fine, etc. I just thought I would share that while we are on the subject! Christy
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A really neat garden center in western WI that has a lot of hostas is Funkie Gardens in Prescot, WI. The place is worth stopping even if you are not going to buy anything. The garden center is set up around several very old (pre Civil War ?)houses in an old part of Prescot, about 3-4 blocks off of Hwy. 10. They have numerous landscaped beds planted around the houses to show off what they sell. Here is a link that might be useful: Funkie Gardens
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User
10 years ago
Hallson and Naylor Creek both ship bare root, so the plants start clean. Both are A++ as Jadie says.

Bridgewood ships in pots, wrapped in excelsior and newspaper, with their nursery potting mix. Which means some states do not allow them to ship. But, since you AND Bridgewood are in the same state, that probably does not apply. :) Visit their web site and check it out.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
10 years ago
and chic at bridgewood.. being .. apparently an old hippie..

has named most of his own plants with old rock and roll names ...

it is always fun.. to buy things.. directly from the guy who made them ..

look for 'satisfaction' there.. as in.. i cant get no ....

maggie may also ... and the list is nearly endless ...

ken
naal
10 years ago
Vettin - I too live in NOVA. If you're looking for local places to shop, the best is Merrifield. They have a decent collection and I have never seen signs of foliar nematodes or HVX. Another one I've had success with is Burke Nursery. The other nursery that starts with an 'M' has hosta infected with HVX; I've pointed it out to them on several occasions and they didn't do anything about it. Unfortunately, there's another nursery on Rt. 50 in Fairfax that starts with a "C" that also has had HVX. Again, I commented on it, but nothing was done. As the previous post have stated, mail order is a good option. Hope this helps!
josephines167 z5 ON Canada
10 years ago
Vettin...any chance of lighting a firecracker under their ***** by visiting these two culprits with your camera, taking pics of the incriminating evidence, and reporting to appropriate authority? Some pro-active members of this forum have done just that.

Jo
naal
9 years ago
Well, I must correct my previous statement of Burke Nursery. Went there this past weekend and they had a boat load of Ginko Craigs that had HVX. I pointed it out to management, who agreed, that indeed it was HVX. Supposedly they were going to be removed. I have not gone by to see if that has occurred, but plan on it sometime this week.

BTW, I forgot to mention another STELLAR seller of hostas (shame on me): Heather Hill Gardens on Rt. 123 near Lorton. They are actively involved in the Potomac Hosta Club. They have a lovely garden with mature hostas and are more than happy to let you walk around and admire. The only drawback is that they are expensive, but you can buy with confidence the hosta are healthy.
Rosa M
2 years ago
Bump8ng up…Eight years late….some of the nurseries have gone out of business. Where would hosta lovers go to get mature hostas in the DC-MD-VA area? I’m too old to wait for them to get big:) I have shopped at Merrifield and satis field with quality but their selection seems to get smaller each year. Would prefer to actually see the hostas I’m buying.
Nancy Lucas
2 years ago
Other than Merrifield, Heather Hill Gardens on Rt. 123 near Lorton is your best bet. Burke Nursery has seemed to clean up their HVX problem (haven't noticed any on my frequent trips there in the past couple of years. Rosa, where do you live?
Rosa M
2 years ago
I’m in Great Falls so I can definitely make a trip to Heather Hill and Burke Nursery. Thanks so much for the tip Nancy.

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