I was just saying on the other thread that the Elegans that I grow in dappled light is sloooow (and ugly), though the one I grow in pretty strong late afternoon sun is "moderate"--meaning nothing that really bowls me over, but it's not lagging.

Another slow grower for me is Abiqua Drinking Gourd, though to be fair, I also moved him after a year.

And another slow and ugly: Frances Williams.

I agree that Maui Buttercups grows well, and it surprised me to read in an older thread that people found it to be difficult.

Other fast growers (i.e., second year in my garden and there is a noticeable difference in their size):

June
Guacamole
Fried Green Tomatoes
Stained Glass
Golden and Diamond Tiaras
Francee
Pineapple Punch

Useful thread topic!

This post was edited by weekendweeder on Tue, May 28, 13 at 22:16

I'd add So Sweet, it's a beauty and grows very well. It seems to like a pot. Sum and Substance has been a good grower for me, as has Paradigm. I agree with most all of the afore mentioned group, too.

bk

While June was a fast grower for me, I find other members of that family quite slow in my garden- touch of class, el Nino, sleeping beauty, Blue Ivory have all been slow for me . I don't have most of mine in much sun, but June is in full shade and has done great.

Elegans has been pretty fast for me, but I didn't start with a very small one.

Surprisingly, Thunderbolt has been one of my faster ones to reach maturity- or look like its mature, anyway.

Hands down, Regal Splendor and Tom Schmid win for fastest growing large hosta in my garden.

Big Daddy is probably the slowest I have. It's one of the ones planted in the first year of my garden, and I'd never know it to look at it.

I gave up on Frances Williams, but a lady down the street has a few planted on the east facing side of her house, which I think must get half a days sun and they have grown really well.

Fast-growing for me: I only have 2 seasons of Hosta growing to judge by, but the very big jumps from last season to this season for me have been...
GUACAMOLE
FRIED BANANAS
PAUL'S GLORY(both of my Paul's Glory)
SPARTACUS
FRANCEE
FRAGRANT BLUE
FRAGRANT BOUQUET
ROYAL TAPESTRY
WOLVERINE
But for a lot of these, it could have been their 'leap year'.
Regards,
Don B.

EDIT: to include
MISTER WATSON
BLUE HAWAII
BLUE MOUSE EARS

This post was edited by Don_in_Colorado on Wed, May 29, 13 at 0:30

The fastest ones for me are the generic Green One and the Green & White One.

Of the other more established hosta that I have, Paul's Glory wins the speed contest, hands down. Pity that it's my least favorite hosta.

Another unloved (by me) hosta speed machine is Parky's Birchwood Gold.

Krossa Regal isn't a speedster like Paul's Glory but it's been a steady grower.

Golden Tiara grows like gangbusters.

Lancifolia has been a fast one.

Summer Fragrance, So Sweet and Fried Green Tomatoes have steadily increased.

Royal Standard has been slow for me but that may be because I have it planted in quite a lot of shade.

Big Daddy is supposed to be slow but I haven't noticed that--I have a big beautiful specimen that's 10-12 years old, started from a single plant. and in heavy shade. I know that I've taken divisions off of it a couple of times. But, it has not been moved, so that may be a factor. He's outgrown his space so I'm going to have to tackle moving him in the next year or so.

It also depends on the soil, not only light. Certainly with a lot of water hostas grow better. I have one hosta 'Great Expectations' which showed large leaves from the start this year. Another one showed only medium size leaves, but the recent constant rain let her to push out large leaves. I have several 'Frances Williams' and they are good growers for me. I have to remember to water a lot the next 4 days with up to 92 dgrs. Bernd

what you bought this season.. is basically what you will get this season..

do not presume they have the vigor of other perennials/annuals ...

what you are doing this year.. is growing the root mass for next year ... and that can be rather unrewarding.. lol ... in the short term ....

google any given name.. or look them up in the hosta library..

the bigger the mature plant .. by your own eyes... the longer it takes for them to grow to size ...

smalls.. one to 3 years..

mediums... 3 to 5 years...

large 5 to 7

some of the giants.. 7 to 10 ...

anyway.. its all about the root mass that come out of the pot.. as to how fast yours will grow ...

ken

I think the slowest hosta in my garden is Brim Cup. Still a single eye after 5 years!

Another for the fast list for me has been Striptease. I'm hoping that the Kiwi Full Monty that I got last year will have the same growth rate. KFM is one of my most favorite hosta.

There is no doubt it is all about the roots. I have two Sagae.. One I got had a largish eye with mediocre roots 5 years ago. the other a small multi eyed juvenile with good roots. Now the 3rd year plant is bigger than the 5 year old.

I bet they will stay close in the future, but the better root system made a huge difference in the catching up process !