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Hosta-bilities

By Terry Niederlander,
Perennial Manager

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Hostas are a very popular perennial, and as I put new shade beds in and trial new varieties at home, I find that certain varieties really stand out in appearance and the way they perform. Here are a few varieties that I have planted in the last two years and had success with:

 
Hosta Allegan Fog

‘Allegan Fog’ – this one has that really great ‘misted’ variegation – dark green margins surrounding a white center that is heavily speckled with green. It’s been a good grower, and produces lavender flowers mid summer.
Hosta Dress Blues
‘Dress Blues’ – I started growing this one the year my son signed up with the Air Force ROTC.  It's neat appearance reminded me of my son learning to iron his dress uniform (use lots of starch!).  Narrower, blue-green leaves have bright gold edges, and it has a nice, uniform growth habit (no pun intended!)  Grows about 22" tall, somewhat upright.  Lavender flowers mid summer.  Available now.
Hosta First Frost

‘First Frost’ – a sport of ‘Halcyon’’ I really like its dark, blue-green leaves with creamy white margins. Nice, neat habit, and stays around 14” high. Lavender flowers mid summer.
Hosta Guardian Angel

‘Guardian Angel’ – had to have this one the first time I saw it. Unusual, misted gray centers surrounded by wide, blue-green margins. Leaves have a thick substance. Medium growth rate. Grows about 24” high. Near-white blooms in late July.
Hosta Invincible

‘Invincible’ – I’m not real crazy about green leaved Hostas, as they always seemed kind of boring, but this one caught my eye at Marlee Farms’ open house last summer. It has shiny green leaves, and is a rapid grower. Grows about 18” high, and is sun tolerant. Fragrant, light lavender flowers in late summer. It’ll be available at Acorn Farms summer 2010.

Hosta Katie Q

‘Katie Q’ – this one is doing so well at home, that I’ve got to start growing them at Acorn. It’s a medium-sized hosta with medium green leaves with wavy gold margins. There are a lot of Hostas out there with similar colors, but this one is really stands out. It’s a good grower to about 18” high. Pale lavender flowers in July. Late summer 2010 availability.
Hosta Parhelion

‘Parhelion’ – a sport of ‘Sum & Substance’, this one has large, apple-green to almost gold leaves with narrow, creamy white margins. Lavender flowers mid summer. Has grown well for me, and it will get big – to 32” high.

Hosta Rainbows End

‘Rainbow's End’ – I purchased one several years ago from Oakland Nursery, and what caught my eye was the variation in the variegation of the leaves.  The shiny leaves are bright gold in the center, with a dark green edge that jets into the center.  The amount of green vs. yellow varies quite a bit, and every leaf is different.  This hosta also has a nice, neat habit, and only grows about 12" tall. It's perfect in the front of the bed.  Lavender flowers in mid summer.  We will have it available in early summer 2012.

Hosta Sugar and Spice

‘Sugar and Spice’ – a sport of ‘Invincible’, it has shiny leaves with creamy white margins. Has a good growth rate and fragrant, pale lavender flowers. Be sure to use slug bait around this variety, as the slugs seem to like the foliage.

‘Red October’ – you might think this one’s a bit boring, with narrow blue-green leaves and red petioles, but it puts out a multitude of lavender flowers on red scapes when most  other shade perennials are done blooming. Blooms from September into October.