What MUST I have????

15 years ago

OK experts, in your honest opinions, what hostas MUST I have in my garden for it to be considered a nice, all around specimen garden? I have about 70 or so different varieties (depending on what comes in the mail today!), and I'd like to know if I need to try to capture something else. I have already spent a widow's pension this year, but if I must have another, then I must! I can't compete with you guys, mostly because I don't have the space. Or the rain this year, which in western NC has been almost non-existent. Phil, I feel your pain..........

Tanya

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Comments (25)

esther_opal
15 years ago
"I can't compete with you guys,"
talynnp

What is the competition?

Define the competition?

What do you think the prize will be?

Regardless of how this sounds it is a serious question.
talynnp
Original Author
15 years ago
I can't compete with the quantity that a lot of you fellow hosta lovers have because I don't have the space. The prize is personal satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment. Your (collectively) gardens are all beautiful, and I just look at them and drool!!!!! I did not intend to offend anyone, I just wondered if there are particular hostas that are a staple in a garden. I'm only asking for opinions.......
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esther_opal
15 years ago
"I did not intend to offend anyone"
talynnp
Nor do I! I can talk to you about my paradigm or you can inform me of yours and I'll address your interest from my experience.

"The prize is personal satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment."

Now help me understand what do you want to accomplish toward this end; "personal satisfaction"

A couple of possible questions, do you want to create a beautiful landscape?
A place of excitement or sort of the opposite a place of piece and quiet?
Something that speaks to your sense of art?
loisflan
15 years ago
I would say you should buy what appeals to you. That being said... Don't forget the solid green hostas - I love Niagara Falls and Devon Green. Some solid blues like Halcyon, Krossa Regal and Blue Angel; some glorious golds like Piedmont Gold and Gold Regal. The variegated and streaked hostas are fun, but you need some solid colors to set off the others. In the blue and gold/cream variety, I love First Frost, El Nino, Wolverine and Aristocrat. June seems to be on everyone's favorites list, as are Sagae and Sum & Substance. There is a post in this forum of members' favorites. That would be a good place to look. Have fun.
ademink
15 years ago
Great Hostas to Consider...IMHO

Jade Cascade
Thunderbolt
Krossa Regal
Blue Mouse Ears
Montana Aureomarginata
Halcyon
Abba Dabba Doo
Wolverine
Guardian Angel
Gay Blade
Ebb Tide
Queen of Islip
Sum and Substance
Anything solid gold...Gold Sculpture, August Moon, English Sunrise, Daybreak, etc, etc, etc

SO many more but that is a start...
lowsilv
15 years ago
one that I hardly see yet its my fav n my garden is laurel and darryl jus beautiful.
greenguy
15 years ago
i would say to get the ones you really like because a graden should be for you not others

the problem may be that you have not see some of the ones you may really like. So i would join a local club and go on garden tours whenever you can and make a list of the ones you really like. Take pictures. It is nice to also note what is growing around them if you like the setting. I don't know where you live but in ohio we have ruh's, kuk's and further south wades to go look at display gardens
inlimbo
15 years ago
June.

Always, always June.
talynnp
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks for the great responses! Esther Opal, I want a garden that is soothing, exciting, and invokes interest. Loisf, I do have some of the varieties you mentioned; a large blue (see thread HVX on a Blue Hosta) that had no name at the nursery, and a large S&S that is about 5 years old that I separated (WHAT was I thinking?!?!) to create this new garden. I do not have June, though I think it is a striking beauty. Ademink, I also have several on your list, 5 or 6 of them, with a few more on the way. And I have Golden Scepter (or Sceptor or Septor) and Sun Power, and Fire Island. Lowsilv, I agree that Laura and Darrell is stunning and I'm adding it to my list. I have not seen this one before but in the Hosta Library it is gorgeous! Greenguy, good advice on the tour idea; I'll check into that. I live in the piedmont of NC, where it is extremely dry. Bad time to start a new hosta garden, huh! And inlimbo, I think I must add June to the list. Thanks again to all of you for your thoughts and for making me think about what it is I want to do.
arleneb
15 years ago
talynnp,

If I were to recommend just a few, I'd start off with Paradigm. Mine has never looked anything but gorgeous, no matter how ratty its neighbors get. It's always one that people stop and ask about.

