Hosta 'Beach Party'
(M. Zilis/Toman '09) Large
Ht=24"
W=50"
New for 2011! This new hosta
introduced by Q and Z Nursery is a sport of H. 'Lakeside Beach Captain'. Medium blue green leaves are eleven inches long by 8 inches wide and have incredibly thick substance. Excellent growth rate with pale lavender flowers. Click on the photo to view an enlargement.
I must confess that I have a weakness for large blue hostas. Here in Jo Daviess County nothing feels more tropical in the hosta garden
than a well-grown specimen of H. 'Blue Angel'. This ginormous hosta with heart-shaped leaves and a vase-shape at maturity has leaves of heavy-substance held almost horizontally. It is one of the largest (if not the largest) of the blue hostas. It has nice veining with a heavy bloom of white hyacinth-like flowers. Many of the large blues are slow-growing, but H. 'Blue Angel' matures fairly rapidly. No more waiting for a big, cool blue. Aden seedling cross (probably H. sieboldiana). Click photo at left for additional images.
New for 2011! H. 'Blue Hawaii' has
to be on the short list of the best large, blue-leaved cultivars. The intensely blue leaves have gorgeous thick substance, and the good mound structure make H. 'Blue Hawaii' worthy of specimen status in everyone's shade garden. Lavender flowers. Click photo at left for additional images.
New for 2011! A sensational
variegated sport of one of my favorite medium blue hostas, H. 'Halcyon'. H. 'Blue Ivory' has striking wide creamy-white margins that lighten to white in summer. In spring centers are blue, and with summer heat, they deepen to blue-green. Lavender flowers in late July. Click photo at left for additional images.
What could be cuter than this little fella? Rounded, cupped blue
leaves are of heavy substance, and damn - are they ever precious - just like little mouse ears (or maybe shrew ears - but Hosta 'Blue Shrew Ears' doesn't quite roll off the tongue like Hosta 'Blue Mouse Ears', does it?). Plant H. 'Blue Mouse Ears' close to a path or walkway to enjoy this diminutive treasure to its fullest. This is one mouse you really want around your house. Lavender flowers. Mutation of H. 'Blue Cadet'. 2008 Hosta Growers Hosta of the Year! Click photo for additional images.
Another gorgeous big blue from Paul Aden of
Shady Oaks. Immense blue leaves tend to green up with the onset of summer's heat and are of nice heavy substance. A very fast grower - good news for those of us who favor instant gratification. Superb specimen, also makes an excellent blue backdrop for larger variegated hostas. Pale lavender flowers. Click photo for additional images.
New for 2011! A gorgeous hybrid
of H. 'Frances Williams' and H. 'Fall Bouquet'. H. 'Blueberry Muffin' sports mauve petioles and flower scapes, whcih offset the deep blue foliage nicely. Leaves are slightly rippled and unruly with good substance. Color deepens to blue-green in summer. Forms a nice medium-sized mound. Lavender flowers. Click photo for additional images.
New for 2011! Strikingly variegated
foliage in a medium-sized hosta. Wide yellow margins jet towards the green centers and lighten to creamy white in summer. Great corrugation with heavy substance. Looks great all season long. Lavender flowers. Eye-catching! Click photo for additional images.
H. 'Bright Lights' is a more vigorous
improved 'Tokudama' type. The thick, heart-shaped leaves are heavily puckered and demonstrate good slug-resistance. Leaves are gold with blue margins. Very attractive, and much faster growing than T. Aureonebulosa. White flowers. Click photo to view an enlarged photo.
Named for hybridizer Olga Petryszyn's brother on his fiftieth birthday. It has everything one could possibly
want in a variegated hosta. A mature specimen is a sight to behold. The leaves are heavily corrugated and of good substance. Spring leaves are chartreuse with a wide blue margin, and at maturity they become gold with green margins. If you're nutty for bold corrugation and variegation, H. 'Brother Stefan' will make your heart go pitty-pat. We think you'll agree that this is one amazing hosta. Near white flowers. Hybrid of H. 'King Tut' and H. 'Mildred Seaver'. Click photo for additional images.
From avid Star Trek fan, Kirk Brill, comes this great sun-tolerant, variegated hosta.
