Will Guardian Angel turn solid green?

11 years ago

After much research from reading all your very helpful posts and studying pix on HL, I went on tour of a couple hosta growers yesterday. I have a yardfull of w/g var hosta and I want to replace them gradually starting with adding in some blues.

I bought the Restless Seas as was posted here as I needed a vase type for some 'lift' by a wall.

Pretty sure I've been bitten by the hosta bug and I can feel it's wonderful sting! As I toured, I began to see so many names I recognized and I had some notes but they soon became all jumbled in my brain!

Of course I made an impulse buy! Guardian Angel! Only now I am reading they can turn solid. I'm planning morning sun placement, it will be partially under the deck. How much sun will it need to keep it's beautiful variegation? And give it plenty of room right?

Thanks, Deb

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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

11 years ago

ok deb ... if you are a relative newbie... lets get a few things straight in your head ...

first.. the name... its momma was blue angel .. hence the play on words to include angel in its name..

ergo.. if it reverts.. it reverts to what it came from which is the BLUE... 'Blue Angel' .. with me so far??? .. it can NOT revert to a green ... it might mutate to a green.. but not REvert ... [which means the one frank is standing next to is BA]

now.. ALL BLUE HOSTA.. are actually a green hosta with a blue wax on top of the leaf ... and when that blue is worn off by heat.. overhead watering.. etc.. the green hosta underneath will show.. that is NOT a reversion.. nor the plant changing.. that is a hard life/season ...

now.. BA ... happens to be viridescent ... see link.. which means its center start light colored.. and darken as the season goes on ... and again.. that does NOT mean the hosta is reverting.. nor 'changing' ... the leaf is changing.. but not the underlying plant.. if that makes sense.. [gold standard on the other hand.. starts one color.. and lightens in the center.. and i forget that term]

how about it.. make any sense???

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: link

Comments (13)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
11 years ago
its to die for ... get it.. end of post

ken

oops.. you already did.. lol ... its late to color.. i think.. and it does darken as the season progresses .... SO WHAT!!!!

and yes.. ALL HOSTA CAN REVERT.. nothing special about this one in that regard ...
Steve Massachusetts
11 years ago
Yes, Guardian Angel can revert to all green. But don't worry about it, just plant it and enjoy. If it does happen (and it might not) then let us know and we'll help you separate out the green parts. Morning sun should be perfect for this very beautiful and easily recognizable Hosta. Give it a 48 inch space. Where did you go shopping? Show us some pics of your new plants.

Oh and welcome to the Hotel Hosta. You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave (cue the guitars).

Steve
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Mocc. . .from the reading I have been doing it would seem that plant is NOT Guardian Angel. Some people saying they can revert to their parent Blue Angel (green) in the wrong light etc., but I think that is a bit of a myth. The best comment I could find was from someone that said they worked with young Guardian Angel plants for years. Their opinion was that the colour could vary greatly. Their advice was to buy the most striking/colorful plant you can find as the colour at immaturity is more indicative of the colour at full maturity. I was particularly struck at the colour of this young one, so I bought it (even though it was the most expensive small hosta at that store by far, it has 3-4 eyes, so it will save me 2 years of growing). I just hope it keeps it's colour and is not overly affected by too much light. Nice plant Don!
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whatever you do.. do something.. try the easy way this fall ... now ... if it doesn't work ... try again in spring ... in my sand ... if the sand is super dry .... the plant will break off at the crown .. and you may or may not get the dormant buds as noted ... after 2.5 inches of rain last week ... i have found that the whole eye plus roots comes out ... go figure on that ... tape the offender together... run both hands down as low as you can go ... set you feet one behind the other ... and gently apply pressure until something gives ....if you put both feet next to each other.. there is a good chance that when it snaps.. you will end up on your butt .... lets avoid such.. in case the neighbors are watching.. lol .. the blue should be blue angel ... i do not recommend cutting a wedge of pie out of it... i have had more problems with that causing severe reversion of size .. than with any other method.. besides its august.. and if you don't properly sterilize... you might intro rot into the equation ... ken
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Steve Massachusetts
11 years ago
How could I have forgotten to post a picture? Inexcusable ommision.

Steve
in ny zone5
11 years ago
I have 2 Guardian Angel hostas for 2 and 3 years, none of them has reverted, no all green leaves. Enjoy it!
Bernd
ctopher_mi
11 years ago
The questions isn't "will it revert?", the question regards Guardian Angel getting darker centers later in the summer.

The answer is that Guardian Angel does get darker colored centers as the season progresses, brought about by heat. New flushes of foliage will still be light colored as they emerge, but then they start to darken as they age through the summer. They actually keep their centers best in a cooler, darker location, and more light doesn't actually help to keep them lighter but could have the opposite effect of making them turn darker, sooner.

I would recommend finding the shadiest, coolest spot in the garden for this one.
franknjim
11 years ago
Besides how some hosta change their variegation/colors during the growing season, on occasion they can change into a different hosta or even into a new hosta. Revert/Sport.

This was a Guardian Angel that is now a Blue Angel, I think they should dig it out or at least change the name on it. The picture was taken last year at the open house of Hornbaker Gardens. For size reference, I am 6'1" tall so this is a really big hosta.
{{gwi:982591}}
coll_123
11 years ago
Mine does not turn very solid green. Definitely a must have hosta for me. I live in a place with fairly mild summers, and my hosta are all in a fair bit of shade.
Beachygirl
Original Author
11 years ago
Ok, great info everyone, thanks. Steve, beautiful, that's why I had to have it! What hosta do you have in front of GA in your pix? Will post soon as I can but today I'll be in the garden....
jan_on zone 5b
11 years ago
Lutescent?
jan_on zone 5b
11 years ago
Albescent?
Beachygirl
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks Ken. The pix of that giant Blue Angel is what I want NOT to end up with.

Deb
kskaren
11 years ago
Thanks for the info, Chris, about moving GA to the shadiest part of the yard. I have it now in morning sun, so looks like I'll be needing to find a spot elsewhere...

Karen

Will Guardian Angel turn solid green?

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

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