Recommendations on how to catalog your hosta collection.

5 years ago

I was posting here about making divisions and the question was posed about what hostas I have because some hostas can handle more aggressive dividing than others. When I realized I don't have any of this written down. I have in my head what I have and don't have to some extent. After raking up a newly planted bed most of the plastic labels were pulled up. So, I guess a picture would be one way to keep track. What methods do people use to catalog things? How would you have done it differently if you were to start another list? You would think with a user name like Hosta Collector I would have this sorted out a little better. A short list:

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old_dirt 6a

5 years ago

My version of a "bubble diagram".

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Comments (24)

peren.all Zone 5a Ontario Canada
5 years ago
Keeping the tags and making a list is good. When you start getting so many in the garden a bubble diagram of your beds is an excellent way to keep track. You can either put numbers in the bubbles and have a corresponding list or simply write the name in each bubble.
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With over 500 hostas, having naming plates is a must. I got behind last year and am struggling with the names of tons of them that lost the plastic markers over the winter or the name faded from using a Sharpie to mark them. I keep a spreadsheet that indicates the date purchased, where I bought it, and how much I paid for it (but not total on amount paid since that would probably send me into shock). I also have a column for eye count for each year. I added a column for which garden bed the hosta is in this year. Hopefully, by the end of next week, I'll have it updated and will be able to deduce what my NO ID's are by the ones left without a garden name in them. I have a file folder for each garden and put shots of the gardens in those folders. Then I have a file folder for hostas and inside that folder have a folder for each hosta. I usually keep the folder sorted by name, but will sort it by date modified so I can see which hosta I haven't got a picture of for the year. I name each picture by the cultivar and the date taken. For example: Vim and Vigor 2013 05 30 This way you can view through each hosta by date and see it's changes. I use Picasa 3 from (free from google) to crop the pictures and add text. Picasa has a great system to catalog your pictures if you want to use it. I don't mark my duplicates if they are all together. For instance, I have a border of Golden Tiara's, they not marked. However, I have a Liberty in the front and one in the back. They're both marked. It helps when you're looking for them when they come up in the spring. My recommendation is to START NOW before it becomes unmanageable. I would be in a heap of trouble with my NOID's had I not started my spreadsheet when I only had 50 hostas. Gesila
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When I rented a house in New Orleans a few years back, there was a space sparsely lanscaped which the landlord gave me permission to tend - "so long as you don't make the yard man's job any more difficult" - meaning he still had to be able to rake in a straight line over the forty square feet. The area was compacted sand. I began by working in compost to the soil - stealing neighbors' discarded bags of yard waste. Then I had to contend with my next issue: the three surrounding neighbors all had live oaks which butted up against the communal fences, painting my whole landscaping canvas in medium to heavy shade. I plotted out my plan and spaced things out. One major obstacle was this big green plant in one corner of the yard which was screwing up my plans. I focused my initial efforts on removing it. Well, it was very well established. As I began investigating the four-square-foot plant - a green leafy monster - I found ten years' worth of Mardi Gras beads hiding among the leaves, a few dog toys from tenants' past, and a whole load of charcoal right in the center. The plant seemed to have no unifying stalk - just a bunch of long green leaves spewing out everywhere etched with deep veins. Removing it was going to be very, very difficult. I revised my plan. Instead of removing the plant, I would chop it back to allow for the spacing I wanted for the three shrubs I was putting in along the fence in one of the few spots of the yard which enjoyed any sun at all. I probably chopped a foot of the plant off two sides. I threw the leaves I'd chopped off along the side of the fence toward two dark back corners - an attempt to push water overflow back into my neighbors' yards where it belonged. A few months passed. I found gardenweb.com looking for more info on plants which grow well in the shade. I planted. Things grew. Life was good. I eventually gravitated to the carnivorous plant forum and had some modest succes growing pitcher plants in long-strand sphagnum moss in wooden pots. Well, I look over at my discard piles one day and notice that the discarded leaves I'd thrown in the corner had gone from horizontal to vertical. Somehow, that pieces of that big green plant which I'd removed had survived the torture of the shovel and had rooted in the darkest corner of the yard and were thriving! I needed to know more about that plant. I now had much respect for it. No longer was it an obstacle and adversary, but a warrior and a friend. I found through neighboring gardeners that the plant was a hosta. From that day forward, whenever I met a hosta, I'd say to whoever was with me, "THAT! is a hosta." Much respect. Well, my brief affair with the hosta may have ended there, but it did not. I married and moved to Virginia. After two hosta-less years in Virginia Beach, I moved to the DC area. Three weeks ago, my small family left our yardless condo for a new home - complete with a yard. A very big, well-landscaped yard. My wife is a Master Gardener in Virginia and a Master Herbalist, but I am the constant gardener in the family. Whoever owned this house before us loved hostas. It has about thirty different hosta plants blended into the landscape - probably six different types I think I've found so far. I'd like to post pictures later when I'm more comfortable with the forum and solicit some help in identifying my hostas. My eye is not familiar enough yet with the nuances of the hosta to tie the name of the hosta to its visual profile. I'm looking forward to cultivating my hosta. I don't know if I'm a anti-divider yet, but I have no plans to divide this year. I watched the video someone posted on how to divide - thanks for that. I plan to collect seeds this fall to see if I can germinate some new little lives. Post-Katrina, I sometimes wonder about how my old yard in New Orleans is doing. One thing is certain - that big old green hosta is definitely still anchoring one corner of that yard!
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When my daughter was approximately 6 years old we were out in the yard making a map of my gardens and putting the names of each plant on the map, she looked at me mid way and asked "Mom when you die will I get your hostas!" I asked her if she wanted them, and she answered "yes". I assured her she would as long as she wanted them! She is now almost 11 and she knows alot of the names, hopefully when the time comes she will still want my hostas and I hope she gets as much pleasure from them as I have. I too moved into a house that had a much neglected yard after the wife passed away, and sat as an empty house for a couple of years. The yard was overgrown with black raspberries, violets, elderberry and crazy ground cover that I would never wish on anyone. I started in one area very slowly removing unwanted overgrowth and found one small hosta, not very big, basic smaller round leaves with white edges. I split it up in several different clumps and it was the beginning of my hosta interest. Now I have over a 100 and can't stop! I grew up with a Mother who had a love of flowers and a Dad that grows an awesome garden. I can only hope it carries on!
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Esther-B, Zone 7a
5 years ago
I keep a list of all my hostas and heucheras on my computer. Each one has an aluminum I.D. tag next to it on an aluminum stake in the garden. I realize this would be cumbersome for those of you who have dozens of hostas, but for my few dozen, it works fine for me.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
5 years ago
spreadsheet .. like excel ... and pix ... with file names changed to the hosta name plus pic date ...

