Andrea,

If you have three tiny leaves, it DID come back. Or was that before the frost? My S&S is just starting to show one eye...one of my last ones to show. I wouldn't expect it to flush out as much as the one in your picture this early. What month was that taken? I bet your S&S will be MUCH larger in June.

You can't compare growth rates from one variety of hosta to another variety (your blue & white). Some grow very fast, like Golden Tiara; some slow.

Between the fact that you're in zone 9 and that you actually had a frost, I'm just not sure what the problem is (other than what I stated above). What is the soil like where it is planted; light conditions; what kind of tree is it planted under (if under a tree).

With a little more info, I'm sure more knowledgeable people than I can give better input.

Char

Andrea, give it some more time. My S&S with ca 75 eyes is just starting to break ground, about 2 inches tall. If you don't see it by August, then it is dead.
Manfred

well..i'm just thinking because it's so warm here, 80 degrees today...it should be up by now? also, don't they give off their biggest leaves first? that's what he's always done in the past. (i call him a he...my kids named him "stanley.")

this hosta is under a silk tree...the shade is full but bright (for shade.) the soil is ammended...but still a bit on the heavy side.

should i go fertilize? i don't see eyes or anything. just these three sad little leaves. i've been laying out snail bait...so i don't think snails are the culprit...

A 3rd year Sum & Substance leaves should be large as it unfurls. If not, it is suffering somehow. Did it get the required moisture last season? Last year's energy is stored in the crown and is reflected in this years' growth.

a frost isnt enough for proper winter dormancy ...

playing in zone 9 .... i think you have to presume that some winters just arent going to be cold enough nor long enough for your hosta .... maybe it will.. maybe it wont ...

good luck

ken

Apparently it came back but with only three tiny leaves. I've had that happen several times with some of my hostas. One year it is doing all right, the next year only tiny leaves. Each case involved a rather young hosta.

In succeeding years, if the hosta came back at all, it was again as tiny leaves. I've never seen one break out of that back to regular leaves and have no idea what causes it.

Things are different for us folks out here where it doesn't get really cold enough in Winter. There seems to be no rhyme or reason about which ones live or which ones decline. It probably has a LOT to do with the chill hours (below 40 degrees). I have a Halcyon from 1999 that I divide every 3 yrs or so, and it does fine along with several others that I bought in 2001. Mine are all in pots, as we have a California small yard with a Japanese garden. When you purchase a new one, it will probably do well for you for about 3 years using stored up energy. Then depending on conditions it will do whatever...keep going, or whither. I've tried keeping them drier (covered atrium in winter) or let them get winter rains. I've re-potted them in 70%bark/30 compost. Drainage is not a problem for me. Some still just rot and die, or get mites. I even subscribed to the Hosta Hybridizers Group when they first formed to get as much info on growing conditions as I could. But as you will note, there are folks here on the forum who live in IDEAL hosta weather areas, and they lose them too. So don't let the loss of one hosta discourage you. There was a poster here a few years back who was back East but who couldn't get Blue Ice to grow, after numerous tries. I wanted to send her some of mine, but after 4 years, mine died too. I got a new one in 2005 and it is doing great. Just keep up with the Sluggo, or they'll be toast overnite. Those folks back East don't know abour our escargo... Amonia (yeah right!) NOT. (j/k for you peeps who haven't seen 1" snails eat a whole 15" hosta leaf overnite.)

-Babka

you could try digging them up and storing them in an extra refrigerator for the requisite amount of time ... and don't ask me for specifics ... you would probably have to figure it all out yourself with some spares ... think carrots.. and how you keep them in the fridge .... and how you could extend that for the time period without them getting too wet or too dry ....

ken

I Live in Zone 9 even though I question that. Our winter night temperatures are usually in the high 30s to low 40s all winter and we get a lot of rain. I have beautiful hostas that get morning sun. I don't have a Sum and Substance though. In the afternoon sun(our temps. don't get above the 60s) I have gorgeous and healthy Guacomole, Pauls Glory,Patriot,Strip Tease and August Moon. I have Frances Williams in full shade and 2 Gold Standards and Sagae in some filtered light. They are all doing just fine. I keep them well watered and use snail bait regularly. One of my favorites, not mentioned here much, is Olive Bailey Langdon which is big and beautiful in its second year. It might be the hot temps. you get there in Sacramento.

Mrsjoyceh-

Summers in the Midwest get pretty darn hot. Hostas need cold weather to thrive year after year. There is a good reason why there are no Hosta Societies branches in California, and why so few are offered at local nurseries. How long have you had yours? Enjoy them while you can, and take lots of photos!

-Babka

I have had some of my hosatas for several yrs. now and I certainly enjoy them. My yard is especially beautiful right now. There are so many different climates within the state of California. We are way up north amoung the giant redwoods and the weather is more like Oregon and Washington. It is so cool that I have many shade plants that do well in the sun.