Comparing Amalia and First Dance

last year

I finally bought Amalia after admiring so many photos. I bought First Dance as well out of curiosity. Everything I read suggested that these could be the same Dancing Queen sport that spontaneously occurred twice. However, I think that they really are different plants. Amalia seems to have a large margin and darker green margin, with jets of medium green to the center. Mine arrived yesterday, thanks to Mike Dammen at Hostas-Store (TY many times over!).

Amalia: typical leaf

Amalia: prettiest leaf

First Dance: typical leaf

First Dance: prettiest leaf

What do you think? If you have photos, please post with your comments.

Featured Answer

undertheoaksgardener7b
Original Author

last year

Steve, thank you for sharing your thoughts and commentary. Your plants are sooooooo beautiful. When I bought First Dance and Amalia last Friday (arrived Monday night!), I had intended to see which was nicest and give that one to my MIL. I planned to keep the other for me. Both of them are nice, good-sized, similar sized, and healthy. I know my MIL will like Amalia more, but I find myself unwilling to give Amalia away. It is just too pretty. First Dance has charmed my son, who loves shades of light and lime green. I consulted my husband and my garden helper son for guidance. Verdict: 2nd Amalia ordered, shipping straight to MIL as a surprise.

Comments (17)

mikgag Z5b NS Canada
last year
I own Amalia

I don't own First Dance

There's a reason for that.....
djacob Z6a SE WI
last year
last modified: last year
I just bought and planted Amalia last week….impossible for me to tell, yet.

debra
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steve duggins(Z6a) - Central Ohio
last year
Good observations and I would agree, but there's more to the story. First Dance has a tendency to go green in the middle, but sunlight helps it stay yellow. There's also Dancing Darling with a tendency to go white in the middle in lots of sun. I wrote about these a couple years ago here: Dancing Queen Sports.

Two years later and I have more pics. Thanks for getting me out into the yard taking pics of these among my favorite Hosta this morning.

Amalia - I had to shade these as the sun was just washing them out.

First Dance - in sunlight

Still streaking but much narrower margin.

Dancing Darling (Really feel like this should be Dancin Darlin). Lighter leaf color already and in shade but very similar margin and streakiness.

Let's see if I can find some pics from late last year.

Amalia in early August planted in medium shade:

First Dance in early July planted in full morning sun till ~1:00:

You can see how the second flush is green in the middle, but the older leaves have stayed yellow in the sun with green veins.

And Dancing Darling in early August planted with only a couple hours (at most) of mid-morning sun.

I own Amalia

I own First Dance (x2)

I own Dancing Darling

There's a reason for that.....

I Like Them!
lindalana 5b Chicago
last year

Amalia today

First dance

I have yet to locate Dancing Darling.
undertheoaksgardener7b
Original Author
last year
Lindalana, thank you for sharing the photos from today. Your plants look beautiful. Your Amalia looks more mature than First Dance. Is it 1-2 years older than FD?
steve duggins(Z6a) - Central Ohio
last year
Such happy yellows. No wonder they're dancing. Linda, your Amalia seems like it has narrower margins than mine but still wider than First Dance. I wonder if its environmental or genetic or maturity. I'm not sure how the suppliers keep them straight. That might be one reason we get some different ones out of TC.
lindalana 5b Chicago
last year
UTOG, I feel lucky I got any hostas back with me it was an ordeal. Funny thing about sizes they did not fare equally. My land proved to be deceptively flat and I got some waterlogging. Thus some hostas enjoyed move and did not miss a bit and some had their crowns sitting in water. Thus said there was probably a year difference. But they were readonably comparable prior to move.

Can't wait till next year regrowth. I have horse farm nearby....

Steve, I agree, also think green border largely depends on amount of sun too. I was just admiring nicholworth Great expectations it has stunning green border, mine planted in dappled full sun... It did survive the move though....
steve duggins(Z6a) - Central Ohio
last year
GE, Dream Queen/Weaver are ones whose border widens with maturity. If those do, why not DQ and her dance partners.
undertheoaksgardener7b
Original Author
last year
A few days after arrival, First Dance on left and Amalia on right. Same plants from beginning of this post.
undertheoaksgardener7b
Original Author
last year
Today. First Dance on left, Amalia right
miles10612
last year
last modified: last year
I like the wider green border that Amalia has but if the mdidle tends to turn green then I am not so sure that I would like it. Lindalana, how much sun does your Amalia get? Steve's Amalia seems to retain its green border too. When I've looked at the pictures on the Hosta Library, the green borders on Amalia stand out but I've also seen pictures from a few nurseries later in the season, and the center does green up a lot. So maybe I will get one? Decisions, decisions. I now have a bunch of large, large pots so maybe I can buy more stuff?
undertheoaksgardener7b
Original Author
last year
Journey’s End today…
lindalana 5b Chicago
last year
last modified: last year
I made a mistake in earlier pic. What I thought was First Dance is likely my second Amalia. Unfortunately at juvenile stage they often look alike.

Here we go.

Overall Amalia is a beast. That is how you know.

Amalia large one that got moved into more shade.
lindalana 5b Chicago
last year
First dance got all greeney

Prarie edge

Smaller Amalia
undertheoaksgardener7b
Original Author
last year
Lindalana, wow! I like that Prairie’s Edge, too!
lindalana 5b Chicago
last year
Utog, thanks! Prarie edge grows in quite shady spot. I am surprised how well it holds color.

I might have to move First Dance to sunnier spot, just not liking how blah it gets.

Give your Amalia some space, it needs it.