A few more that I don't have that join the contender list are:

1. Journey's End
2. Key Lime Pie
3. Gold Standard
4. Emerald Ruff Cut
5. Proud Sentry

These additional entries definitely have a Top Gun look!

Laurie, another gorgeous hosta you have in ERC! Wow.

I have all but Gold Standard, MK! Enjoyed the trio shot! We sure do have a lot of the same hostas!:-)

BC, that photo of DQ against the dark background really shows off its attributes! Your Proud Sentry is certainly worthy for all the reasons you mentioned. Love the "fountain-like" shape - and how the petioles gain colour intensity as the season progresses...from a pinky/peach to dark cranberry... A really stunning hosta and I agree - it is regal looking.

Hmmmm, the short list is forming....;-)

Josephine, I am surprised that you do not have a Gold Standard. It's an oldie but a real goodie. It grows like a weed and is a great hosts. I have many and have divided them for myself and others. A favorite

Sunny wood, my praying hands is planted about two feet away from the base of a large evergreen. It gets bright shade most of the day and some sun really late in the day. I guess I picked the perfect spot for it in my yard. The evergreen is not a dense one so it does get rain and the soil doesn't dry out as fast as other parts of the garden.

Sherry

Yippee! I got Proud Sentry last year. I really like your pics of it, BC.

peren.all, Emerald Ruff Cut is a really pretty hosta. Love the wavy edges and the coloring.

I'm surprised to see Jack of Diamonds on the hard to grow list. It's grown at a steady pace for me and is a real looker.

Okay, jo, I found an early pic of one I really like a lot. I'll nominate it for Top Gun status.
Awakening Angel It's a pretty blue with long pointed leaves that puts on a nice show as it's unfurling. It's also been a fast grower.

Hey look, some people have been bad mouthing Great Expectations and I want you to take it back!

Jon :-{

Atta boy, Jon! ;-)

'Dream Weaver' at the end of September this year :

So glad I also have these beauties...ahem...had DW but it died. DQ will have to suffice, lol. Not a hardship, right?

No one is bad mouthing Great Expectations. It's a gorgeous hosta. We're just passing on the common knowledge that it is hard to grow. It's even more difficult in any zone other than zone 5. (If you'll pay attention over time, you'll notice all the folks who say it's not hard to grow are in zone 5.)

bk

Ivory Coast looked great in 2015. In 2010, five Ivory Coast were purchased as liners and they are starting to get some size. Ivory Coast is similar to Liberty, a favorite.

Ivory Coast liners in 2010

'Ivory Coast' here, living under a gutter downspout.

Bought as small single divisions about seven years ago, like many others of mine they are having their best years.

Ivory Coast on the left and Majesty on the right also a Sagae sport.

Dave

Don't have Ivory Coast - I lost a new Majesty a year ago. Both are lookers though!

Thanks, Don! for the pic from late September. It retains a fair bit of blue right to the end of season...the tree canopy must be providing some shade.

My 'Majesty' has not a wide enough border, but has more than 'Sagae'. Though otherwise it is growing well.

Glad to see a picture of both Ivory Coast and Majesty, Dave. Both attractive, but different. I only have Majesty which is not even half the size of Dave's. It does stand out in a garden. You've got to get another Jo!

bk, I'm in 6a (close enough I guess) as I have two GEs that are doing splendidly. Please don't take my light-hearted remarks as actual animosity, they are not.

Jon

Ok---so I know I'm not supposed to pick more than one but---Goodness Gracious would be another beautiful hosta. (Sorry, but can't find a photo of it right now!) Do you have it Jo?

Another hosta that has caught my eye is Seducer. Purchased in 2014 with one shoot. In 2015 it had grown to four. I am very impressed with the coloring and the size of the leaves. I didn't mention it earlier because you did say we should pick "one," and you know my "one" choice. But, heck, you are going to have a difficult decision to make looking at these gorgeous photos! Why shouldn't I add another? LOL

Yes, NHL, the choice wont be easy - it never is and if I could, I would pick up all the ones I don't have! Lol

Goodness Gracious was a tie Top Gun Winner (Bernd) last year and it impressed me so this past season. Lasted long past the season looking so good.

Hospital visits have preoccupied me but I will make a decision by end of this weekend. :)

How about first, second and third??????

sherry

Got to be Striptease it has grow like crazy as has this whole bed I moved some around in August.