garden art .. or the old standards.. with pix of multiple hosta can help .. e.g you will always know your sum and substance ...... so you might be able to ID the plants around it by reference ...

also.. a properly labeled reference bed wouldnt hurt.. as you spread divisions around the yard ... and in this bed.. i would use zinc standards with brothers ptouch labels ... there should be many old posts about that ....

ken
mae (zone 5b On)
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago

Take photo, number the plants, record names below. i found this idea on Hallson forum. Works for me! Edited To remove section where I repeated myself!
mae (zone 5b On)
5 years ago
Also have a spreadsheet: hosta name, date purchased, nursery, price, #of pips when purchased, size. Because winters are long I have time to make a page for each hosta.: photo, (plant, leaf, flower) some info, garden location, #of pips each year. Also hand drawn map. Also list of all Hostas. when that's all done I make lists of Hostas I need. At least I don't talk to my Hostas...until the spring that is!
popmama (Colorado, USDA z5)
5 years ago
I saw a cool tip for all those tags. Punch a hole in them and put on a key ring. One way to keep them all together. I use an Excel spreadsheet where I keep a list that includes the name and the year acquired (or demised). Then I use labels at the plants themselves. I've been using garden markers that I bought online from Idealgardenmarkers but I see their page is currently not working. You can see pictures of them though if you google. I have some other markers that I use as well. I like the idea of a picture map too!
mikgag Z5b NS Canada
5 years ago
Excel spreadsheet.....other than that, I know every spot and name in my head
Esther-B, Zone 7a
5 years ago
I have posted about the aluminum I.D. tags I use. They are laser engraved pet tags I get online at https://www.pettags4less.com. I usually buy their "extra large circle" with a loop attached to it. I buy aluminum tent stakes (I like the Coughlin ones) to mount them on. And I use Chicago screws, the new little ones, as a perfect, neat, weatherproof way to mount the tags onto the tent stakes so that they do not twist to the back or anything. I use a Microsoft Word document table to list all my hostas and heucheras.
dhaven
5 years ago
Jerry Hadrava (Rosedale hostas) gave me the best tip for keeping things permanently labeled. Every time you plant a new hosta, write in PENCIL the name of the variety on a plastic label (the 4 inch or 6 inch by 1/2 inch ones work fine), dig your planting hole, and drop in the label, then plant the hosta on top of it. If all the above ground labeling gets lost, and you can't remember what the plant is, you still have an option of prying the plant up on one side and checking the underground label.

