If you could pick the next Hosta of the Year, which would it be?

bunnycat

16 years ago

And what are your reasons?

~Bunnycat

Comments (35)

ctopher_mi
16 years ago
Here is the criteria for the HOTY from the American Hosta Growers Association website:

"With the increasing number of hosta cultivars being introduced each year it is increasingly difficult for nurserymen and gardeners to choose just the right hostas for their sales areas and gardens. To this end the American Hosta Growers Association established the AHGA Hosta of the Year in 1996. It is selected by a vote of AHGA members. Award winners are hostas that are good garden plants in all a regions of the country, are widely available and in sufficient supply and retail for about $15.00 in the year of selection."

So far these are the hostas that have been selected:

1996 Hosta ÂSo SweetÂ
1997 Hosta ÂPatriotÂ
1998 Hosta ÂFragrant BouquetÂ
1999 Hosta ÂPaulÂs GloryÂ
2000 Hosta ÂSagaeÂ
2001 Hosta ÂJuneÂ
2002 Hosta ÂGuacamoleÂ
2003 Hosta ÂRegal SplendorÂ
2004 Hosta ÂSum and SubstanceÂ
2005 Hosta ÂStripteaseÂ
2006 Hosta 'Stained Glass'
2007 Hosta 'Paradigm'
2008 Hosta 'Blue Mouse Ears'
2009 Hosta 'Earth Angel'

If I was going to choose hostas that I believe should be in just about every hosta garden two would be Touch of Class and Rainforest Sunrise. They probably wouldn't be selected, though, since we already have June and a lot of other yellow centered, green edged plants on the list. But those would be my picks.
becky_ia
16 years ago
Rainforest Sunrise is one of my absolute favorites. It was the first one to come to my mind when I read your question. So that is what gets my vote!

Becky
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whip1 Zone 5 NE Ohio
16 years ago
June and Sagea are my two favorite plants. Since they've already won, I'll go with red October.

Curious that they've already picked the hosta of the year for 08 and 09 already!
sugarman
16 years ago
I think 'Hanky Panky' and 'Kiwi Full Monthy' deserve such a nomination. Both still relatively new plants that score very high in popularity polls, and both are plants that deserve a place in every garden

Other hosta deserving such a nomination would be Touch of Class and Liberty. And from the really recent varieties, Rainbow's End deserves it in 2012 or something ;)

But while the list is a list of very nice varieties, some of the best do not appear on it... so most of the choices we suggest will probably not get the title, just one plant a year.

The only plant on that list that is not up to the nomination is Eart Angel, for me a rather uninspiring plant, I got rid of my copy already
nchostaqueen
16 years ago
Rainforest Sunrise for sure and then Warwick Comet, my vote. I love the round leaf form and great substance of both.

Rainforest for the color contrast and corrugated leaf.

Warwick because of the green and white that holds all season with no melting out, great plant.

Deb
Buxas
16 years ago
They are picked so far in advance so that suppliers can have enough plants in stock to supply demand.
esther_opal
16 years ago
This is a marketing project and I agree with the whole thing, they are not looking to old obsessive-compulsive collectors with a 10ft stick in their hands. They are addressing the wider audience and that is proper for these purposes.

Not only must there be sufficient stock available it should be a plant that can reach a salable size in a year of growth. If the 10ft rule applied to a plant but it was slow growing it will not make the short list regardless of how wonderful the plant may be. If it takes 3-5 years to reaches the 10ft rule it wonÂt qualify. DonÂt argue with this plant, H.ÂPatriotÂ but it fits the criteria. The hosta of the year needs to grow fairly well in a wide range of conditions which of course is a worthwhile trait.
hostapumpkinman
16 years ago
It is the end of August and these hostas are looking great.For hosta of the year I would nominate Twighlight Time,Touch of Class,Avacodo,T.Dawg and Alleghan Fog.I dont care much for the blues or greens but Twighlight Time is one of the favorites.Phil
hostarox
16 years ago
My choice for HOTY would be montana Aureomarginata. I can't believe it hasn't gotten named as of yet. It is by far one of the most stunning Hostas there is.
Everyone should grow it. ;-)

Pic is from 2005, 2 cameras ago. lol
aka_margo
16 years ago
I would have to agree with you on the Montana Aureomarginata. No hosta garden is complete without it.
esox48
16 years ago
It's a crime that Montana Aureomarginata hasn't been named before. It should have been the very first one.

