I planted a small one eyed Blue Angel last year and by some miracle that thing has about 12 this year. They are all small but I was very surprised to see that.

Spartan Arrow jumps exponentially. Would be a good edger, if I had an edge, but for me it fills a pot quickly.

-Babka

Guacamole went from 15 to over 40 (I lost count), but this is its "leap year." Haven't seen my Blue Angel yet. And I'm not poking around. I want it to stay dormant for a while yet.

Steve

Emprees Wu went from 3 to 10 and Grand Tiara went from 5 to 12. Still have a lot just starting to come up so can't tell on all of them.

Scott

Wow, this is some good information. Taking notes on Grand Tiara and Spartan Arrow, on the smaller side which suits me the best. I put my new Guacamole in a pot yesterday so I better stand back and give it lots of room!! I'm envious of that big Segae that split the pot, and then that one with the rope laid out marking the space in the bed it consumed. Oh maybe one day. When I think of Segae, I think of a samurai.

McTavish is not posting now, I wonder about some of her big plants. Reckon she is really busy getting ready for the spectacular spring coming out party in her hosta beds.

This year, one of my Fire & Ice went from 4 to 12, which is a pleasant surprise for a plant that many claim is difficult. A tiny Golden Standard I have went from 1 to 4, but after witnessing it turn parchment white last summer, I don't even want it anymore. My Golden Tiaras have multiplied in every direction but I haven't kept track of the count... that one is for sure a fast grower.

I'm jealous of everyone's Blue Angels. Mine was 3 eyes last year, and is 3 eyes again this year. They're BIGGER eyes, but still only three. :/

After a couple years of only 2 eyes,this year Sharp Dressed Man has 5 eyes. Ordinarily,I don't count eyes,but with only 5,it's easy. Phil

I have two reactions here:

1. This is a great thread, and very useful, indeed, and thanks to all who posted.

2. Good, grief, you guys are organized. I don't even know the names of half of my hostas. So my useless pip-increase records would look like this:

NOID #1, increase from 3 to 5
NOID #2, increase from 7 to 12
and so on.

However, I did actually count the pips on my polygonatum and it went from 12 last year to 36. Woo hoo. The squirrels replanted some of it and now there are 2 patches.

By the way, how tolerant is this forum of Off Topic ramblings? I will stop if this is considered bad manners.

Christine

Christine,when you plant new hostas,put a plant marker beside it. Then you won't have to remember,and eventually you will recognize a hosta by its appearance. We all started the same way. Phil

Well, Phil, of course you are right. But I know I will never do this, and besides, being hopelessly confused doesn't really bother me. To be accurate, I recognize all my plants, I just don't know their names, and up until last week, when I started posting on this forum (was downsized out of my job so have way too much time on my hands), it didn't matter.
Christine

Alabama Gold has been golden in this area - bought in 2010 from a hostaholic that was dividing his collection - 6 eyes in a pot turned into 17 last year and 33 this year.

Paul

Hey Christine -- keep counting those NOID eyes -- now that you have time to care they won't be NOIDs for long -- people here will provide the nomenclature!
Jan

Blue Angel growth record over last 4 years
BA #1 18-30-39-41
BA #2 13-23-31-42
BA #3 got too dry & weak so I divided & moved it
Great Expectation growth record
GE in Pot 03-04-09-11
GE Others 01-01-01
Maui Buttercups: 03-02-01
You win some, you loose some. Maybe larger hostas do better in clay soil? But I do have a blue mouse ears that is growing...

Last year I was cursing my neighbor behind us for cutting down all the trees along our fence, but the extra sun sure did give a few a boost. Parhelion went from 11 to 20 eyes...I thought it was looking good last year so it should be pretty impressive this season. Also nearby Blue Hawaii went from 2 to 5....but they are the fattest hosta eyes I've ever seen so I'm excited to see that one this year. Hopefully the vine I planted on the fence will give it some shade so the color stays nice and blue.

Thunderbolt went from 13 to 14, which is great, since I'm always worried one day it will just start to decline.

I stop counting eyes when they get to twenty, but it's something to do while you wait for them to unfurl, and I like to track the growth patterns.

My update. I've only had my hostas for a few years, and I'll only list the greatest jumps:

NOID Blue/Green (of course a NOID is the fastest grower): 3-6-28
Bressingham Blue: 4-6-17
Krossa Regal: 1-4
Gold Standard: 1-4
Fire & Ice #1: 10-27
Fire & Ice #2: 3-16
June: 3-7

And yea, something must be wrong with my Blue Angel stuck at 3 eyes...

Just noticed my Dawn's Early Light. It went from 1 shoot last year to 9 this year:

Gesila

Frosty you must be doing something right - Bressingham Blue is a slow one for me.

Paul

Journey's End went from 21 to 38 this year, and it was 67 inches across last year.

Choo Choo Train from 12 to 26, Sally and Bob 12 to 30. Both of those hostas were already fairly large.

I'd agree with Bressingham Blue being a bit slow. I moved mine.

I appreciate very much that my Parhelion shows 5 eyes this year. It was one eye the last 2 years. The Leap year is exciting!
Bernd

OK, so this thread nudged me to go and scrutinize all my hostas to count the pips, and that is when I thought there was something wrong with a few of them, most possibly one of the June's, which may or may not have HVX, but regardless, confirms that it's a good idea to really examine your plants periodically.
Christine

Regal Splendor went from 5 to 15 it it's 3rd year.

Liberty that was planted at the same time is still at 3.

I didn't count the bigger ones but my little one-eyed Childhood Fantasy that I planted last spring went to 6 eyes this year. I was impressed!
Sandy

I noticed my KIWI FULL MONTY has gone from around 4 to 12,

I have learned so much from reading this forum! All my 'eyes' are counted, so next spring I'll be able to report increases! I'm planning to measure the plants too!!!
Jan

Seeing those eye counts jump tells you the plant is happy ;)

And as I stare at those little tubes of leaves sticking up I think what will it bring?

Not sure of the growth factor this year but have been happily counting the new eyes,pips or what ever they are suppose to be called.McTavish just got back with her new stash anong with her sister and they are happily weeding and waking up her plants. The Golden Tiara she gave me last spring has 69 shoots just popping out of the ground but not sure what it was when she gave it to me. It was the start of my addiction and to date I have hit the over 100 plant mark but really I am not hooked.... oh and eat your hearts out ..Myrle brought me five new ones including Empress Wu and her sister gave me two ( one had been on my want list)The other hosta that has a high count and purchased last fall is Pilgrim and has 20 eyes. I can hardly wait!!!! I have never seen then in full growth. I am on hosta bed #5 and #6 waiting for the last frost surprises to plant my newest babies and have done a running count of all of them that are up