Hi
First of may in BREST : my first "foires aux plantes"
I bought "Hight Society" and a tiny hosta with dark green and foliage with no name
I have" Remenber me" too
I am lost with the thousand of hostas
What is you best hosta with variegated foliage ?

What a loaded question. Very difficult to give a definitive answer as there are so many variables in terms of size, shape and colour. For drama, I really like 'Liberty' (July 25)


But 'June' has to be a favourite and it's a really tough plant that lasts well all season and looks different in different light conditions. Here are my two divisions on Aug. 2.



'Jewel of the Nile' is an interesting plant that stands out for the variety of the leaves. July 3


Just a few and if you asked me tomorrow I might have a different answer.

Ok
I've seen "June" this morning and it was nice too

Yes that is a hard question. I guess I have to go with June because it has always been my favorite.

Want today's answer?

'Rainbow's End'


'Remember Me'


'Revolution'

Thank you for that post, Ann. You just helped me make a decision. Since I know any hostas I grow are 99.9% going to be annuals, I can't have more than two or three a year, so I have to decide which types I really like. I just did. White, not yellow or that light greenish center. Definitely white. That's why I'm not so impressed with the 'Dream Queen' and absolutely can't stop looking at 'Patriot'. Whew! Its always such a relief to make a priority decision and have a basis for it.

Carol - I don't really want to discourage you from growing hostas, but since they will never attain maturity if you have to grow them as annuals, wouldn't other plants possibly be more satisfying in the long term? The difference between an immature hosta and one 4 or 5 years old is often quite dramatic. But I do wish you luck if you decide to try them.

Well, at the rate I change my mind about things there's no telling what I'll be "trying" next spring. In the meantime, having a few hostas for even just a little while is the fulfillment of a long-term wish - bucket list sort of thing, so its worth it no matter how it turns out. Now, if only I could have that Ferrari for a little while....

Another three favourites

'Allegan Fog' which has dark green margins around misted leaves.


'Alligator Shoes'


'Emerald Ruff Cut'

Hi
The center of my " remenber me " is yellow ...white during summer ?
i have problems with slugs
What do you thinck about a ring of copper around my hosta ?

'Remember Me' emerges with bright yellow centres to the leaves. They will turn white or creamy in a few weeks.

I've had some success with copper mesh. It's available from Lee Valley Tools in rolls that can be cut. Have you doused them with 1 part ammonia and 10 parts water? That will do a number on the slugs.

Ann

Ann, would the ammonia solution also do a number on plants nearby? I have asparagus fern actually in the ground and of course it harbors anything. Well, the termite stuff didn't kill it... hmmmm.... any advice there?

The 1:10 percentage should really harm most plants but I can't say for sure about all of them. The objective would be so saturated the base of the plants as they emerge and even later in the summer, slugs will hide at the base of the plants. I I have mostly hostas, though I've also applied the solution to sedum. Ammonia WILL contribute trace bits of nitrogen to the plants.

Ok, good to know. I'm primarily concerned about my two (2) hostas, of course. Sluggo has been doing it for me so far - nary a sign of a slime trail for a year now. Its the caterpillars that drive me nuts.

I didn't add more yesterday, busy day. But here are a few more favourites.

'Fire and Ice' was grown in full sun last year (due to the loss of a large tree) and it did really well, much to my surprise. Love it!


'Harpoon' is very much a free-spirit. I love the irregular mound.


'High Society' is a lot like 'Remember Me' and is in the same family. Leaf centres are quite yellow when they emerge and turn white.

Hi
I have high society...So nice in spring
About ammonia at 1/10,do you put your mixture directly on your hostas
Don't want to lost my small collecions

Yes. Use a watering can with little holes that spread the water and apply directly to the base of the hosta. Best time to do that is just as they are emerging, but later is better than not at all. If it's regular household cleaning ammonia, use 1 part to 10 parts water. The only thing I've not bee able to find out w/o looking at a bottle (not handy at the moment) is the strength of our household ammonia and whether it's the same as what you will find in France. When I get a chance, I'll look for a bottle and let you know what it says.