Here is hosta 'Goodness Gracious' on Sept.26, 2015, needs a growth spurt in 2016 though:

Top Gun 2014 - Sherry here is the link for last year.

Here is a pic of 'Winter Snow' in late May of this year.

Thanks, Laurie, I was here last winter, don't understand why I don't remember this thread : /

sherry

Sherry I can't even remember the number of things I forgot LOL!

Hi Jo,
I recommend Pistache. It fits the 10 foot rule :)

Vanessa

Such beautiful Hosta and hard to mention everyone's names . LOVE LOVE LOVE THEM

So many top guns to add to the arsenal!!

A little late but Fragrant Queen was a 2015 favorite ....color/contrast/leaf shape/habit were outstanding all season

Your Fragrant Queen is such a nice looking hosta. I have a smaller one, and the coloring on the leaves is so impressive. They remind me of a watercolor painting.

Nicccce Sssnake Eyes, Jon ;-)

I want to 'like' them all, but that would be seriously redundant....

Good luck to you Jo!

Do you have 'Dick Ward,' Jo? I can't remember...

Your 'Key Lime Pie' is gorgeous, Bernd. I think I need one to plant next to its reverse-variegated sibling, 'Yesterday's Memories.'

Oh wow! Let's let this ride a bit longer, shall we? All I've got time for right now is to read, click a few likes and thank-yous! These hostas are amazing. Thanks for the luck, Deb! I'll have a difficult time alright!!! :-D

Hi Jo, I've been lurking occasionally because I've had to restrict my computer use due to eye problems. I was hoping that someone would select some of my favorites but that hasn' happened. Hope you don't have these yet.

Number 1 because the slugs leave it alone and it stays bright all season: LUNA MOTH

It's a medium hosta

Number 2: SUMMER LOVIN, a sport of Summer Breeze, also a medium because you've mentioned space is limited in your garden.

Number 3: LITTLE SUNSPOT is a small hosta and has performed really well for me.

Number 4: Love NANCY, a really great performer even with tree root competition... a medium.

I'm submitting the next two in the event you can still handle some large hostas

Number 5: ARC DE TRIOMPHE. Love the shape and the ruffels.

Number 6 is one of Olga's.and she breeds large hostas. DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT.

Number 7, a medium. It's a number 7 in my garden only because the slugs like it but that may be only because of location in my garden.

EDIT: This is SUGAR AND SPICE

irawon, beautiful Luna Moth! I hope mine fills out like yours. ....Is your #7 Queen Josephine? I like the shine of it. All nice hostas!

Oops, forgot the name of number 7 - SUGAR AND SPICE. I have Queen Josephine and love it too, love its shine but I didn't have a good picture.

So good to have you back irawon. Hope this means you will be able to pop in more often now! Just gorgeous hostas and pics, as always.

Hi peren.all, that's so sweet of you. I'd like to participate more but still have to restrict my exposure to blue light (computer,TV, cell phone).

Hello hosta folks! My apologies for my absence but it couldn't be helped.

I have re-read this entire thread, looked at the fabulous pictures...and decided to sleep on it for one more night....since I am late already! Lol. As Sherry suggested, there may be a 1, 2, and 3.! (Wink)

A blue hosta, a ruffled hosta, ... and perhaps a shiny one? I have to review my own list and see which of these suggestions are different from my collection.

Irawon, so good to hear from you but I am sorry for your eye troubles. Hope trouble is only temporary. So appreciate your gorgeous pictures! That AT looks fabulous! Don't have it either. :)

G'night, see you tomorrow. Promise a winner!

Jo.

Well, I've narrowed it down some:

1. Indigo ... the flower bracts got me!
2. Emerald Ruff Cut - colour, Ruffles and shape of pointy leaves
3. Pistache - unique in colour with added white stripe

I need another day!

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!!!

I realize I left this thread up in the air for quite a while. Please forgive me for my absence...

If I had to start a new hosta garden from scratch, I would have no hesitation in buyibng each and every beautiful hosta offered here as a top gun! The funny thing is that I own more than half of them already! and want all the rest that I don't! Lol.

Thank you to all who participated. I appreciate your input so much and I especially loved all the marvellous pictures of hostas that are great performers in your gardens.

