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'Must have's' for a smaller, front yard garden

14 years ago

Hi all, I am starting a new hosta bed in my front yard. My other ones are pretty large, backyard gardens - but since this one is in the front yard I really want everything I put in it to stand out. We also have a pretty large front yard so this bed will be back from the road a bit and in order to make a big impact on the street I need really striking hostas (I know, they are all striking to us, but I am looking for a list of those that will really pop).

This garden is under and around a flowering crab (I think) tree, and I think I have room on each side for one large and several small to medium hostas.

I have pulled together various 10 foot rule lists, but am trying to pare it down to what I really want.

Thanks for your input and advice!!

Of course, I realize that if I buy something and put it in this garden and it isn't really what I want that I have just one more reason to buy MORE hostas and move the others until I am happy!

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Comments (9)

diginthedirt17
14 years ago
I'll be following your post b/c I'm looking for 6-7 medium hostas from my front yard that really pop!

On my list so far is June and Sun Power...
mikey01h
14 years ago
For your considerationsÂ.

Large:

Liberty Â My Favorite
Sagae Â relatively cheap and a great grower
Leading Lady Â large shiny fast grower
Choo Choo Train Â ruffled pie crust (ML)

Medium:

Cathedral Windows Â Crisp color, distinct fast grower
Niagra Falls Â great pie crust
Dawns Early Light Â bright yellow in spring, chartreuse in late summer
Big Daddy Â distinctive leaf and keeps its color very well
Jewel of the Nile Â irregular leaf variegations

Small:

Moon Lily Â corrugated cupped leaves maintains yellow color
LS Legal Tender Â slightly cupped rugose leaves
Marilyn Monroe Â crisp green satin tone piecrust
Grand Prize Â brighter color than Grand Tiara
St. ElmoÂs Fire Â really stands out

Good Luck....
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dmid
Original Author
14 years ago
Mikey - thanks for the great list and pics too!

Problem is...I like them all. May need to enlarge the garden...or start another one!!

June and Liberty are two that I definitely was considering. And my Sagae in the backyard is absolutely stunning this year...

Touch of Class and On Stage are also on my list. I bought Great Arrivals at a local hosta sale so I think that one is going in for sure!

What fun. I am so fortunate that we have almost an acre around our house that I can plant in.
chris-e
14 years ago
Hi!
June is one of my favorites too. If you like that one, tale a look at First Frost. I don't have a picture of mine right now, but it looks a lot like the reverse of June and is about the same size.
mikey01h
14 years ago
First Frost is a really great oneÂ

June is great too, but...

I have a light June

And a darker June

I had them growing sided by side for one season, and know that the plants are defiantly different colors, not just effected by the amount of light they receive, my neighbor has experienced the same alsoÂI love them both, but would defiantly confuse the 10 foot rule Â.

Another medium to consider might be "Blue Ivory"(no pic sorry), I was planning to get it this year but decided to wait another season or twoÂ maybeÂ
andi_mn
14 years ago
mike, your hosta pictures are just gorgeous! thanks so much for sharing. and either that is a Huge hosta or a very small dog, lol andi
gardenfanatic2003
14 years ago
Queen Josephine is a real eye-catcher with those shiny, bright green leaves with yellow borders.

I have to second June and Touch of Class as well.

And no hosta garden would be complete without Blue Mouse Ears.

Deanna
lisasmall
14 years ago
I'll disagree with Deanna about the Blue Mouse Ears because you said this garden is so far from the street and you need things which can be seen at a distance.

Mikey, the Sagae pic with your Lhasas is adorable (they are Lhasa, right? no?) but you knew that! And now you've sold me on Leading Lady.
dmid
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks for all the suggestions! I am *hopefully* going to Jims Hostas this weekend as I will be back in that area for a graduation - I may really think about picking up Touch of Class if he has it.

The garden is far from the street, but not far from my kitchen window...so I may throw a mini in there. At the local hosta sale they had frosted mouse ears which was so cute I had to buy it :O)

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