This is my Elegans from last year.

Elegans is just a classy, no non-sense Hosta. Two beautiful specimens right there.

Beautiful! I like your Elegans, too! Looks huge with nice form and color. It's stands out among the other hostas.

I can't think of what I'd call a specimen, maybe big hostas like Komodo Dragon or Empress Wu, ....but when they're together, do they stand out enough to be called a specimen?

I really need to find something for scale when I'm outside. This shows the deck post so that's something.

Komodo Dragon

What exactly is a "specimen" Hosta? Would that be any Hosta not used as borders?

I took it to mean a hosta that could be used to represent the species. Kind of like choosing a best in breed at a dog show.

How fast a grower is Elegans ? and how old are those ?

That sounds like a good explanation, koffman.

Thank you, koffman. That makes sense.

I took it to mean that a species hosta is one from which many seedlings and sports are derived. H. Sieboldiana has been around for a century. h. Elegans is one of its seedlings.

Niagara Falls

At least a decade old now. It is a bit of a slow grower with sieboldiana in it genes. It is a nice blue next to bright greens. This is my deepest shade ...

Mine is going into its fifth year.

I like your Elegans too, and Donnas and mine and...it is terrific. Fabulous specimens everyone!

Wow that Fortunei Albopicta sure is something!

Gorgeous specimens, Laurie! This is a great idea for a thread, Dave. I'm still rummaging for some good pics, lol.

Laurie, those are amazing! Just beautiful!

Peren, i'm speechless. I don't think I have any if that is the standard. Lovely specimens.

I took speciman to mean a hosta that, because of size or other distinguishing feature, stands out as an individual plant--a dominating presence over the others around it.

If you planted several "specimans" close together, they would certainly be noticeable, but the individual impact of the individual plants would certainly be lessened. It is that ability to "stand alone" and "dominate" that, to me, distinguishes a speciman plant.

Those are all truly beautifu speciman hosta posted above.

Kate

Thank you for the definition, Kate. I was shyly wondering. :-)

Kate, I agree that "specimen" plant has a double meaning in hosta gardens - a plant that comes from a hosta like Elegans from the species h. Sieboldiana, and one that stands out because of its size.. Laurie, to have so many mature "specimens" in one's garden is wonderful to see.

Here is a Fried Bananas going into its fifth year.

Thank you so much everyone! I have mature specimens because I have been at this for a while, but Winter Snow was only 4 years old in that pic from last year.

WILDerness I am sure you have lovely specimens too! As dublinbay said, it just needs to stand out. It could be a mini in the right setting.

I have this Sum and Substance that is still unfurling I think. Leaves are huge this year. I need to take out a measuring tape to see how big it is.

Then I have this Blue Angel (one of many)

And Elegans that is not mature yet but it sure leaped from last year.

4 y old who knows what-I suspect Olive Bailey Langdon (center; Top left; Guardian Angel, Winter Snow, Sum and Substance). I divided that hosta by the half and shared with peoples. Don't seem to be affected though:)

Parhelion (center, American Halo on left, Cinderella on right, front right is Janet)

3 y old Millenium (and half of Sagae on right)

Tenryu-second year

Dark Shadows-second year. Leaves are enormous!

Diana, I don't believe that is Dark Shadows. Nice hosta, though. Maybe someone can identify it if you post a separate photo(s) of it online. Here's mine.

My biggest specimen. Empress Wu. I'm too short to get a nice photo from the top.

You know, I had doubts about it and kinda waited if and when will show darker centers. It came from Land of Giants and I trusted that label:(

Land of the giants has sent me the wrong plant before. I emailed them a picture and he agreed that I received the wrong plant and graciously sent me the right plant.

I have a good handful of some mature hostas that may fit that category:. Frances Williams, Lancifolia, Sagae, Krossa Regal, F. Albopicta, U. Albomarginata, Ann Kulpa, Marrakech... and would love to add this year's pics but they are still in various stages of unfurling.

Lancifolia

Sagae - last July

Frances Williams - last spring.

Linda, I sent message to the nursery with handful of photos. I heard that is most probably Blue Angel and they will send me the right plant. So mistery solved and I will get the right one. Thank you for help with ID.

I have a very hard time choosing a specimen hosta from my gardens so out of the bunch of pictures I took tonight I will limit them to two . First would be Kiwi Full Monty tonight which is over 4 1/2 feet across now

2nd favorite tonight would be Emerald Crown ( August moon is trying to outshine but I ignored her tonight)

I think this will qualify as a specimen. Great Arrival really making her entrance known.