HOSTA ID - Confirm my guesses?

6 years ago

Hi -

I'm making Hosta ID tags, and I'm hoping to get a positive ID on some hostas. Most of these were from my grandmother's house, so I'm guessing they're 20+ years old. I know she hadn't gardened in at least that long. Some came with my house, but I think they're the same type I got from my grandma's house. One I got from a friend, but they came with her house, and she's been there at least 15 years. So none of these are new.

Any help would be appreciated. I gave it my best guess based on age and pictures in the hosta gallery.

1) Came with the house. Shiny green leaves and they grow in a mound. Fast growing, I've split these several times. My guess: 'Lancifolia'

More pics below. Post was too long!

Featured Answer

pandora

6 years ago

Hi.

I think you are correct for 1 & 3

I don't think 4 is Elegans, leaf should be a little rounder

I think 6 is either Francee, Carol, or Green Gold. Darker green, more even white edge, and slight pucker. Really looks like my Green Gold a Medium sized.

What hosta do I have? Click on link, it might help too. I stumbled across this one day and was amazed to see the picture they used for Elegans was a photo of mine that I posted on Garden Web, many years ago. Made me smile.

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Comments (14)

Sydney (Zone 5B, DSM, Iowa)
Original Author
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago

2) Came with the house. Also found some at grandmothers. Pretty large. The ones on the bottom right are in more sun than the other ones, hence the color difference. My guess: 'Plantaginea' (is there a common name for these?)

3) "The green and white ones" - Came from grandma's, so at least 20 years old type. Smaller. My guess: 'Undulata Albomarginata' - common name?

4) This one came from my grandma's. She had them lining the sidewalk and they were huge. This is a tiny little corner of one of them. I know I need to give it more room, but I'm landscaping currently and just threw it somewhere last year. My guess: 'Elegans' ... or Blue Angel/Big Daddy? But I was guessing Elegans because of the age.
Sydney (Zone 5B, DSM, Iowa)
Original Author
6 years ago

5) From a friend. At least 15 years old. The top pic is better for color but you can see the leaves better in the bottom. They're currently sitting in a bucket waiting for a spot to be planted. They're wider leaves than #1, and not shiny. No guess on this one...

6) I think this is the same as #3? Maybe not? The leaves are quite a bit bigger and have ripples.

Group shot. :)

Thanks!
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Sydney (Zone 5B, DSM, Iowa)
Original Author
6 years ago
You're right on the Elegans. Now I'm thinking Blue Angel for #4. Big Daddy looks to have more ripples. Maybe?

I'll get a full size pic of 6 later tonight. It does look quite a bit different than #3.

Any guesses on 5? They ones I put in the ground are basically slug bait right now -_- so that one that is thrown in a pot is the only good leaf pic I have. Not even sure if I'll keep those. I was trying to fill up space.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
6 years ago
i prefer no more than 2 or 3 IDs per post ...

2 is not apple granny green to be plantaginea ... so i doubt that it will have the 6 inch pure white flowers in august ...

its the species name.. there is no other name.. that is proper ...

ken
Sydney (Zone 5B, DSM, Iowa) thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
pandora
6 years ago
Sydney, I forgot to say that your presentation of the guesses was excellent. Very good pictures and more than one per hosta. Grouped and clearly numbered. Nice job.
Sydney (Zone 5B, DSM, Iowa) thanked pandora
jimr66
6 years ago
6 is francee
Sydney (Zone 5B, DSM, Iowa) thanked jimr66
lisanti07028
6 years ago
#2 might be ventricosa, with that little twist at the very tip. And they really don't like sun, hence the fading of the leaves.

I'm going with Blue Angel for #4 - Big Daddy's leaves are wider.
Sydney (Zone 5B, DSM, Iowa) thanked lisanti07028
Sydney (Zone 5B, DSM, Iowa)
Original Author
6 years ago
Okay, so far we have:

1) 'Lancifolia' - for sure.

2) Still not sure... better pictures below. @Lisanti07028 - more pics added!

3)'Undulata Albomarginata' - for sure.

4) 'Blue Angel' ... most likely? More pics added.

5) No guesses? It's not my favorite so I'm don't hugely care about naming it, I was just curious.

6) 'Francee' - a couple people suggested Francee. I added a few more pics below, just in case.

7) Just added - I thought this was the same as #4. They were my grandma's, and planted in a row - so I thought they were the same. #7 gets more sun than #4. But 7 looks like it has purple flowers, #4 looks like white. They may just not be mature yet.

Thank you all for your help so far!

2) Better Pics - out of sun.
Sydney (Zone 5B, DSM, Iowa)
Original Author
6 years ago
4) Blue Angel - maybe? Scapes are 22" high, and look white to me?

6) Francee?

7) Last one and I'm done - thought it was a Blue Angel like #4, but leaves look more ruffled (also more sun) and it's less "blue." Flowers look purple? Scapes are 23" high. Can someone confirm if also a Blue Angel?
Sydney (Zone 5B, DSM, Iowa)
Original Author
6 years ago
After much research on the Hosta Library, I'm calling it:

1) 'Lancifolia'

2) 'Royal Standard'

3)'Undulata Albomarginata'

4) 'Blue Angel'

5) Not sure - don't care. It was a fill in hosta in case I had extra space!

6) 'Francee'

7) 'Blue Angel' #2

Thanks for your help everyone!
mybrownthumbz6
6 years ago
I agree with your ID of #2 as Royal Standard, but it looks like you've got them all ID'ed already!
Sydney (Zone 5B, DSM, Iowa) thanked mybrownthumbz6
Sydney (Zone 5B, DSM, Iowa)
Original Author
6 years ago
@mybrownthumb - I've never noticed a fragrant smell, and I assume if it had a Plantaginea, I'd notice the smell? :) I just guessed that one because they're old and I was searching for most common Hostas 20+ years ago.

thanks! :)
mybrownthumbz6
6 years ago
I only have one plantaginea and it only sent up one flower scape last year, so I can say they're pretty fragrant for hosta. When you smell the blooms they are obviously fragrant and large (see Ken's pic). But, my neighbor has an underplanting of about 10-12 plantaginea right across the driveway and I've never noticed their scent wafting over. Though some say the cut flowers fragrance will fill a room.

The Royal Standard I have was given to me last year, but they were divided and planted in August. I could still see portions of the scapes where the landscapers had cut them down. So I honestly have no idea of the strength of their scent since I've never had a chance to smell them. We'll see...or smell come late summer.