The Hosta is sometimes called plantain lily or occasionally August lily. It has been so frequently reclassified that the changes and details have finally become a blur for me.
There are those “hortiholics” who enjoy retracing a plant’s family tree but not me. I am completely comfortable with the word Hosta. It is easy to pronounce and it has already become a familiar plant word to those wanting a reliable perennial!
As with many plant breeding programs, the breeding for hosta is all about versatility. There are so many Hosta out on the market that choosing which one is the real challenge. Large, medium or small size, fragrance, vigor and specific foliage traits are just some of the considerations.
There appears to be a continued effort to increase the tolerance for site factors too! Sun tolerance, heavy shade, drought conditions, root competition and temperature extremes, winter cold and excessive heat can all be factors we deal with in our St. Louis region.
In general the hosta is a very hardy choice for shade gardens. If you are looking for particular tolerances, do your homework. For sun and heat tolerance, check now as this year was an extreme reality test in our area.
I have yet to find a Hosta in this area, planted in fun sun, average soil, even with supplemental irrigation that looks great by the end of any August, particularly this year. So for me, I will continue to consider them primarily shade plants until I have seen otherwise!
There are those “hortiholics” who enjoy retracing a plant’s family tree but not me. I am completely comfortable with the word Hosta. It is easy to pronounce and it has already become a familiar plant word to those wanting a reliable perennial!
As with many plant breeding programs, the breeding for hosta is all about versatility. There are so many Hosta out on the market that choosing which one is the real challenge. Large, medium or small size, fragrance, vigor and specific foliage traits are just some of the considerations.
There appears to be a continued effort to increase the tolerance for site factors too! Sun tolerance, heavy shade, drought conditions, root competition and temperature extremes, winter cold and excessive heat can all be factors we deal with in our St. Louis region.
In general the hosta is a very hardy choice for shade gardens. If you are looking for particular tolerances, do your homework. For sun and heat tolerance, check now as this year was an extreme reality test in our area.
I have yet to find a Hosta in this area, planted in fun sun, average soil, even with supplemental irrigation that looks great by the end of any August, particularly this year. So for me, I will continue to consider them primarily shade plants until I have seen otherwise!
One of my personal favorites is H. ‘Guacamole’, named the 2002 Hosta of the Year. It is certainly on the top of my list of fragrant hosta. A vigorous sport of Fragrant Bouquet, it has also produced others sports such as ‘Fried Bananas’ with golden foliage and ‘Fried Green Tomatoes’ with medium to dark green foliage.
Here are a few interesting links and a couple of my other favorites:
My personal favorites
Hosta 'Gold Standard' – hosta
Hosta 'Guacamole' – hosta
Hosta 'Sagae' – hosta
Hosta sieboldiana 'Frances Williams' –
Hosta 'So Sweet' – hosta
Hosta (Tardiana Group) 'Halcyon' - hosta Plant of Merit
Hosta (Tardiana Group) 'June' - hosta Plant of Merit
Hosta 'Diana Remembered' – hosta
Hosta 'So Sweet' – hosta
Some Interesting links:
http://www.frisellanursery.com/
http://www.frisellanursery.com/about/radio-show/
http://www.americanhostasociety.org/missouri.html
http://www.plantsseedsandbulbs.com/
Like an old cracked clay pot, I have hope to be used to carry the sweetest of fragrances…
…Re
2 Corinthians 2:14-17; 4:7-12
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