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The 3 hostas which are MIA are presumed dead

Esther-B, Zone 7a

7 years ago

I dug around the planting sites of Mellow Mood, Sparkler, and High Society. There was NOTHING. No remnants of pips, roots, nada. So after speaking with Rob at Hostaguy, it looks like I need 3 new additions to my garden.

I gave Sparkler 2 tries, and as much as I love it, I'm not going to give it a third. So, for Sparkler, does anyone have experience with Surprised By Joy, Peanut or Teeny Weeny Bikini? I also have Little Treasure in around the same area and don't want to have 2 that look too much alike.

I am surprised that High Society did not come back. Should I give that a second try, or substitute Royal Tiara?

As for Mellow Mood, since very few places offer it for sale, I'm assuming it's not a good doer and that's why. As a substitute for Mellow Mood, does anyone have experience with Hideout or Virginia Reel?

Thanks. I have been hit by a bunch of co-op assessment expenses (they put new boilers in all the buildings, charging us $500 apiece, for example) and so my budget for new hostas has taken a real hit. Therefore, I want to make sure any new hostas are good doers before ordering!

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Comments (5)

djacob68z5sewi
4 years ago
I have Teeny Weeny Bikini. It’s near a Small Flaming Bush. It’s shaded by the bush and a large tree branch way above it. I’ve had it for at least 10 years. It lost it’S streaks some tim ago. Last year I cut the bush back so it would receive more light. Then the big branch fell during a storm in March so it’s in a little more light. This year a new clump came up and it has the original coloring. I am going to dig that clump up and separate it from the rest of the plant. Here’s a pic:
lindalana 5b Chicago
4 years ago
Cept Mellow mood I have rest of them. While they need careful placement I did not loose any yet from that group. High society is slow grower for me though.

Hideout seems easy.
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Wow this is a really active forum especially for a Sunday! I saw pic's of both hosta's on the mail-order sites, but they don't always tell all of the real facts about the species. After reading the posts on the difficulties with Fire and Ice, I was getting reluctant to stray to far from any proven winners (no endorsement implied). See pic below of the subject site taken today (June)near dusk, which shows all of the decidous sticks finaly in bloom. The hosta would go just left of the wine & roses and in front of the forysnthia. Also present in the pic is a kelysi dwarf redtwig dogwood (below the W&R) and a small blue fescue near the road/driveway. The vote seems to be split between those kind enough to participate, and a deciding factor for me would be any issues with maintenance or inherrent limitations with cultivar. The vignette does need something to help tie the other shrubs together and to provide a contrasting color and foliage shape for interest. I had heucheras in the past, but they didn't do well with the lack of water and heat from the road.
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zkathy z7a NC
4 years ago
Virginia Reel has done better for me than Hideout. Have you looked at Little Devil?
djacob68z5sewi
4 years ago
This sounds stupid, but what is a pip? :-)
steve duggins(Z6a) - Central Ohio
4 years ago
An eye on the Hosta crown produces a pip which grows into leaves as I undersandwhich

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