Jerry used this for hostas, daylilies, and Siberian iris. The pencil will last a very long time underground, whereas a grease pencil or permanent marker will degrade and become unreadable.

I find it is also helpful to use the plastic photo tag that comes with the hosta, but push it almost completely into the ground, so only the very top shows. This prevents much of the breakage and raking up that wreaks havoc with labels.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
5 years ago
i also used a good old fashioned clipboard ... and drew maps .... random decorative rocks and garden art.. help as static points to work off ...

and yes.. the carbon pencil lead has a half life of a bazillion years ... and back in the day.. i used to garbage pick white mini blinds .... for free tags ... of course now.. you can probably buy them at big box for a couple bucks ... and when i made such tags.... they always went directly behind the plant.. from the viewing point ... so i had a basic idea where the tag should be ... and the trick was.. the written part underground.. to avoid uv issues ...

ken
DelawareDonna Zone 7A
5 years ago
I have a computer list, also all 40 are committed to memory. When I start to have memory lapses, I'll know I'm getting senile. :)
old_dirt 6a
5 years ago
Ken, thanks for the tip, "underground". I've used and still do use the venetian blind pieces but have to renew the writing at least every year. i also use magic marker which is probably not a good choice. For display i like painted rocks but they have a lot of drawbacks too.

Donna, I once thought i would remember them all but my senility set in early.
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Paradise Alcove LLC
5 years ago
Ah-haaaa Pencil! So simple easy, yet I did not consider it. I was also renewing writing annually because I used a black sharpie and then the next year a thicker black sharpie marker.

Thankfully I learned from previous years posts about mapping the gardens for reference...

Thanks for the underground/tuck mostly into the ground tips.
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pandora
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
An old saying, The worst pencil is better than the best memory.

My best advice is keep up with it. Keep what is easy for you, like keep markers and tags handy. Have a special box or bag or something to keep all your notes in one place. That way, even if you just quickly scribble something down with a note and throw it in the box as you walk in the house, it will be there for when you have more time.

I use a very detailed Excel spreadsheet that has every plant ever bought, date, source, price, picture numbers, etc. Also pictures taken every couple years (sometimes groups, sometimes individual). I use MS Publisher to create maps with N/S/E/W directing and landmark items.

You could also buy 3x5 index cards and write up one per hosta. Keep them in a recipe box. That way they are easily sorted/replaced etc. You could buy an address book that has the alphabetic dividers and ringed pages that you can use one page per hosta. Add/replace pages to easily update.

Here is the best garden pen I have found. https://www.dpind.com/productcart/pc/Garden-Pen-0-8mm-tip-3-Pack-p161.htm
pandora
5 years ago
I hate to admit it, but I just read all the tags. Great selections! At that price on June, I hope you bought 10. Best hosta ever.
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popmama (Colorado, USDA z5)
5 years ago
For the past couple years, I have been making labels using a P-touch labeler with their "Xtra strength" label tape. It's holding up very well stuck to just about anything.
Beth (5b - SE-Michigan)
5 years ago
I starting tagging my plants with Esther's tag system. I do like these tags but it will take a while to convert all my tags. I also keep an Excel file with all my hostas. I struggle with finding all the information to put in this file it would be nice to look in one location. I like to have height, width, sun tolerance, slug resistance, leaf substance, plant shape, plant size, growth rate, leaf color detail, leaf corrugation, leaf shape, leaf size, fragrant flower along with a picture. I know it is a lot of information but I like the detail.
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
5 years ago
btw .. even better than a pencil.. is a scratch awl on the plastic ... thats is definitely there forever ... grip it more like a pencil for better precision ...

