What new hosta for last year, is now a favorite?

[felco2]

Hi All,

I have been looking through my photos all winter. I'm sure you have too. What was your favorite of your new hostas? My new Cathedral Windows looked fabulous all season last year. No long wait on this one. Will my Liberty ever take my breath away? I planted Cathedral Windows in the fall of 2009 during Labor Day weekend. The fall planting payed off. The first pic is in the spring of 2010, then a summer pic, one with Liberty in it, and the last one is fall Sept 14th. Another reason I love Cathedral Windows, it looked great in the fall when others start to look ratty.

[Chris_W]

Your Cathedral Windows is beautiful!

About Liberty, give it years. My oldest one is finally making itself noticed. I planted it in 2005 and at the time it was a 3 year old. I don't think anyone took notice of it at least until 2009. Now it is a showstopper.

[kaylyred]

Gorgeous 'Cathedral Windows!' I may have to add that one to my must-have list this year.

My favorite newbies planted last year were 'Maui Buttercups,' 'Rainforest Sunrise,' and 'Tropical Storm' (which isn't in this picture because I hadn't planted it yet.) I don't know how they'll fare or how quickly they'll grow this year, but last year they took off and looked good all season. I planted them as a trio, since they're all related. They look good together.

Does 'Tropical Storm' look like it's sporting to you? I'm going to have to see what it's up to this year.

[R. Rock]

Hi Karen,

Your 'Rainforest Sunrise' does like it may be sporting to a wide-margined plant. Boy, that would be striking!!!

Honestly, your sport could be the best out of all them.

[paul_in_mn]

Color Festival. Wintered over in a pot and showing 7 eyes this year - only 1 last year . Interested to see what size the divisions are this year with that many new eyes.

[R. Rock]

Felco,

Thanks for showing your pictures through the season. You have 'Cathedral Windows' in great condition.

[redcrx]

Velevt Moon became a favorite of mine through last season and held its colors into late fall - I sent a lot of pictures to the forum.

[isadora]

My favorite hosta from 2010--Journey's End. http://twitpic.com/4h12hi

[felco2]

Do the leaves of Velvet Moon have a heavy texture? Did the chartreuse color change to gold later on? This is fun, thanks for sharing. I had not heard of Velvet Moon.

[felco2]

Just checked out Journey's End. Your photo showed some amazing ruffled edges. The hosta catalogs describe Journey's End as yellow leaves with a dark green margin. Does your Journey's End become more golden? I also love the color chartreuse and like subtle variegation.

[isadora]

Just checked out Journey's End. Your photo showed some amazing ruffled edges. The hosta catalogs describe Journey's End as yellow leaves with a dark green margin. Does your Journey's End become more golden? I also love the color chartreuse and like subtle variegation.

It is more light green when it first comes up, the variegation shows up after it is up for a while, and in the light shade where it is, it doesn't get really golden. I love the subtlety, it's a very elegant hosta. That picture was in May of last year. It's one of my very favorites. If I ever have to move gardens, this is the first one that comes with me. (not that I ever plan to, lol!)

[redcrx]

The Velvet Moon photo in the earlier post is dated 6/10/2010. I'm adding a couple of late photos.
I forget what the leaf texture is like but they hold up well. This plant looked great late into fall.
Since you are also discussing Jouney's End, I added a couple "before and after" shots - it is a great performer in my garden and one of the first I ever got Chris.

[R. Rock]

H. 'Journeys End'

[R. Rock]

H. 'Rhino Hide' is living up to it's promises. Seems to be a darn nice plant at an early age. I have nicknamed it the "shoe Leather" hosta. It has a lot of white bloom on the backside. It also helps the front appear even bluer.

Take a look at the vein structure. The veins don't run completely parellel to the end of the leaf tip. Just thought it was a bit different in structure compared to others.

Congrats Don R. on a "garden worthy" introduction !

This picture was taken 4/05/11-Second year to third year plant

In the picture, it appears someone has been fondling the leaves again...I wonder who that could be...

[thy]

Mine did not survive the winther- it was too small and the roots were toofew and short, may have worked in our normal winthers, but not this cold ones and it was starting to fade when I got it.. so had to take the chance.... will find a new one

Can I cheate a bit.. it was planted late 2009. but-- Mount Tom is a large showstopper, it easily fits the ten foot rule ..due to its size make it a 20 foot rule.. rest from last year... do not know.. h. Yin was lovely and lasted a long time into the fall... rest, I have to see them again before I can answer your question...

[redcrx]

It's funny when I think about my garden and think that I don't have any with a "pie-crust" edge and then I look at Journey's End and find out that I do. (Or is that considered "pie-crust" - is there a certain count to the waves on the leaf edge to determine the difference between ruffled and pie-crust?) But they must have them around somewhere because I have an odd seedling.

[redcrx]

I like Mount Tom also. Bought a tiny plant at Brookgreen Gardens in Myrtle Beach SC in 2008. (It's a beautiful and HUGE garden with sculptures, zoo, water tour and other things - your ticket is good for a week because you can't see it all in one day - might be best in April when the azalea are in flower.) When I thought I lost it because it was so small I went and bought another one. The following year both were back. This picture is from last season.

Mount Tom 7/1/2010

The one from Brookgreen Garden is on the left. Also in the picture is Fortunei Albopicta in front starting to flower. Twilight is in back with real messy leaves - I don't know what happened but they looked ugly all season - maybe it got stepped on. Fortunei Aurea on the right edge with seed pods.

[R. Rock]

I actually dropped the ball on some really nice "Mount Tom's' I had. Sieboldiana type that hate wet winters, especially in a container .

'Jouneys End' shows the piecrust pretty good at 5 years. It would look extremely nice next to H. 'Choo Choo Train' and H. 'American Icon'. Pod production from these is really good. However, the seeds are rarely plump or viable.

I find similar seedlings like that around and from H. 'Ginko Craig'. I wish they would stay nice and wavy like that.

[largosmom]

I am really liking how good Dragon Fire is looking this spring. It's my second year in a pot and it has put on a lot of size.

Laura

[viktoria]

I'll let you know if mine ever come out of the ground!

Viktoria