Paul, I wouldn't be surprised if that third one turns into a swan. I like the leaf shape and misting.

Dan

Paul I agree with Dan. That last one looks like it has great possibilities and not sure I would have it listed with my ones in the ugly duckling stage.
Cher

so where is the picture of H. Ugly Duckling????

i wonder if its still out in my garden ....

ken

ps: did you know there is a plant named such???

Here is a link that might be useful: lie-berry

What do you do about your "ugly ducklings"? I have a Blue Angel that seems to grow Ok, but is always ugly. It always has burned leaves. This is it's third year and it's nice sized but not a pretty plant. I also have a Radiant Edger that is always ugly. It has been severely abused by the squirrels digging it up repeatedly in the first two years. Now, in it's third year, it was too high in the pot and lost a lot of spring growth. Then, it also has burned edges.

So, do I give them to someone in a cooler climate? The BA has been field trialed here and done well, though. Maybe they don't like pots.

bkay

#3, the misted seedling keeps adding leaves, albeit slowly. This year it was under fluorescent lights 24hr/day and then in bright shade on the deck so conditions were good. I'll be interested to see if it comes back with bigger leaves next year or at all.

Paul

My ugliest duckling this year is Sum and Substance. It's temporary. The porch swing fell over on it right after it leafed out. Then it suffered two hail storms. Then we went from cool and dry to hot and dry almost instantly. With the huge leaves, the hail really did a number on it. I expect it to be nice again next year.
{{gwi:951281}}

I'm beginning to think this one is a lost cause. Ken says some people can't grow some hosta. Maybe Blue Angel is one of my "can't grow" hosta. This is it's third year. It looked somwhat better it's first year, but last year, it was this ugly, too. It came up with burned edges, the newer leaves still have burned edges. The hail didn't help. the queen of burned edges, Francis Williams has very few burned edges compared to this

I think this may be my other "can't grow". It's Radiant edger. It looked even worse last year. This is it's 3rd year. It helps my feelings that it was a bonus plant.

{{gwi:962264}}

Last year"

{{gwi:1055553}}

Any one want to trade their ugly duckling for my ugly duckling?

bkay

It is rare that I ever take any pictures of things when they get ugly. I don't like to remember them that way.

It does look nice for about a week in early spring then just goes downhill from there.

Frances Williams
{{gwi:1055554}}

franknjim, my Francis Williams looks the same and always has. I've had it for several years, have divided it and moved it to three different locations, no change. I think it is some kind of disease or virus or something. Am about ready to throw them out! Any help out there?

It is not a disease or virus. It is normal desiccation that happens to almost all Frances Williams. The hosta look-a-like that does not do this is Olive Bailey Langdon.

Yes, throw them out!!! Get Olive Bailey Langdon. You will not be sorry you did.

-Babka

Throw them ...out!? (clutches chest and flops heavily into chair) I've had Frances Williams for about 5 years, and they are still quite a bit smaller than they should be. My OBL, on the other hand, is growing like a weed. Very nice.

Un clutch, and toss out. Life if too short to deal with Frances, when Olive can deliver. Unflop and dig up!!!!

-Babka

My vote goes for Bkay's sum & substance. LOL. Sorry about the swingset incident, but the pic itself made me laugh.

I threw out probably 120 green seedlings of Dorothy Benedict etc of various leaf shapes. But I have some nice little ones, repotting them every few weeks, but still too small to show with my camera.
Bernd

It is painful to dig something up and throw it away when it was perfectly willing to grow, BUT the good news is that it leaves a space to plant something new. I tell myself that I wouldn't blink when throwing out a 'past their best' bouquet of flowers which probably cost as much as a nice hosta. I use the same excuse for not trying to keep Easter lilies and poinsettias and amaryllis -- into the trash they go!
Jan

What would you get if you crossed Hosta 'Ugly' with 'Frances Williams'?

'Ugly' is TRULY ugly, somebody had to have a strange funny bone to keep it around and then name it, then upload it to the HostaLibrary.org .

At least with Ugly Duckling you have a hope it might turn into a swan.

And Bernd, what is so special about Dorothy Benedict? I noticed it was quite expensive to order it. Is it still that good a parent pod and/or pollen?

No, I have no play money to buy a mature Dorothy Benedict. I got some streaked seeds donated by people at the Hosta Seed Growers Forum, and then bought several packets from Mr. Hosta at http://www.mandmhostaseedsales.com/ at $6 per packet. I grew seeds this winter in my basement to have gardening fun. Dorothy Benedict is very good as a pod parent (mom) to grow variegated seedlings. Those streaked seedlings are very slowly growing only, but in many years might stabilize into an interesting variegated plant. But growing hostas is fun, we all know that.

You should look at the pictures of beautiful hosta seedling at the Hosta Seed Growers Forum, see link below. Click on "Hosta Seed Growers".
Bernd

Here is a link that might be useful: Hosta Seed Growers Forum

Seems like I always have pieces of Francis Williams, not sure how I do that because I don't divide things much....anyway I plant them at the bottom of the woods as sacrificial for the deer....but wouldn't you know, they don't eat them. Maybe the leaves are too tough, they step over them to get to the plantaganeas.

Sandy

I have no problem at all with Frances Williams,and I have ten of them all through my woods. It must be the woodland that does it. Some of them are absolutely huge right now,and they came up ever earlier this year! I agree with babka,get OBL;a lot faster growing,and doesn't burn. BTW it's FRANCES Williams. Francis is a boy!! Phil