Besides Empress Wu I grow many large varieties. Including Sum and Substance, Lady Isobel, Titanic, Gunthers Prize,montana, montana Macrophyllum , Yellow River, Moonshine, Mountain Snow, Parhelion,Komodo dragon, Green Gables, Green Piecrust,montana Aureomarginata,Justice,Niagra Falls, Bridal Falls, War Paint,Sagae,Liberty Galaxy and Great Expectations. There are others but not coming to mind right now.
I have a smaller property so I have had to limit most new hosta acquisitions to the smaller varieties. But the large ones were my first love.A large Liberty is stunning. I have decide I need to add to the two I already have.
Which other large ones are you growing?

I have Liberty, which has been an extremely slow grower for me. I may need to move it or give it supplemental water, which I never do.

The only two I grow that I know were supposed to be Large are 'Sum and Substance', and 'Winter Snow'! I was surprised to see 'Yellow River' listed among the list of large hostas, it has never grown much larger here in several years.

I have two Yellow Rivers. They are montana based plants.. There is some question about whether it is a sport of montana or a hybrid between montana and ? It is about 20in tall and has leaves which are about 10"x12". It is a slow grower for me.

Finally took some photos of my hostas.... here is Empress Wu

It was planted in late summer of 2011

MstrPBK said:Three years ago I put my hands on three Princess Wu Wu thinking they were Empress Wu. Even the best gardeners make mistakes! Last fall I gave the three Princess' new homes with friends to make way for the Empress this spring. Back in May I found some Empress Wu with 4 leaves to its name. Between early May and into June I found myself in the hospital and rehab. During that time Empress sat in its nursery container to be planted on my return. When i came back the plant was in great condition and as such was planted. Since then It has given me another 9 leaves for a total of 13 leaves (... and counting; with the heat the growth has slowed but not stopped). Its height is about 11 inches right now.

I would recommend this plant for anyone - with the space. Now you guys gotta realize that MY GARDEN is 3ft 8in x 8ft 8in. My plants do the gorilla warfare game as they grow up! If we look at the dimensions for Empress Wu It can range from 36 to 54 inches tall and 60 to 108 inches in diameter. To top this off the scapes are said to be 6tt (72 inches) tall. This is no small plant. Now to add to these dimensions the surface of the leaf is reputed to be able to get to 28 inches long x 24 inches wide.

Shhhhh. Don't tell my Sum and Substance that it will be removed in 2 to 3 years to make room for the Empress.

Let's hope I never hear about a 10 foot diameter hosta; Sum and Substance is recorded at 9 feet ...

Peter Kelley
St. Paul, MN USA

You can follow my gardening antics at the HostaByKelley Blog: http://hostabykelley.blogspot....

Poppy, do not bother with Empress Wu. She is disappointing.

Recently saw an Empress Wu that was pushing 48" tall, very impressive.
I also think it has to have perfect conditions to reach its max size.

I had it once, it fizzled out and died.

Mine gets better every year. This year it is as big as the evergreen shrubs on the southwest side of my house. It is about 40" tall and the clump is about 40" diameter. It towers above all of my other large hostas.

Empress Wu is amazing. I have had it for about 4 or 5 years. It's huge!

Clint how large is it now? Mine is only about 14-20 inches tall 36" wide, probably on its 3rd year

I'm new here. I garden in Georgia, and I have just planted my first EW in the shadows of a huge pecan tree that dominates my garden. there is a seeping spring there that issues from the roots of the mammoth tree and she and the ostrich ferns ( the 'King') seem too love the constant moisture. I also have quite a few primula japonica nearby, and I think they will look nice all together!

Welcome to the site!

Sounds like a great location!

Welcome to NGA, Misha!