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The most underrated hosta

last year

Would be the species ventricosa.….and its hybrids

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undertheoaksgardener7b

last year

Ventricosa naturalized in my yard before it was my yard. It is the hosta that taught me to grow hostas. They voles eat it, but it sets so many seeds that it still succeeds. It is not invasive, just in balance. The color, shape, and texture of the leaves and general bearing of the plant are pleasing. The flower display is wonderful, almost like foxglove but hardier.

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djacob Z6a SE WI
last year
I tried to commet on houzz, but it would’t let me. Others may be having same problem.

So…… venticosa has those beautiful purple flowers —-> so now I want to investigate the lineage of my very purpled flowered hostas. Tomorrow it’s supposed to rain all day, 👏🏽, so it’s a good project!

debra
hosta_maker
Original Author
last year
the bell shape is also a trait of those flowers
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Another recommendation for Salute. It's lovely wherever I put it. Very fertile, too. Very slug resistant, nice blue foliage and its upright habit demands attention. A good companion, it also makes other hostas look better, too. I think El Capitan is underrated. Beautiful, slug resistant foliage and it too, shines wherever placed. Fast grower, yielding lots of divisions, if you can bear to split. My absolute new favourite is 'Sleeping Beauty.' Pointed, frosted nlue-grey leaves with an irregular creamy margin. The margin differs from leaf to leaf, from hosta to hosta. No mound is exactly the same. Sleeping Beauty grows quickly, and in a new bed, planted last year, she is my favourite among about 150 new hostas planted.
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I know BME is a late riser. It has been for me anyway. So, I am holding on to hope for him. Mine is a boy. ;) I am hopeful for the others, too. I don't know about GT, though. Since I've had it, it arrives and unfurls pretty and is spectacular.... Then around the first of the summer, it starts dying off and the leaves fall off of it? I thought it was bugs but I am not sure since it happened last year, as well. It came back the first year and looked good and I was hopeful. It started to come back last year after it happened, as well, but it didn't look great. Oh well. Anyway, Wheee!, Fire Island, Wolverine, and Krossa Regal are spending a couple of days indoors in my shower due to a cold and wintery weekend. Albomarginata is covered up as it's too large to bring in.
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If the garden chores ever ended, wouldn't we get bored and invent some more? I think so, lol. My Fire Island fizzled out after three moves. Yours are coming back strong so they must like where they're growing. More pics, yes, of course!
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sherrygirl zone5 N il
last year
last modified: last year
I love my ventricosta and the purple blooms. Mine was gifted to me by a dear neighbor that passed about two years ago. i have several offspring from that plant scattered around my gardens. The best thing about it, it grows everywhere under every condition. I have nice green foliage where I had trouble growing any other plant I put there.

Sherry
hosta_maker
Original Author
last year
it is a tough plant. the only natural tetraploid in hosta.

it is apomixis. meaning development of an embryo without the occurrence of fertilization, although its been said it needs to be pollinated to trigger it. most seedlings will be indentical to the mother. occasionally there will be a hybrid. in breeding i usually start with a hybrid since it is so dominant and to avoid clones.
newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada
last year
That's interesting. Not sure I have ever seen that plant and its species. Not sure I would know it if I saw it. I will keep an eye out for it around my neighborhood.
hosta_maker
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
Its one of the first hosta To arrive in the US so it probably isnt sold much anymore. Cause its a greenie. if you get one plant and grow the seed you can get an instant mass planting.most seedlings will be identical..

seeds are big and plentiful due to perfect internal fertilization.
lindalana 5b Chicago
last year
last modified: last year
Wow, that is very interesting. Yeah, greenies and my garden do not mix well...although I started with Royal standard eons ago.

I might be in very minority of people who do not like hosta flowers, prefer shape, color and texture of the leaf be my attraction.

Otoh it is nice to have workhorse in the garden that is uber reliable.
old_dirt 6a
last year
I've got what I think is the species variety. I thoought for years it was Royal Standard but until now didn't realize the flower difference. Do I have these two right?

ventricosa species?

ventricosa Aureomarginata?
hosta_maker
Original Author
last year
correct

bob solberg says:

ventricosa Aureomarginata is one of the prettiest hosta out there.

but doesn't sell due to the name and age on the market
djacob Z6a SE WI
last year
Maybe you could send me some seeds………then I could grow a few too! 😊

debra
hosta_maker
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
i can do that deb i get many pods every year.

i will email you in the fall when i send them.

they are relatively large seeds and easy to grow. just not that exciting compared to streakers etc.

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