Another that has been overlooked is Sun Power.
jspece
16 years ago
I second m. 'Aureo-Margnata'...but I bet the name isn't "marketable" enough. A shame.
esox48
16 years ago
Here is a great Montana Aureomarginata I spotted last summer...
hostarox
16 years ago
Great pic!!

Josh, you are probably correct about the name.

I just wonder when I look at the list from 1996-2006, plantagenia Hostas are named 4 times. They do win hands-down in growth rate, and staying power, but aren't too different if you were a casual Hosta gardener. Do you think So Sweet and Fragrant Bouquet both should have made the list in diff. years? How about Guac. and Stained Glass both making the list? Yes, I own them, they are getting real big now, yes--they are different,....you get where I am coming from...I feel having Paradigm named was refreshing, Earth Angel is a shoe-in, but Blue Mouse Ears?
I honestly think it's gonna be a hard sell. Anyone into hostas will have it, casual gardeners will buy something bigger. I wish montana Aureomarginata had a diff. name
ctopher_mi
16 years ago
Hi Roxanne,

Part of it is the people doing the voting. The nurseries doing the voting may be overstocked (ie. the plants are in good supply) so they might need to promote certain plants.

Blue Mouse Ears is actually one of those hostas that is breaking the mold and collectors and casual gardeners alike are buying this one. Part of it is that the name fits so well with the plant. It was cheapened by introducing Green Mouse Ears ...

A couple of those suggested here might not work because they may not grow well in all parts of the country. Maybe there should be a regional HOTY selection. If that ever happened I would vote Guardian Angel for the north.

Montana 'Aureomarginata' is a great choice too :)
esther_opal
16 years ago
Hosta of the Year is more about promoting than collecting and the casual retail market buys varigated plants not Blue Mouse Ears. This is not a right/wrong, good/bad statement it is just a cold business decision.

The final result is a wider interest in hosta but that is secondary to the main question of choosing a plant that will sell well and perform well to non-collectors at retail nurseries or big boxes.

I would not have voted for Montana Aureomarginata, when I had a vote, because it comes up early making it subject to the late frost problems. From the point of view of increasing general interest with gardeners it would be a bad choice.
toymr2mk2
16 years ago
I agree with esox on Sun Power and also with all who mentioned Montana Aureo. Now I have to say that EO has a point on the early rising being an issue. But imho it is worth growing even with that issue. But what issue is there with Sun Power? I have never heard one negative about it and it is a gorgeous plant that is easy to grow. I definately think it should be considered. And how about a nice big blue that will grow everywhere? Any nominations? Blue Mammoth? Love Pat? Elegans?.......
Art
phyllis__mn
16 years ago
I agree with Touch of Class, a new acquisition for me this year.

For the blues, how about Abigua Drinking Gourd? I love it, and it's a tough one.
arleneb
16 years ago
Well, they used up my nomination this year -- in my garden, at least, Paradigm just looks perfect from first leaf to frost. Right now, after two months of drought and then one month of floods, it still looks absolutely perfect. Good choice, AHGA!!

I'd agree with Rainforest Sunrise -- I had a potted one on a Hosta education table at our MG garden tour, along with 10 other potted ones and about 60 cut leaves, and RS was the one everyone zeroed in on to ooh and ahh over. It's a beauty.

I'd also second Montana Aureomarginata -- I see it in a lot of landscaping already, though, so it might not be an incentive for people to buy it.
esther_opal
16 years ago
I think the number of varieties and the number of good dependable growing varieties that they could have
1 Variegated Variety
1 Gold Var
1 Blue Var

Use a photo of a planting showing all 3 in the landscape together for promotional purposes.

Then it would be "Hostas of Year"

I think the retail market would respond well and remember the general market is directing this program.
bunnycat
Original Author
16 years ago
I don't have Rainforest Sunrise. It sounds wonderful. Will have to put it on the top of my wish list.

I love Sun Power, and agree that it is deserving. It has a lovely shape and coloring, is not bothered by slugs, increases quickly and is easy to find.

