Does anyone know if this is the same as ' H. On Stage' I have been confused for a while now and still am.

Good morning, Susan.

Yes, the two are the same. Van Wade likes to use a hostas's Japanese name.

This hostas has never grown well for me, and I do not know why. I gave up on it.

Another that never grew for me is Great Expectations. I gave up on it too.

Gerry

Both On Stage and Great Expectation do well here. They are slow-to moderate growers but, in opinion, are worth a little extra attention. My understanding is that Choko Nikishi and On Stage are the same plant.
On Stage in a friends garden......


Great Expectations in my garden.....

@Paul2032.. Very beautiful, thank you! I have loved On Stage for a long time. I had a small plant in with the baby hostas and it was barely hanging on. This past spring I put it in with the mini hostas and it seemed to be growing. It seems to like a little sun. I have my fingers crossed.

On Stage looking healthy yet still small.

@profesora, I learned about GE a while back. It has to be at or above soil level and it has to get some sun. In your zone it could probably handle a few hours.

I had several GE liners in a nursery bed, they were doing good till I put them into deep shade. I think next year I will put a few out back and maybe they can get a little sun. I hope they will grow faster.

I do not get a real good cold spell most years and some will fizzle out no matter what I do. I try to replace them with hostas that have a low chill requirement, something I knew nothing about when I started out.

I know a couple in Savannah who have an old refrigerator in their garage where they place lots of small and miniature hostas for sixty days of dormancy. The temperature needs to be near 40°.

There are hostas venders in the Florida area who refrigerate hostas bare root, and sell on line to northern gardeners. These are called refrigerator hostas.

I know people here who do store bulbs in the refrigerator, that is their cold spell. I am just not into digging and un-digging.
I suppose that is the only way to have hostas in Florida so good for them. I would probably do it to, I love hostas!