Pic of the Day--Sun Power

Talk about hostas, hostas, and more hostas! Companion plant topics should be posted in the Shade Garden forum.

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Hank Zumach
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Pic of the Day--Sun Power

Post by Hank Zumach »

Hi All--Sun Power is one of the very best gold hosta varieties. Its bright, graceful foliage is a highlight in the garden. I purchased the plant in 1994 and since 2000 it has been growing in a spot that gets about 2-3 hours of mid-day sun. The transplant in 2000 set it back a bit as its size in 2001 was down to 44x22 but then it went 52x27, 52x30, 54x28, and 58x32. Zilis lists it at 70x28. For me, Sun Power has been a very good producer of seeds and seedlings. Other growers have also had good experience with Sun Power seeds. I mention this because Zilis, in his Hosta Handbook, states that Sun Power "forms only an occasional seed pod." Minor slug problems have been easily controlled. I'm showing a pic from 2005.
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Sun Power 62605c.JPG
Hank
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eastwood2007
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Post by eastwood2007 »

Beautiful, Hank!

I just got my Sunpower late last summer. I have high hopes...
Charla
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thehostagourmet
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'Sunpower'

Post by thehostagourmet »

I concur. It's a great variety. Mine, however, sets seed sparsely as Zilis notes. I have used the pollen successfully too.

George
Last edited by thehostagourmet on Jan 24, 2008 5:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
George
Wanda
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Post by Wanda »

I really like Sun Power also...enough to somehow end up with 6 of them!!! Its leaves are a bit thin...but that is good for me, as I use them as a "time to water" indicator. As soon as the leaves are less than perfectly upright, I water everything.

I'm surprised some say its not too fertile...I call mine "Fertile Myrtles"! Especially the big one right next to Filigree, Permanent Wave and Maui Buttercups - there is a solid patch of seedlings under them all. A lot look very similar to SP, but in varying shades of yellow or green. Going to have to move them this spring...they are starting to get big and crowded. I got a nice small version of Sun Power as its first natural seedling - looks just like SP, except its only about 10" tall by 10" wide at 5 yrs. old.

wanda
eastwood2007
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Post by eastwood2007 »

That's cool, Wanda! How 'bout some pics? Are ya holdin' out on us? :lol:
Charla
Latitude 38.57N; Longitude -94.89W (Elev. 886 ft.)
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ViolaAnn
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Post by ViolaAnn »

I've had mine a couple of years - was a division from a friend. It's growth rate is good. I've not tried to save seeds because it's so large and I have little space for more large Hostas. The only downside is that the leaves catch all the stuff that falls off the Linden Tree nearby.

Ann
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Sun_Power-0716sx.jpg
Ann
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Roxanne
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Post by Roxanne »

Sunpower was very large here 3 years ago, then declined. I put a shovel in all around it searching for tree roots 2 years ago, then had Jimmy Mac do the same later that year. (bigger foot, deeper shovel, lol) Neither of us hit nary a root. Finally last year it looked ok early on, but I ended digging it up anyway. The root system wasn't compromised, no signs of crown rot at all. I dug a hole a foot away and moved it.
Anyone else have this happen?? Can this one be a toughie to grow sometimes? Mind you--there's alotta happy hosta nearby, so it's not light, moisture....blah blah causing it. :P
Mary Ann
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Post by Mary Ann »

Could it be that there are 2 Sun Powers out there? The one like Hank's, the other with longer, wavier, brighter leaves?
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SunPower H1.jpg
SunPower2.jpg
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LucyGoose
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Post by LucyGoose »

What a pretty hosta!!! :cool:
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newtohosta-no more
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Post by newtohosta-no more »

Beautiful pics of a lovely hosta! Don't know why I can't find a pic of mine. :???:
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party_music50
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Post by party_music50 »

Nice pics. And I wonder about what Mary Ann said: I see photos of some with rippled/wavy leaves, and some not.
~~~ Audrey ~~~
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Lessadragon
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Post by Lessadragon »

This is a pic of my Sun Power from last year. It measured 24" x 50", down from 24" x 55" the year before. It's still an impressive hosta! Almost looks as good as yours Hank. (and I can't say that too often)

Lynn
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redcrx
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Re: Pic of the Day--Sun Power

Post by redcrx »

Ed McHugh, Sicklerville NJ
ImageMockingbird feeding juvenile yellow raisons - never leave home without them.
irawon
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Re: Pic of the Day--Sun Power

Post by irawon »

One of my very favorite hostas which I planted in 2007 when I caught THE hosta bug. Mine never gets that golden colour as it's planted in shade but it does droop when it needs water as Wanda mentions. I love its shape and upright habit.
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