But I think I would pick Wolverine. Also quick to increase, lovely (variegated) coloring, very attractive mound, easy to find. It is attractive as a juvenile and in its adult form. Since I don't have as many hostas as many on this forum, in my garden Wolverine is enough different from the others to catch my eye. It also compliments its neighbors nicely.

Wolverine with Abiqua Drinking Gourd, Stained Glass and Austin Dickinson.

~Bunnycat
ctopher_mi
16 years ago
I've had trouble growing Sun Power. It burned up too much if it got hot or dry and didn't tolerate the sun that I gave it. Go figure!
digs57
16 years ago
Any of the following:

Abiqua Drinking Gourd - that's the one that opened my eyes to how very different two hosta varieties can be.
Love Pat
Night Before Christmas
Fantabulous
Jade Cascade
Reptilian
Komodo Dragon

As well as being eye catching and a good grower, the HOTY really ought to be reasonably slug resistant. Many of the past selections don't fulfill that criterion by a long shot.
mctavish6
16 years ago
I agree with the choices above. I would have to add Inniswood. If I had to pick between any of the light centered ones, it would win. It's still looking pristine at this time of the year. I'd love to see some solids also. Sunpower, Potomac Pride, Komodo Dragon.
evermore_gw z 4/5 NB
16 years ago
Bunnycat, thanks for starting this thread, and for showing us part of your beautiful graden. The pictured bed is stunning.

As much as I agree with many of the suggestions already made, my choice would be Whirlwind. The dark green, contrasting veins set it apart from everything else I've seen.
deshima
16 years ago
This is an easy one Winter Lighting, I don't have one but I say a mature plant on a Dutch web page is was simply awesome.
esther_opal
16 years ago
H.'White Lighting'

It reverts to green so easily that it is a full time job to maintain the variegation which is by the way beautiful. see mine below.
MrMicawber
16 years ago
I think I would go with 'Touch of Class' as well...its gorgeous and stays that way from emergence til frost, and never mind slug-proof, this one is near bullet-proof.

I would also put forth the following candidates:

Fire Island
Rainforest Sunrise
Popcorn
Brother Stephan
Princess Anastasia
T. Aureonebulosa
lynnem
16 years ago
Chris, I'm glad to hear someone besides myself has trouble with Sunpower. I've got four in different places in my gardens, and none of them have impressed me at all, and I've had a couple of them for about 5 years... Kept thinking if I tried one in a different spot, it might do better, but that hasn't been the case.
mareas
16 years ago
My Sunpower is an ugly, unimpressive hosta, too ~ I'm just a glance away from composting it.
I agree with bunny in nominating Wolverine - it's always gorgeous here.
White Lightning is now 1st on my wish list for next year!
Janice
16 years ago
I've re-read this thread several times, with interest as to what you all think SHOULD be the next hosta of the year
and everytime I come to your pic., bunnycat, my eyes bug out! What fantastic looking hosta you have! You must be
doing something right, my friend! :o)

I think I'd be the only person to nominate the one I like most in my garden--so I'm guessing I don't have the same
discriminating eye that most of you have--and far less hosta to choose from than most of you--but--I'm working on that!! :o)
papou
16 years ago
After 3 bad years...all of a sudden in 2007...Guardian Angel came out nice, beautiful and big...very attractive...so go figure. Looking forward to next year to note how it will come out.
Abba Dabba Doo has amazed me tremendously for the last 2 seasons. Even today when almost all others have tired...and started to decline...here's my Abba Dabba Do still how it was in June...not a slug hole...no other insects have attacked it...simply an excellent performer. That would get my vote.
Wolverine, Blue Mouse Ears, Morning Light and Sun Power all have been excellent growers for me. They also would get my vote.

Papou
bobinfrance
16 years ago
How about Diana Remembered. Great leaf variagation with large white perfumed flowers (first time flowers for me this year)
Bob
angelonia_anne
16 years ago
Kiwi Full Monty gets my vote also. It is beautiful, fast growing and vigorous and has a unique appearance!
ademink
16 years ago
jade cascade or tidewater

If you could pick the next Hosta of the Year, which would it be?

Comments (35)

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