Touch of class....

GardenHo_MI_Z5

3 years ago

Is this normal to lose the gold center? I am seeing it in two out of the three that I have...

Here is one...

vs the other... This one was moved last fall if that makes a difference?

Featured Answer

Babka NorCal 9b

3 years ago

No, not normal (but yes, because all hostas are unstable that is why we get sports. Decide if you want to keep the TOC. The solid will take over in time. Mine has remained stable since 2008, never divided. The centers are sometimes larger/smaller depending on the year, but no solids. Mine is blooming now. I love all the Halcyon family.

-Babka

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Comments (10)

undertheoaksgardener7b
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Interesting. I look forward to see what other people say. I suspect your Touch of Class Hostas that have lost their gold centers have essentially become Hosta Bulletproof. I have Bulletproof and Halcyon; they are similar, but different. Bulletproof has thick, larger leaves, like Touch of Class. Bulletproof is not common and is stately, pretty.
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It's probably grateful for the rescue, lol. Good! because it's a lovely hosta, holes and all! Looks like it can use a bit of sunshine too. I'd watch the green leaves. If they are newly flushed, they may still take on colour. If they don't, it's up to you whether to cull them and when. If they remain solid, they will outgrow your TOC soon enough. I left solid leaves on my June for a year. The following summer I was able to remove the solid eye (on both June's) and it is now growing as Halcyon, mama to June. If those leaves are random and don't form an eye, you could twist them off as close to the base as you can and it's done. ;-) Don't you just love the substance of June and her progeny? Can never have enough of any of them!
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Thanks, guys. Some garden visitors just make Hostas even more fun than usual.
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Thank you, NHL - I can see from your photo why you would suggest RE. I have that one too but this one doesn't have the shine RE has, as Babka pointed out. A couple of the leaves still have that bluish blush to them. I can't recall seeing any blue on RE when I first got it. There isn't much difference between mine and Barb's except for the growth factor of the leaves. Being a bare-root and growing indoors for a spell may account for some subtleties. Another "wait-n-see" scenario.
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Dan, here is a picture of my sister's TOC, I didn't have access to it earlier. This was from 2014. She indicated that it bloomed good this year too.
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Pieter zone 7/8 B.C.
3 years ago
Bulletproof isn't out of 'Touch of Class' however 'Touch of Frost' is the solid blue out of 'Touch of Class'.
GardenHo_MI_Z5
Original Author
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Well this is disappointing. They are intermixed with Halcyon already. I can only hope they are performing like babkas and will thicken back up next year? If not, they will be moved as I really didnt want a solid blue bed...

Thank you everyone.
Pieter zone 7/8 B.C.
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago

Here we are: 'Touch of Frost' on the left and right and 'Bulletproof' in the center. The 'Touch of Frost' come out of a 'Touch of Class' that was languishing and needed a fresh start. I'd seen the sporting for a couple of years and when it was clear the plant clearly wasn't happy where it was I decided to lift it and divide it. There is of course a family relationship between 'Touch of Frost' and 'Bulletproof'.

Bear with me: 'Touch of Frost' is out of 'Touch of Class' which is out of 'June' which is out of 'Halcyon'. Still with me? 'Bulletproof' is out of 'Halcyon', so it's no surprise they look rather alike. And because both are tetraploids they will feel like having very similar thickness to the leaves.

Pieter
GardenHo_MI_Z5
Original Author
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Pieter thank you. Very interesting, and I’ll admit I had to read that a couple of times LOL. I looked more closely and only see one leaf that is solid at this time. I do have a couple of first frost in containers that I could replace these ones with if needed....
GardenHo_MI_Z5
Original Author
3 years ago
So upon further inspection and finding more solid leaves, I see it is sport.

I’m curious to know if it’s best to dig it out ASAP with the risk of making the plant look tattered, versus waiting till the end of the season?
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djacob Z6a SE WI
3 years ago
I don’t know if it matters one way or the other whether you do it now or later. I think it’s a personal decision. If this hosta is in a showy space and it would bother you to look at it tattered, I would wait until end of season. Now sure how others will comment on this. Good luck whichever way you decide to go.

debra
0
GardenHo_MI_Z5
Original Author
3 years ago
Debra thank you. I think I’ll wait then since it’s so early in the season. I’m already regretting shuffling things around in this bed last season. I liked it much better before, so don’t need any more ugly...
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Pieter zone 7/8 B.C.
3 years ago
I’m curious to know if it’s best to dig it out ASAP with the risk of making the plant look tattered, versus waiting till the end of the season?

When you dig up any plant you're injuring the root system, particularly when you start cutting away at the crown to divide. I personally prefer to do hosta dividing when the roots are actively growing, such as NOW. Just make sure you baby them a little by keeping them well-watered for the next 4-6 weeks. If you water them with a watering can you might consider adding 10-52-10 in a week solution for the next 4 weeks or so to give the roots a further shot in the arm.

Pieter
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GardenHo_MI_Z5 thanked Pieter zone 7/8 B.C.