Welcome Will!
We're all VERY GOOD at enabling those with OCD-collectoritus! I'm prime example of that, this being my 4th season being a hosta collector.

A few years ago, I was at Savory's. They've hybridized several varieties and have been in the hosta biz since 1946. They had some Blue Angels that had been in the same bed, untouched for over 30 years. The daughter (probably in her 40's) said she remembered them as a kid. These leaves were probably 18" across and the plants themselves were upwards of 5' tall.

Generally, when left alone, hostas grow to have many many eyes and will have the largest most mature leaves. Sometimes, hostas do benefit from division, but only if there's significant die-back (see threads discussing fairy ring.

Is this an appropriate price or do folks here generally buy very small bare-root plants at lower prices?

Well, the first and most important part is from whom you've ordered. If you have been lurking this forum, you've undoubtedly read discussions about HVX. The seller from whom you purchase is crucial. Is $10 a good price? Depends on the hosta. I'd say at this point in my own collection (300+ varieties), I generally pay $13-18 per plant. $10 would be highway robbery for an ordinary variety or for a very small tissue culture (unless a newer/rare variety).

Hi Will,
You have some beautiful gardens! I have seen some pictures in the conifer forum.

I have little respect for any hosta that is less than 3 yrs old. Many are propagated by t.c. With that, it takes at least three years for them to get acclimated to a world outside of drugs, etc. Make sure a vendor is being honest on the "actual" age of the plant. As far as hvx, ask if they are doing their own testing. Push them on this for legitimate answeres. You don't want someone relying on the "source" of their plants for disease free material. A reputable source will also be doing their own testing and prevention.

Sometimes a 4" pot is only 4" deep and 3" wide. The opposite of what I thought it should be. The width used to come first. Most of this, is vulnerable 2 year material.

Your gardening skills are great! Have fun and good luck.

oh will.. really ...

what do you figure.. 1500 the first year.. lol ...

check out will's pix in the conifer forum .... lol

welcome.. come back often.. they ought to do just peachy in your corner of the PNW ...

ken

Hey, it's Ken! That's right, I remember now reading you're a hosta-collecting maniac! Do you still have hundreds of beautiful hostas? How lucky you are to have such space and such amazing, older plants.

I have about 50-100 varieties now I think, but I don't think I'll be going crazy(yet?) and at least right now, most are unlabeled, I just keep the plant description signs under the mulch.

We do have a lot of slugs here, all sizes and shapes so I'll have to be both vigilant and aggressive to keep my hostas alive.

-Will

You've come to the right place to learn anything and everything about hostas. And you'll learn it the right way. :)
I was curious to see your photos from the other replies, so I went surfing. I'll link to one of your posts for others to see. A truly amazing garden you have. Very inspiring.

Here is a link that might be useful: link

Hi Will,
Congratulations on the new facet to your gardening hobby. I'm sure you'll approach hostas with the same enthusiam and passion as you do your other plants, and we'll have many wonderful photos to look forward to. If you PM me I have a hosta-warming gift for you. I really enjoy all of the photos you post on the conifer forum.

Thanks, Dan

My gardens are very chaotic and very far from what I considered a finished product. Mostly I have small, young plants - I've only been gardening for about 2 years now - but I am holding to the adage that the best time to plant trees is twenty years ago, while the second best time is today. If you want to see some incredible 'finished' conifer gardens, check out the post I've linked at the bottom. Dcsteg in the conifer forum(as well as many others) have some other great examples of combining hosta with conifers, perennials, maples.

Since Japanese maples and especially conifers take years to look their best(and get better with age), I felt that hostas were a great underplanting since they also take years to look their best. I'm excited!!

-Will

Here is a link that might be useful: Dan's gardens(conifers/hosta/maples)

Hi Will, nice to see you and Dan over here. Ken is always fun and knowlegeable to read no matter which forum. :)
Cher

Here's a picture of some baby hostas below a Japanese maple. Hopefully the first of many pictures - I am rapidly falling for how amazingly beautiful hostas are, especially when mixed with other plants.

Is this large bark OK for hosta? A few came up kind of crinkled as they fought their way through the large chips. I like it because it knocks weeds waaay down.

-Will

Will, don't listen to Melissa! We are NOT enablers. We merely encourage. And really, maniac seems a tad harsh. We tend to prefer enthusiast. So, welcome to most enthusiastic and encouraging forum. Looks like you will be a marvelous addition to my imaginary friends group! Love that Japanese maple and the hosta are a nice counterpoint to the delicate leaves. You do know you have room for more, right????

What is the evergreen in the middle of the two maples in second photo in this link to Dan's garden?

Here is a link that might be useful: Dan's Garden

Teresa, that looks like a weeping Alaskan cedar, chamaecyparis nootkatensis, and probably a special narrow, weeping cultivar.

My guess would be 'Green Arrow' or 'Van Den Aker'. It's a love tree and perfectly placed between these two distinctly different JM's, but we'll need Dan to confirm what cultivar it is.

-Will

It's wonderful whatever it is. Hope Dan weighs in.

I love Japanese maples. I have 10 of them around my small California yard. They do however grow up...and their roots are every bit as impossible as those maples I grew back in Chicago. Here's a photo of a 20 year old Crimson Queen. Nothing grows under it except baby tears. It needs to be pruned to see some structure and that will happen in the next few weeks. Its trunk is probably 8" in diameter...My hands don't touch when I put them around the trunk. I cannot imagine hostas and jap maples growing together, except when they are very young, which is most of the photos I've seen. I just went out to take a photo of the roots of a larger green one, but the contrast is too great. Will try to take a photo tomorrow morning. It has surface roots everywhere.

Hostas really do improve with age, as do Japanese maples, but I don't think they can do it together for the long term. Pots would work, though.

My opinion.

-Babka

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Hi Will,
You asked about the Organic Sluggo. I think it might be the same thing I use from Earth Tone, safe around animals, etc. I don't know about your pacific NW slugs, but it does work on my nasty slimy little Mid-Atlantic critters.

chris

Here are the roots of a 20 yr old Japanese maple.

-Babka

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