My rather short Want List (which often gets deleted, then restarted, lol) had a good handful of hostas on it that were submitted here.

Irawon, I appreciated the size information you included as you remembered I have space restrictions. :-)

Don, no, I don't have a Dick Ward - and I can't help but notice how well your hostas are growing in your Colorado gardens!! What a difference two years makes! It will be another exciting spring as the rest of the hostas leap towards maturity, eh?

A 2nd short list materialized with

1. Dancing Queen
2. Luna Moth
3. War Paint

Well.......I've taken enough of everyone's time.... Time to announce the 2015 Top Gun Winner.

This year there are three.....because it was just too difficult to choose and two hours later...even with short lists, I kept waffling..... Then remembered Sherry's suggestion and thought...why not? ;-)

1. PISTACHE - submitted by Vanessa! I think I'll place it beside Spilt Milk and see if they compliment one another. (Both with sporadic thin white streaks.)

2. EMERALD RUFF CUT - submitted by Laurie/Peren.all (texture, shape, size and ruffled leaves)

3. DANCING QUEEN - submitted by Donna/BC/Irawon (a double whammy: just can't ignore Donna's beautiful pics and passion for this one, and BC's photo with the dark background had me mesmerized)

Dave's War Paint photo has placed it on top of Want List!

Thanks again, Folks! :-) I'll be showing/introducing the new babies sometime in May/June no doubt!

I think we could all agree that having you around is even better than these great hostas!

Pistache is a stunner that had us (at least Vanessa, you and I) all drooling. lol! I will certainly be looking out for this beauty.

Emerald Ruff Cut has such great movement to it and I know you will enjoy it as much as I do. It makes me happy just looking at it.

Dancing Queen has won me over too Jo! I used to think that because I had Choo Choo Train that I did not need another gold with a rippled edge but the pics are so beautiful from everyone.

Great hostas to grace your beautiful garden!

When I saw Pistache, I knew it was a winner!

I've read several comments since I've been on the forum that Emerald Ruff Cut was difficult to grow, and that colored my decision to purchase it. Lauren, yours is "full" and very "ruffly."

Dancing Queen "rules." Thanks to all of you who "liked" my photos. Jo, give this beauty room to grow. I think you should consider her only protegy, Amalia. also.

Thanks for orchestrating the contest again this year. :):)

DD - I was interested in picking up Amalia this year, (it would have been my #1 choice), but it looks like it will be much harder to come across in Canada than the States (Naylor Creek has it listed). I like the yellow center, green streaky margins combo, with the added interest of piecrust edges. What's more, if it's like its parent, it should be a strong grower. Dave has posted pics of this one too. Along with yours, they have repeatedly caught my eye. No doubt, Amalia will get here in due time! Hopefully in the not too distant future!!!

Ditto your comments on ERC - though the one displayed above is a knockout! If I ever come across one for sale that's got off to a good start, then I wouldn't hesitate to pick it up! However, I don't fancy trying to nurse a smaller one along.

Jo - I agree that Vanessa's Pistache is a visual treat - good choice!

BC

Isn't it strange. ERC is not on Don Rawsons list of Difficult - to - Grow Hostas and I have had no problem with it at all, yet, neither is Little Aurora and it has been a testy one for me.

There are I think 5 from that list I grow easily and others that I agree are difficult.

Thank you for the additional comments Peren.all, DD, and BC!

BC, I'm going to find out if Hosta Choice may have Amalia in their line-up for 2016. It made a lot of our eyes pop when Donna first posted it.... I will ask as well re Emerald Ruff Cut and inquire about sizes available. I was very impressed with the size of all the new hostas (18 of them) I picked up from Glen last May!

Laurie, thank you! and I, too, try to avoid getting too many hostas that look very similar. Dancing Queen has a wee bit of resemblance to my Cold Heart (even though DQ's colour is brighter) but I had to have this beauty for my "Queens" collection, lol....as in - Queen Josephine, Dream Queen, Ivory Queen, The Queen and now Dancing Queen!

Donna, thanks for the tip about room for DQ! She will live in the pot for the first year so I can admire her up close anytime I want...I love touching my hostas as I talk to them ;-). I will certainly consider getting Amalia if it ever gets to Canada :). You just keep taking great photos of her this coming season, ok?