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=scratch+awl&t=ffcm&iax=images&ia=images

if you do use the pencil ... and you pull it out dirty.. dont try to swipe it clean ... as that is basically sandpapering it off ... let it dry.. and see if you can make it out ....

regular sharpie is useless ... you can get paint pens at hobby lobby/joannes ... the paint last forever.. great for black plastic pots ... though fine point ones are hard to use ... [i see sharpie offers paint pens .... go figure..lol]

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=paint+pens&t=ffcm&iax=images&ia=images

in the formal garden i used zinc plates on standards.. with UV brother labels on such .. some have lasted over 20 years .. i used to order 500 at a time ...

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=zinc+garden+labels+on+standards&t=ffcm&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images

4th pic is the type i favored

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=eon+zinc+garden+labels+on+standards&t=ffcm&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images

wax pencil also works ... and the trick with those.. is to leave the label in the sun.. until it heats up ... so you can write pretty ...

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=wax+pencil&t=ffcm&iax=images&ia=images

apparently.. i may have tried everything.. lol ...

ken
Hosta Collector
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Thanks for all the links, tips, creative ideas, and complements. I realize now, I should have stayed more current with documenting my purchases. Edit: Another one added 4/24. Edit: I bought 7 more. I just bought 10 more to add to my collection. They would be the newest of this simple list I just started on. Is there one main thread where people post their collections? I'm sure I have more. I've been at this for years.

First Frost

Ben Vernooij

Dutch Flame

Fire Dance

Forbidden Fruit

Orange Star

Purple Haze

Zorro

hosta Wu-La-La

Bulletproof

Red Hot Poker

Captain Kirk

June Spirit

hosta Picasso

Hosta Pebble Creek

HANDS UP HOSTA

MINKE GIANT HOSTA

POPCORN HOSTA

HOSTA 'PURPLE HEART'

HOSTA 'APPLETINI'

HOSTA 'SUN MOUSE'

HOSTA 'DESIGNER GENES'

Touch of Class

Justine

Revolution

Blue Elf

Montreal Blue Ice Storm

Blue Umbrellas

hosta ANGEL FALLS

hosta CRACKER CRUMBS

Komodo Dragon Hosta

Christmas tree

Brim Cup

Wide Brim

May

Empress Wu

June

Dream Queen

Summer Breeze

Rainforest Sunrise

Munchkin Fire

Blue Umbrellas

Fire and Ice

Touch of Class

Wiggle and Squiggles

Catherdral Windows

Heat Wave

Fire Island

Purple Heart

Blue Angel

Stained Glass

Liberty

Lakeside Paisley Print

Neptune

Praire Sky

Paradigm

Sun Mouse

Blue Mouse Ears

Earth Angel Designer Genes

Praying hands
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peren.all Zone 5a Ontario Canada
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Well, we do the Hosta Alphabet every year starting Dec. 26th. That day we show pics (or lists) of all of our ones beginning with the letter A then two days later B until we reach Z, after that we do some categories. Our fearless leader is Paula who posts every second day and regales us with jokes. If you have never checked it out you really should.

Here is Hosta A to start you out.
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pandora
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Highlight the hostas in your last post. Right click and copy. Hover over your name. Then click on Ideabook. Create a new Ideabook. Name it HostaList or whatever. Paste what you just copied (ctrl and right mouse button). Make your Ideabook public or private and save your Ideabook.

I do not see a way to attach a file here, but I did a little start on your list. If you use Excel, follow me and I'll see if I can send it to you as Excel also. In the meantime I saved your list in my Ideabook, maybe you can just copy the contents and paste into your Ideabook.
Hosta Collector
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Ok. I think I did all that you suggested. Thanks. My MS office just expired. Contemplating getting a new pc with Windows 10. So, not sure I would buy a new product key right now. It still works. It just has limited functions and I could open what you sent me. Once, I get things sorted with my pc I could do more to the list. Appreciate the help. Surely this will only make me seek out more hostas.
pandora
5 years ago
Oh my gosh, Ken, you have tried everything. Really great advice, as always. I never knew there was a scratching device. I've used the same metal tags as you (they came with heavy carbon pencil) and sometimes scratched just part of the name on the back with a nail. I mentioned the marker I like, but I'm going to give the paint marker a try. I meant to order some engraved markers this winter, but time slipped by. Guess we could even buy an engraver.

Thanks again Ken and all who reponded. It helps us all. Lots of creative ideas. I wish I had put all the tags on keyring. Meant to try Brother label maker, but never did.
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Recommendations on how to catalog your hosta collection.

old_dirt 6a

Comments (24)

peren.all Zone 5a Ontario Canada

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Recommendations on how to catalog your hosta collection.

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