I think Kiwi Full Monty is stunning . . . it has such subtle coloring and nice substance -- I've only had it a couple of years but it's one of my favorites.

I like the sharp contrast of leaf colors in Night Before Christmas.

I think a well-grown Krossa Regal is knock-your-socks-off.

And for an oldie but goodie, Gold Standard. It looks very different in different light conditions, and ends up making a very nice mound.
ademink
15 years ago
Can't forget Guacamole, King Tut, Bottom Line, Garden Party, Blue Umbrellas, Fire Opal, Spring Fling.......stop me.........
talynnp
Original Author
15 years ago
Hostagrams, what a beauty! I just planted Paradigm yesterday, got it from Diggindutchman. It is a great size and I'm hoping it will do well for me. I'm waiting on KFM to get here, and I have Night Before Christmas, as well as Christmas Tree. I've been contemplating Krossa Regal; I love the upright vase-like habit. And Ademink, I have Guacamole, Blue Umbrellas, Guardian Angel, Blue Mouse Ears, Teaspoon, Loyalist, Ghost Spirit, Elvis Lives, Second Wind, Reptillian........whew, I'm almost as tired as when I planted these. And there are more........
smorz
15 years ago
I wouldn't go with out the classic Sagae, I purchased it after seeing one of Ken's pics. I only have a large 1 eye division, but can already see it will have a huge presence.
Night Before Christmas just pops out and catches one's eye from afar, and felt I made a good choice after seeing another pic from Ken. (Thanks Ken!)
I also second the motions for Gold Standard and Guardian Angel as good choices, and fast becoming my personal favorite is Golden Meadows... it is growing like there is no tomorrow, and each new leaf goes through different stages as it grows, making it very unique looking at a young age. You may have most of these already!
I am very new to Hostas and took my plant choices very seriously at first, but now I just want everything. Before I know it, I will be at 70 or so Hostas as well... but I know my next purchase will be Clovelly, all I can say is wow about that plant.
esther_opal
15 years ago
"I want a garden that is soothing, exciting, and invokes interest.
talynnp

Men are from Venus and women are from Mars, you can't have both, I know that is what you want, I'm married.

Here is a spot designed to be soothing then add the yellow your eye goes directly to the bright yellow. It could be soothing if the little yellow didn't excite you. So, take a blue bucket and cover the exciting part when you want to be soothed.

I found peace when I decided to allow my wife to do whatever the hell she wanted to do.

So, when you are excited take 3 deep breaths close your eyes and I will be gone.
arleneb
15 years ago
tallynpp, thanks . . . that Paradigm is even more impressive when you know that it was dug up in northern Indiana the end of April, when temps were in the mid-50s, transported in a plastic bag to mid-Tennessee and potted up here -- along with 125-150 buddies. Temps have ranged from 80 to the upper 90s ever since we got here. Paradigm never missed a beat. All my potted hostas are at my daughter's house until our new house is built . . . I watered them today and Paradigm is larger than it was in that pic taken a month ago.

I meant to post a pic of KFM's leaf in my first post but hit the wrong thing and since this forum can't handle "edits" it was lost . . . so here it is. Just a stunning color combination.
botanybabe
15 years ago
Don't forget some of the beautiful glossy ones such as Lakeside Looking Glass, Lakeside Coal Miner and Candy Dish.

