Oh wow, what a beautiful spot that is going to be!

The hosta you have already are good ones. June and Halcyon are always tops on favorite hosta polls.

I'll let others who know more provide suggestions. I'll simply try to get a bit more information about the space.

Is there a rain gutter to stop runoff across the slope? Would you be interested in a rain barrel at that high corner to catch water for watering your hosta? Have you considered adding some companion plants such as daylilies to this area too?
What is the ground mulched with? Is that gravel?

If it were me, I'd put some big hosta closer to the bottom, and smaller leafed ones near the top. You'll have a nice spot to locate some hosta with vase shapes (Praying Hands comes to mind, and also Sagae) at a point where you will see them at eye level and notice the upright nature of the hosta. Also, a good chance to find some hosta with colored petioles or stems, very bright red or purple stems to show more than just pretty leaves. And if hakone grass lives in your 4a area, then it would look good interplanted where it will spill beautifully around mounding hosta.

I can suggest that you visit the American Hosta Society website and search for pictures of hillside landscaping with hosta. They have tours of gardens when the conventions are held. This year's is up in Wisconsin, so if that is anywhere near your stomping grounds, going to the convention and making some tours would give you ideas. You're lucky that nurseries up that way sell hosta, and you can go pick up some fairly close to home.

The house does have rain gutters (you can see one of the downspouts on the left side of the top photo). The ground is mulched with rock, which is the only thing that can stay put instead of sliding right down the slope. I don't think I'd want to do a rain barrel, as that slope is quite steep and I'd rather let the in-ground sprinklers take care of the watering.

I would be interested in companion plantings intermixed with the hosta, although I'm not sure how well daylilies would bloom in the available light there. I'm actually pretty open about planting anything, so long as it's suited to the site obviously. I'd also prefer that nothing there be high maintenance, since as I said the slope is quite steep and not very well suited to walking around or kneeling to babysit demanding plants.

The Hostas you have are very nice cultivars, but they are medium sized. You need some large and giant sized plants if you want to cover ground. If you already have irrigation in this area, it's perfect for Hosta. Find yourself a good sized Sum and Substance (charteuse) this one will take sun in your area. Then get an Empress Wu (green) and maybe a Blue Angel and a Key West (gold) and a Sagae (variegated). Decide where you want these giants then plant around them with companion plants and other Hosta. The giants will be about 6 feet in diameter at maturity (5 or 6 years).

The giants will take a while to get big but once they do you won't be able to move them without a Bobcat. Other Hosta or companion plants can be moved so you can keep the area full. As Moccasin mentioned you can use the popularity list to see what most Hosta folks like or you can shop onilne or at a nursery and decide what plants appeal to you. No shopping at the Hosta Library.

Steve

Here is a link that might be useful: AHS popularity poll

In addition to the hosta, I'd certainly try to work in a Tsuga canadensis 'Bennett'. Semi mounding, semi spreading and the light there would be just fine for it.

{{gwi:616783}}

tj

Steve, I realize the hosta varieties I already have are on the small side. They're not ones I was planning on putting on that slope. They're in the backyard bed under some pin oaks, and they're all very new and VERY small. I only mentioned them because I probably won't be buying those same varieties for the slope. I can add divisions from them to that area someday, but it will be years before they're large enough for that.

Your suggestions for larger hosta varieties are very helpful, especially since you mentioned the coloring for each one. What I'm really needing help with is some input on how much to put in that space. I obviously want to take away the bare look, but it's not a terribly convenient area to have dense growth. It's not even a safe slope to walk on unless you can clearly see where you're putting your feet (hence the staircase) and I'll still need to be able to climb out there and give everything a buzzcut at the beginning of every winter, if nothing else. I'd like there to be a nice balance between big hosta and smaller varieties as well as any companion plants, but I'm a little lost as to WHAT that balance is exactly.

May I make a suggestion.....

If there are nurseries in your area specializing in hosta, and you find one or two of the giants early on, go ahead and get them? Keep them in their pots until you are ready to begin setting the plants in place. If you wait, the choice plants may be gone.

Steve will steer you right, he knows what he is doing. And I hope he will link you to the slide show of gardens? Yes please Steve? I think it would help Accidental get the sizes in mind for this sloping site.

Some hosta to consider-

Liberty - every one needs one
Blue Hawaii - upright and nice blue color
Golden Tiara - good grower s/m
Guacamole - fast grower
Paradigm - a good grower and always looks good
Key Lime Pie - good grower, ripples
Abba Dabba Do - good grower - will stretch and fill a big area (or Atlantis)
Journey's End -
Cathedral Windows - tall
Queen of the Seas - blue-green ripples
Rainbow's End - unique looking leaves
Teaspoon - nice form and leaves
Neptune
On Stage
Striptease
Invincible - solid shiny green (or Irish Luck for a taller version)
Krossa Regal - 6' flowering stalks(back row)

Add a couple of Ligularias (in MN they should do ok with that amount of sun.

Paul

Here is how the late hosta legend Popou filled out a similar looking hill. You probably need a half of it.

Get rid of the rocks....please.

Jon

This post was edited by jonnyb023 on Thu, May 16, 13 at 20:55

Haven't figured out how to link posts, but check out pg. 4-thread " A Few Of My Babies." look at what tsugajunkie posted, it's beautiful. What is your vision? WW

I want to second some suggestions above: Krossa Regal which is a fab vase shaped readily available hosta and great companion. Journeys End which has it all, ripples, variigation and large size - a great specimen plant. I would like to add Strip Tease which has long been a favorite of mine and is tough tough tough. Other suggestions are also good, but these I grow and love. There are many good places to get hosta in MN.

Happy hosta shopping
Beverly

Wen you've got me blushing...but not so much I can't provide a link. ;-)

That thread made me think of Fragrant Bouquet. That corner may trap the fragrance in there or at the very least I'd put one near the steps.

tj

Here is a link that might be useful: Of what Wen speaks

True enough, TJ has a vision. And I am very partial to the fragrant hosta.

Besides Fragrant Bouquet, Invincible and Irish Luck are both fragrant. I love Irish Luck for its rippled and oily slick dark green leaves. I think it is also a medium sized hosta.

I moved my Liberty beside Sagae, and would you believe its colors are making Sagae look faded out? Wow. But Sagae is still the one which made my heart go pitter patter when it comes shooting up out of the soil. You'd never know this was merely its 2nd year. The brightest hosta in this shot is Liberty.