Bought new plants, identified another (?)

12 years ago

I'm a happy camper tonight.

First off, Robert Seawright over in Carlisle MA allowed me to pick up some daylily and hosta plants, even though he had closed up shop to the public for the most part. For this season, anyway. The Seawrights are really nice folks, and we enjoyed chatting about plants, books, and the deep south. My DH went with me since he is familiar with the area.

Well, I saw some of the plants mentioned around the forum, and the mature sizes are really AWESOME. Unlike most of you, I'd never really seen mature monsterous hostas before. So, considering I have a couple of biggies already, I controlled the impulse to get more. But....well, some things are really hard to resist, as you can tell from this list. Here is what followed me to the SUV and jumped in:

1 'Royal Standard'

1 'Fragrant Blue'

1 'Lakeside Kaleidoscope'

1 'Fragrant Dream'

2 Plantaginea 1 gal w/seeds

1 'Patriot' 2gal

1 'Dream Queen' 2 gal

+7 nice hemerocallis

Then I used my new HOSTAPEDIA and the latest photos taken of this corrugated green leaf w/gold/cream margin 2nd year plant from PDN, which has been a mystery plant. I wish to apologize to all who tried to help me assign names to my little collection up here in zone 5bMA, because I totally forgot that I also purchased from PDN a H.'Fragrant Queen.'

I thought I got only one, shipped to zone 8B AL, but no, there was another one. Even this late in the season, this FQ has changed a lot, and gave me 3 scapes w/seeds. Anyway, this plant is so much bigger than the little one I have in Alabama, it looks nothing like that one. In a way, it looks like a reverse of 'Brother Stefan' which I dearly love. Both plants should be magnificent when they grow up.

Do you think I'm right about 'Fragrant Queen'?

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Comments (12)

Steve Massachusetts
12 years ago
Vein pair count is wrong for Fragrant Queen. FQ has 8. Your pic shows 12 or 13. The edge color is lighter also. FQ goes from cream to white.

Steve
Gesila
12 years ago
Nice list of plants! I believe steve is correct for Fragrant Queen. Fragrant Queen doesn't have ruffled edges. FQ is a sport of Fragrant King. FQ has been on my wish list all year.

Patriot and Dream Queen have been slow growers for me (which is fine since I need the room).

Love the massive blooms that Royal Standard has every year!

Gesila
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jennaj_z4mn
12 years ago
Could it be Spartacus?
User
Original Author
12 years ago
Well, double drats.....
Back to the drawing board.

Jenna, and everyone on the trail of this identity crisis, I have run out of ideas. Based on what I purchased, and what I'm seeing, I am totally stumped.

This is the only plant with a green middle and a yellow/gold/cream border that I own. With corrugation especially.

I think both 'Brother Stefan' and 'Dick Ward,' the two with light centers and green/blue margins, are the only other variegateds except for the ones with white margins and a crisp green middle. Besides the ones which are a solid color, that is.

Well, I could have been shipped a different plant.
And I posted the closeup of the leaf, as wrinkled as it is, to give someone a shot at counting the vein pairs. I've counted v.p. a total of two times, not exactly the expert level. But according to Zilis, the v.p. count and the color of the bloom is frequently the deciding factor in identification.

Regardless of the frustration I feel right now, I will not let a brainless plant take me down. I suppose I can always call it 'Madame X' until then.

Spartacus? I honestly do not know. But I never BOUGHT a Spartacus. Plant Delights does sell it, although they are sold out at this time. However, the fact that they sell it, means it could be what I got. The description at PDN says it is highly rippled on the edge, and it seems this one is sure rippled. And now I am leaning more toward that name.
Jennaj, it sounds possible. I'll see if I can count v.p. to confirm.

Gesila, thanks. I am pleased by the plants I found at Seawright's, even this late in the season. I chose smaller tops with a lot of stems in the ground, bushy leaves, seeking to give the plant a lot to absorb for its winter dormancy.

And today I picked up some bonemeal to mix into the potting soil I'll move the ground-planted plants into as well. I got potting soil with no moisture retention additives.

Now it is time to go do some digging before it rains tomorrow.
nucci60
12 years ago
Mass. and Alabama? That's sort of an odd mix. Which came first?
User
Original Author
12 years ago
Nucci, I am an Alabama gal, which came first for me. My DH is a Mass. guy. Long story, but we were engaged 50 years ago when he came south in the Army. But we only got married FIVE years ago. So now we are dealing with homes far apart until something gives. Probably my sanity.

I've really enjoyed learning the little I have about gardening in a four-season climate. I was never faced with the problems of GROUND HEAVE or what all else you folks have in the colder climes. It is nice to grow things I've always admired but did not take the conditions in south Alabama. Like nasturtiums, and hosta, and some hydrangea.

Now I have the little travelers ready to go, already in their pots. Quite a larger size cargo than I expected. But they will travel better after they go dormant. Here they are lined up for security check:
nucci60
12 years ago
It is great if you can maintain both. you will never be bored. I did Ma. and south Florida for five years and loved it. I n the end, i could not keep doing it.
User
Original Author
12 years ago
Okay, doing the Googling of images with my screen name associated, I rediscovered this thread.

Now, I think the mystery plant is Hosta 'Satisfaction.'

Does that match with what other folks think?
It is up and growing, and I think is the one with a budding scape on it already this mid March in zone 9a.
Steve Massachusetts
12 years ago
Well, in the North, Satisfaction should flower in June/July, so it's possible. What color and shape are the flowers? Do you have a picture of them? Keep it in the shade. The edge will fade to parchment color in the sun.

Steve
User
Original Author
12 years ago
Steve, here is the picture I took this morning showing the young scape with a tinge of lavender on the bud.

I have a touch of astigmatism, but I think I counted 12 vein pairs. And it rained a little last night again, but mostly the moisture is from dense fog.
Steve Massachusetts
12 years ago
Satisfaction has very pale lavender flowers, almost white. They should also be tubular in shape. Once you've got a full inflorescence you should be able to tell. Using flowers is a really good way to confirm an ID.

Steve
User
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks for that bit of info which I added to my file.
At the rate it is developing, I won't have long to wait to find out!

Bought new plants, identified another (?)

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