Lainey
jbranch
15 years ago
I agree with Smorz on Sagae, that is my next purchase. Others I consider must have hostas:

Halcyon
Paul's Glory
Elegans
Francee (a common hosta, but I have one that is stunning)
Bressingham Blue (also impressive)
Krossa Regal
June
woodthrush
15 years ago
lol - heck, you can just throw all these lists right out the window. Every time someone posts a photo here, you're going to want THAT hosta! 'The list' is ever-changing.
Pam
dbowemd
15 years ago
If you want to display a broad spectrum of traits, you could go for a category list, like
Huge
Tiny
Smooth edge
Wavy
Frilly/Piecrust
Viridescent (turns yellow to green)
Albescent (turns green to yellow)
Very shiny
Blue
Yellow/Gold
Green
Near black
Blue and white
Blue and yellow
Green and white
Green and yellow
Yellow and white
tricolor (Blue or green, yellow & white)
reverse all combinations (center to edge) especially a sport family
Streaked
Wide margins, narrow margins
Cupped
Domed
Narrow leaf
Wide leaf
Upright
Cascading
Fragrant flowers
maureen_ottawa
15 years ago
Too many on my must have list. I too have limited space, so I keep lots of hostas, but most I divide every 4-5 years. When I divide, some don't get put back as I have to have some new ones every year.

My current favourites (my keepers):

Sagae
Liberty
Jade Cascade
Ebb Tide
Glory
Blue Mammoth
Reptilian

Frosted Dimples
Spring Fling
El Nino
Striptease
Queen of the Seas
Allegan Fog
Ice Age Trail
Sea Gulf Stream
Revolution
So Sweet
Fragrant Blue

Tick Tock
Hidden Cove
Fantasy Island
Kingfisher
Little Sunspot
Rainforest Sunrise
Ice Cream
Ooh La La
Fair Maiden
Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Fire Island

Chartreuse Wiggles
Hope
Surprised by Joy
hosta_freak
15 years ago
Talynnp,I can't add any more than what others have already suggested. Geez,and here I thought the rain must be going to the piedmont,because it sure ain't comin' here! It is June 25th and it hasn't rained here all month,so far. Luckily,my hosta garden is in the woods,under trees,or they would be toast by now! Phil
greenguy
15 years ago
gunthers prize
kiwi milky way
double d cup
misty gold - i think this is one of kens favorites
guardian angel - my favorite

seriously
use a list like dr. dave posted and just take notes of the ones you like

my favorite may be one you don't even like
talynnp
Original Author
15 years ago
Whew, you all are fantastic! EO, you have beautiful gardens and are a wealth of knowledge (and wise to let your wife do what she wants!).

Hostagrams, don't know how you did it; diggin' and movin' and plantin'.....hope everything goes well with the new house. Fantastic pic!

Botanybabe, I don't have any glossy ones, I'll have to put one on my list. I especially like Candy Dish.

Jbranch, I agree with the Sagae. I just planted one on Monday. I am definitely considering Krossa Regal...

Woodthrush, ain't it the truth! Checking the photos on this forum is like buying a new book and trying not to read the last page....I know I shouldn't look, but I can't stop myself!

Dbowemd; I don't think you left out a thing!!! I have tried to cover most of these; I seem to LOVE the streaked ones, and I do have more of these than anything else.

Maureen ottawa, I have 9 of the ones on your list, but the rest look awfully tempting......

Hosta freak Phil, we got a little rain on Sunday night, enough to fill my rain barrel to the first band. Every drop helps though! I actually live in Valdese, I guess a little closer to the foothills than in the piedmont. I know what you are going through. Keep the faith!

And greenguy, I only have 1 on your list, Guardian Angel, but the others look very interesting....

So, I'm thinking that these are my next "investments"...

June
Krossa Regal
something glossy....
Golden Friendship
Beckoning

....that is, after I get these in the ground:

Fair Maiden
Ice Age Trail
First Frost
Silver Threads and Golden Needles
Jack of Diamonds
Fire and Ice

......does it ever end??????? I feel dizzy,,,,,,!!!
nchostaqueen
15 years ago
Dawns Early Light....
talynnp
Original Author
15 years ago
I agree nchostaqueen, and I have it on display in the garden already!!!!

What MUST I have????

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