Hello all,

I am looking for some recommendations for groundcover hostas. I will be picking 2 for a new bed. I would like one to be a plain green and one to be plain blue. I would also like one to be pointed and one to be rounded. Other than that I'm looking at any suggestions. My larger hostas have enough variegation I thought the smaller ones I would like them to be plain.

And if you do have any suggestions, if you could give me an idea of how quickly the spread is on that hosta it would be appreciated.

Thanks so much!

Polly,
I don't have a clue. I got so many that fill in I never considered groundcover. My seedlings do that for me. Start collecting your seeds and put into a hot bed or some sheltered area and see what pops up. Most of my seedlings come all sizes and from gold (some), green and blue (most) and shades in-between. Check places like the 'Hosta Farm' for the commons ones that will be the most affordable.
Stush

Thanks Stush,

This is for a little project I'm doing in the spring. So I will probably buy some. So far I like Twist Of Lime and Baby Bunting.

Polly, Hostas do not come true from seed. What size hostas were you looking for? I have several green in different sizes, some get 60 inches wide and others only 12. Also if you want to brighten things up how about a gold hosta, or something chartreuse. Is your bed in full or partial shade?

susan

This is my favourite green, 'Stained Glass' I really love this shade of green.



(edited to add picture)

Hi Susan. The bed I'm making has a lot of large hostas, and I'm looking for a short, groundcover hosta to go with them. So I would say a small, probably not very small.

Thanks!

The 'Tiaras' clump up relatively fast...there are several colors. You may already be familiar with them. I like 'Twist of Lemon' also and 'Lemon Lime' is good. I wish I could give you a big shovel full which you could separate and quickly cover the area.
'Golden Tiara'.

Species Hostas come true to type from seed unless they were cross pollinated with other types.
Cultivars are another thing. Mostly revert to species types and colors. Every one should keep some species hostas in their beds if you have a large area. Good to show groupings. Growing from seeds is easy for me. I just toss them in a area I can keep a eye on. In the several years doing this. I only got maybe 3 or 4 variegated ones of some merit. I keep them to myself. There is already too many cultivars out there that look and act the same. Some one should be able to keep every hosta nursery from doing this. They all want to be glorified and praised for their greatness while the hobby suffers.
Paul's advice; I would check out the Tiara group. They been around for a while and can be had for a reasonable price. I have a few that grow very vigorous. Started with Golden Tiara and a lot puped out all gold or lime green. They looked great together. They make a great border.

Paul, I think you sold me on that one. Now how about a blue with a pointed leaf. Anyone?

Thanks Stush!

This is not real pointed but a nice blue-green color. Not at the time of picture, it only gets 6 inches tall and 12-15 " wide.

Baby Blue Eyes'

Thanks! Is it a good spreader?

Probably not, its a miniature I forgot you like big hostas

Ok, I have been looking on one of my favorite websites and I see a few possibilities

http://www.nhhostas.com/cuttin...

http://www.nhhostas.com/ice-pr...

http://www.nhhostas.com/yankee...

susan

Polly..I am not certain that there are many hosta that I would call a "good spreader". I think there are a few that spread by rhizomes but not many. I think what you may need are ones that increase quickly so that you can divide the clumps often and get more coverage. There are a number of nice blues that are medium small...I like 'Blue Cadet', 'Camelot' , 'Blue Jay', and 'Kiwi Blue Baby'..Look at them on the Hosta Library. Eric Smith developed the Tardianas and there are good blues from this breeding...also Halcyon. Here is 'Kiwi Blue Baby' peeking out from under 'Dick Ward'. I have pictures of other good blues in a friends garden but need to have him come and ID them.
'Dick Ward' and' Kiwi Blue Baby'

I need to ID the rest but you can see there are some nice blues.

Thanks Susan!

Paul, I really like that Kiwi Blue Baby. Thanks.

Thanks Polly, I like Kiwi Blue Baby too

Here is a list of spreading hostas I found on the Web:
http://forums.gardenweb.com/fo...

susan

Oh thanks, that will help!

Polly,
I'm picking up some good tips here. Some I will have to try out. How about Whirlwind. It grew very fast and all the cuttings I took from it, seem not to brother it.

I'm picking up good tips too! I like the fast growers.

susan

PollyK said:Oh thanks, that will help!

POLLYK

Here is a stunner for a pointed blue, something on my own wish list.

Hosta 'War Party'

Fun thread with all your suggestions.

That is a stunner, Susan!

Only one species of hosta is known to reproduce (clone) itself from seed and that is H. ventricosa It does this beause of AP0MIXIS - asexual seed produced without the normal fusion of pollen and egg giving rise to seedlings genetically identical to the pod parent, meaning it fertilizes itself before the flower ever opens thus eliminating any chance of cross pollenation.

While the open pollenated seed you have grown has produced seedlings that are very simular to it's pod parent, they are NOT the same because most all hosta do not come true from seed, so they must be treated as unique plants.

Growing hosta from seed is my passion and I encourage anybody who is interested in learning about and/or trying it should join us at: http://www.hostaseedlings.com/... We have several years of threads discussing and sharing our seed growing experiances there. Lots of great pics and friendly folks to try and answer any questions you may have. Most of us start our seeds indoors and grow them under inexpensive flourescent lighting in the winter months and what fun it is to have all this fresh green growth to enjoy while the winter weather passes by outside. I have found most of us now are looking forward to winter getting here so we can sow our new crop of seeds.....it is addictive!