Pic of the Day--Kabitan

Hank Zumach · Post by **Hank Zumach** » Jun 04, 2007 10:30 am

Hi All--I imagine there will always be heated discussions among hostaphiles about the bluest blue, the best streaked breeder, the best yellow in shade, etc. But does anyone actually know of a hosta variety that is a worse slug magnet than Kabitan? I really like Kabitan before the slugs get to it, such as shown in the pic. It has very bright, attractive foliage, a good growth rate, and does well in a variety of sun conditions. But no matter where you plant it, there will be slugs there. A constant supply of Deadline MP or Slug Killer? Oh, some of them will graze on the slug bait but there will be more that slither past the bait in their slimy rush to get to the Slug Ambrosia that is Kabitan.

I got Kabitan in 1994 and eventually divided it to make a small bed. The plants are about 12 inches high. Zilis lists it at 14x32. Did I mention that Kabitan has a problem with slugs?

Registry - http://www.hostaregistrar.org/detail.ph ... ty=Kabitan
MyHostas - http://myhostas.be/db/hostas/Kabitan
Hosta Library - http://www.hostalibrary.org/k/kab.html

Arlene · Post by **Arlene** » Jun 04, 2007 10:39 am

As always, I appreciate your "hits and misses" comments . . . I think when I want to see a nice stand of Kabitan, I'll just look at this picture instead of adding it to my collection!!

I do love the way the plants in the picture arch over the steps . . . I'm printing out a lot of your pics for inspiration for my new property!

Hank Zumach · Post by **Hank Zumach** » Jun 04, 2007 10:44 am

Arlene--One of these days I am going to start a series of photos showing some of our hosta groupings and beds. You may get some ideas about combinations, etc. from those photos.

digs57 · Post by **digs57** » Jun 04, 2007 10:50 am

There is now apparently a tetraploid sport of Kabitan, First Mate; tougher substance, somewhat wider green edge, and an even more vigorous grower.

http://www.hostalibrary.org/f/firstmate.html

If anyone has it, I'd love to see a pic of a plant older than a year or two.

Digs.

eastwood2007 · Post by **eastwood2007** » Jun 04, 2007 11:12 am

It is beautiful in that pic, Hank! Any problems with slugs?

Tigger · Post by **Tigger** » Jun 04, 2007 12:05 pm

Still, with that caveat, it's an undeniably beautiful and useful cultivar. Cascading down a little slope, as Hank shows it, it can be stunning.

wishiwere · Post by **wishiwere** » Jun 04, 2007 12:25 pm

That's really too bad about the slugs being so persistent. Have you tried do a moat of beer perhaps around the plant?

Do the slugs leave the other hosta alone that are around it?

And just where do slugs come from? What if you put in raised cantainer, would they still find it, if you rimmed the bottom of the pot with vaseline?

eastwood2007 · Post by **eastwood2007** » Jun 04, 2007 1:04 pm

wishiwere wrote: And just where do slugs come from? What if you put in raised cantainer, would they still find it, if you rimmed the bottom of the pot with vaseline?

Does that work? I have alot of container plantings of all kinds and the snails have been terrible this year!

renaldo75 · Post by **renaldo75** » Jun 04, 2007 1:13 pm

This perspective will probably be considered heresy in the hosta & gardening world. But from my observations of the slug problems most of you seem to have, here's why you have a problem - you mulch your gardens. Slugs love to live under things where it's cool & damp and so mulch is perfect for them. Especially the larger shredded bark type mulch. I use no mulch & I have no slug problem. I do find one once in a great while when I move a rock or a brick, but rarely & they've never bothered my hostas in the 6 years I've had hostas planted in the ground.

Here's my Kabitan peaking out from under Silk Kimono about 10 days ago.

Hank Zumach · Post by **Hank Zumach** » Jun 04, 2007 1:43 pm

Jane--There is some damage on the nearby hostas but I think that is coincidental. I use Deadline MP on our garden fro slugs and it does a great job....except for Kabitan and Invincible. There is something about those two varieties that causes the slug to more or less bypass the Deadline. I don't try to garden in containers so I don't have any experience with your suggestions.

Reldon--I haven't used mulch for a number of years. But, the canopy of hosta leaves does provide a cool, shaded, moist environment.

eastwood2007 · Post by **eastwood2007** » Jun 04, 2007 5:21 pm

I don't currently use mulch, but was planning to start after all my hostas leafed out too early this year. However, with the slug population I have now, I don't know if mulch would be a good idea. But then, here in these woods, if it eats plants, bites or crawls, or grows fungus...I have it in epidemic proportions...sometimes I wonder why I try as it really seems a battle alot of the time....

Arlene · Post by **Arlene** » Jun 04, 2007 6:36 pm

Arlene--One of these days I am going to start a series of photos showing some of our hosta groupings and beds. You may get some ideas about combinations, etc. from those photos.

Great idea!!! Thanks!! I'm actually starting a notebook of pics from here and elsewhere for ideas to consider when we move! We'll have a path down from our houses through the woods to the swimming pool location . . . I'm seeing wide, very gradual platform-steps all lined with hostas and other woodsy things . . . mmmmm! Your hillside inspires me!

Our house here at the lake is a modest sized totally flat lot with several maple trees -- so woods and hills will be new to me. So -- ideas -- Bring 'em on!!!

maidofshade · Post by **maidofshade** » Jun 04, 2007 7:40 pm

I love the combinations that we can see in your POD. Additional posts of combos would be great as this just makes my head spin when I try to decide who to put where and next to which one