What would you do here? Move … which one?

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

This year the white edged one has gotten really big. (NOID: could
be Francee, Minuteman, Patriot, or one of that ilk. It’s been there 6 years: I was in the middle
of a health crisis and both my judgment and my record-keeping were impaired). I’ve
never cared much for it, probably because it doesn’t suit the blue/gold/chartreuse
scheme this bed has evolved into. Right now, the white edged one makes this bed
look more random than not. It’s like every year I say to myself, “Wow, that
thing is really healthy. Too bad it’s white.”

The second photo shows this better.

I’m thinking about pulling it out and putting the Queen Josephine
to its lower left in its place. The
white edged one can go in the rear of the back yard where it can occupy some
less prime real estate.

Except that QJ is a similar color combo as the Frances Williams above it. I could put the Blue Cadet between Frances Williams and put Queen Josephine where Blue Cadet (LL of Frances Williams) is now. That’s moving 3. But only one is really big.

I bought 2 Maui Buttercups, and some heucheras in purple (2 Midnight Rose) and gold (1-2 Citronelle) for here, plus 2 Japanese Forest Grass 'All Gold' (Hakonechloa macra). Except it is obvious that there is no room. Something’s got to give.

If not that, what else would you do?

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Comments (4)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years ago
some guy did a post on how to move fully leafed out hosta ...

is there some rule in your life.. that they cant touch???

whatever pleases you.. is fine with me ... just dont forget the tape ...

ken
Babka NorCal 9b
8 years ago
Why don't you print out your photos, cut them up into individual hostas and lay them out that way to see if you like it. I don't see a Patriot or Minuteman in there, they have much wider white margins. My Queen Josephine gets white edges later in the season. There are so many wonderful hostas to pick from, don't keep one around if you don't really like it. Find it another good home.

-Babka
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irawon zone 5a Ottawa.ca
8 years ago
Hi Linnea,

I think your green and white one is Francee. I have trouble integrating the green and white ones into a predominantly blue and yellow bed too. Do you have any other hostas that are green and white to balance the green/white to gold/ blue ratio? I've had an eye operation, so I'm not sure I'm seeing the colours of your hostas properly, so I hesitate making suggestions on how to move yours around.

Generally speaking I've found that solid blue hostas and solid green hostas act like neutrals. I use yellow hostas as contrast to blue or green hostas or to pick up the yellow in a variegated hosta. After many years of trial and error in combining hostas I do the following:

1. A gold centered blue hosta goes well with a gold margined blue hosta. The same holds true with white and blue variegated hostas.

2. Two adjacent hostas should have a common colour, except that green ties anything together for me.

3. Identically variegated hostas look good together if the leaves are different in some way...either smaller or ruffled or shiny etc.

If I can't correct what I consider an error I introduce green, either a green hosta or another perennial. I like using green ferns (Athyrium 'Lady in Red', 'Dre's Dagger','Victoriae'), aruncus aethusifolius or epimediums.

Queen Josephine is a gold margined green hosta and Frances Williams is a gold margined blue hosta. So, a gold hosta would complement both. Francee is a white margined green hosta and Queen Josephine is gold margined green hosta. A solid green hosta would be a good transition from one to the other.

In the end, whatever pleases you is what works. If you haven't used Hakonechloa macra before, it does get quite big. I put mine in front of the smaller aruncus and should have done the reverse.
linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Thanks, all. Ken, I have followed those instructions "someone" posted many times! I will be
moving a giant Frances Williams (not the one in this photo) later this year
when I get caught up.

The white has always bothered me, so I think it’s time to do it. In the back
there is no specific color scheme. I’ll divide the putative Francee in half and
it can flank a couple of Fire and Ice (maybe the vigorous one will shame Fire
and Ice into growing more). Once it’s out everything may look different, and I
will re-assess who goes in that spot.

My 5 year old Queen Josephine stays the same color, though
this year the leaves are bigger. It’s the only shiny one I have (there). I
rather like the matte or frosty look of this grouping. I may move Queen
Josephine to keep a couple of Guacamoles company elsewhere.

Irawon, I like your rules of thumb for color combinations. I
have the variegated Hakonechloa macra in another bed. It looks great but has
been extremely slow growing. The All Gold variety is supposed to be more
upright and less weeping in form. I figure it will give me some textural contrast
as well.

What would you do here? Move … which one?

Comments (4)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

Babka NorCal 9b

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What would you do here? Move … which one?

Comments (4)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

Babka NorCal 9b

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linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)Original Author

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