I've ordered several hosta cultivars from New Hampshire Hostas and was very pleased with the plants I received. Knowing your location (i.e., I'm in USDA Zone 6 Southern New England) will help folks responding to your questions. Like most other perennials hosta take about 3 years in the ground to reach their mature size while their root systems get sufficiently established to support them. The rule of thumb is generally first year they sleep, second year they creep, third year they leap. I have H. 'Liberty' in one of my part shade beds that reached its mature size last growing season. It's HUGE.

Welcome Classic, you ask for recommendations. Most of the great hosta dealers are small, mom and pop kind of enterprises. My suggestion is that you don't buy hosta from an "all purpose" nursery or a big box store.

Here's an older post on where to buy: http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/1963531/where-to-buy-hosta?n=54.

Most of those folks are still in business.

This is a shorter list, but more recent: http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/4474445/reliable-places-to-buy-a-hosta-2017?n=11

If it works in your landscape plan, consider planting in pots. Hosta need "cooling hours" to grow their best. In pots, they get more cold than if they are in the ground in 8b. Otherwise, be sure and call your vendor and get their recommendations for hosta that do well in warmer areas. The variety you choose will definitely affect how well hosta will do for you.

Look at photos of hosta and choose an overall look - white edged, or shiny green or blue tinted for the ones you want and tell your vendor you want a "white edged" hosta that will do well in 8b. They will be very happy to make a recommendation for you.

By the way, Naylor Creek is a great nursery, but they specialize in the latest varieties of hosta. You might do better with some older, tried and true varieties in 8b.

Good Luck.

bk

could you be a bit more specific where you are ...

do you see hosta in your area ????

hosta have a winter dormancy requirement ... a specified chill time ... and you may or may not get it.. where you are ...

ken

Hi Ken...I'm in a town called Round Rock...just 5 miles outside of Austin, Tx. They do sell Hostas a a few nurseries in the area. So far I've seen: August Moon, Wide Brim, Francis Williams, June at various times. Lowes and Home Depot get most of these. (But I've read to stay clear of big box stores b/c of greater potential for virus. I've only found the August Moon at a very nice family owned nursery in Georgetown - 10 miles up the road. They say they'll be getting more variety as the season unfolds.

I've planted several hydrangeas as a back drop and am looking for specific heights to fill in the remainder of a 12x12 ft bed on the NE/E side that gets a few hours sun and dappled shade. I thought I had some varieties picked out to order but then read on the NH nursery site that Hostas don't reach their size potential (which is listed as mature size) in hotter climates. I also am a bit confused with the whole field vs potted choice ( already read the other posts re: that). And, would like the largest (healthy) plants I can get to increase their chance of making it in our sometimes unbearable heat. Appreciate any advice. Thanks

Hey, Classic. Now I understand the question on your PM. It doesn't really make any difference if the hosta are potted or not. Usually potted hosta you receive are smaller than field grown hosta. The larger ones come bare root because of the cost of shipping all that dirt. But, I don't think it really makes any difference in the performance of the plant.

Hosta do not get as big in Texas as they do in Minnesota. I would say they get about 2/3 the size they get in Iowa. But, many of the height estimates in the registration documents are incorrect.

Stay away from Francis Williams. It's not a great plant in Iowa, and it's really not a great plant in Dallas. It gets little brown burn marks on the leaves no matter what you do. I've had bad luck with Wide Brim as well. So Sweet looks similar, but will do well for you as will Francee.

Let me know if can help.

bkay

Yes, you see them offered in nurseries and the big box stores, but are there any actually growing in the ground in your neighborhood? In warmer winter zones such as yours, they tend to come up smaller each year over 3 years and then disappear altogether. Before you jump into spending the big bucks, try some in pots to see how they do for you as Bkay suggested above. A nice chat with that local nursery owner about growing them under your specific conditions (HOT) as well as asking them about precautions they take to make sure they get virus free plants is a good place to start. Do they have any growing in the ground?

There are a few of us here in warmer zones who try to buck the system and grow them anyway (in pots) because we are so smitten with hostas, but it is an uphill battle.

-Babka

Here is a link to some hostas to try. This is in zone 8 b. Putting hostas in a pot over the winter increases their chilling hours for they need the winter dormancy. The ground in a pot is colder than the ground. http://www.lsuagcenter.com/topics/lawn_garden/commercial_horticulture/ornamentals/thriving-hostas-for-southern-louisiana-landscapes

Wonderful! Thank you! So the black ring is the buried pot?

The black ring is the drip irrigation tubing. It gets dry here in the summer.

Thanks zkathy. I live in Texas and have decided to plant the hostas in pots.