Leaves have dark green margins with gold centers and are of heavy substance. Nice specimen for those who want to 'live long and prosper'. Pale lavender flowers. Sport of H. 'Gold Standard'. Exhibits fast growth rate. Click on photo for additional images.
New for 2011! If you're looking
for a bold statement to add to your hosta bed, H. 'Centerfold' is the hosta for you. Bright gold foliage is intensely corrugated amd pf good substance. Leaves grow in a helter-skelter, unruly pattern that really draws the eye. Nice focal point. Hard to find. Click on photo for additional images.
New for 2011! Another gorgeous hosta from
the tireless Olga Petryszyn. Wavy, ovate intensely blue leaves form semi-upright large mounds. Cupped and corrugated leaves are simply lovely. Near white flowers. Click on photo for additional images.
I love the beautiful ruffling of this sun-tolerant hosta. The gold
leaves have good substance, and the piecrust crinkly edges are amazing. Don't let the name mislead you - this is one large hosta. The name arose from the extensive (2 mile) railroad track on Mr. Sears' property. All aboard for H. 'Choo Choo Train'. Near white flowers. Click photo to see larger image.
New for 2011! Talk about a hosta that's
made for the spotlight - H. 'Climax' is one showy cultivar. Thick, corrugated dark green leaves are bordered by bright gold. Vase-shaped habit. A sport of H. 'High Noon'. Lavender flowers. A true specimen plant. Click photo to see larger image.
This new hosta shows great promise in its individuality.
The green leaves are held almost horizontally and exhibit deep piecrust edges. As leaves age they show fantastic deeply impressed veins. Seedling of H. 'Split Decision'. Pale lavender flowers. Click photo to see larger image.
What a cool introduction from Bob Solberg.
The shiny green leaves are twisty to the nth degree. A cross of H. Tortifrons' and H. 'One Man's Treasure'. Totally unique and definitely kooky looking. Sure to be a conversation topic in the hosta garden. Pale lavender flowers. Click photo to see larger image.
An exciting introduction from
Shady Oaks Nursery. This large hosta boasts thick heart-shaped leaves that emerge blue with greenish-yellow margins. The margins later change to green by early summer. Edges are slightly ruffled. A sure winner. Unknown parentage. Pale lavender flowers. Click photo to see larger image.
Hosta hybridizer, Paul Aden, is a legend, having introduced over 150 varieties including 'Blue Angel', 'Love Pat', 'So Sweet', and 'Sun Power' to name but a few. Mr. Aden's H. 'Daybreak'
is an outstanding sun-tolerant gold hosta with a heavy, leathery texture to the prominently veined leaves. The color approaches chartreuse early in the season then deepens to a robust gold. An excellent accent for blue cultivars. Let a little light into your hosta garden with H. 'Daybreak'. Lavender-blue flowers. Click on the photo to see an enlargement.
A recent arrival in the marketplace, H. 'Déjà Blu' has four-colored leaves later in the season, giving the center
a lightning bolt appearance. Leaves of good substance have green centers with chartreuse margins, and grey-blue between the two. Late in the season the cream stripe appears between the center and the margin. The longer I have this hosta, the more I like it. Very nice compact growth-habit. A sport of H. 'Blue Boy' with pale lavender flowers. Click on the photo to see more images.
New for 2011! This sport of 'Zounds' is considered by many
in the hosta world to be the best gold-centered sieboldiana type. Unlike H. 'Frances Williams', H. 'Dick Ward' shows no spring dessication burn. Golden leaves are nearly round with jetting, dark green margins. Heavily corrugated. A must for every hosta collection. Pale violet flowers. Click on the photo to see more images.
Hosta 'Dream Queen' warms the cockles of my heart
every time I see it - probably because it's blue and corrugated (which always makes me weak in the knees), but the kicker is that the creamy white center is like the nougat in a Three Musketeers. For me the cream-color has always come true - never blotched or melted, and crispy clean. One of my favorites - you must make room for her. White flowers. Sport of H. 'Great Expectations'. Click the photo for additional images.
New for 2011! An incredible sport of
H. 'Great Expectations' with much wider blue-green margins. Leaves have creamy-white centers and heavy corrugation. Unlike H. 'Great Expectations', H. 'Dream Weaver' has a vigorous lasting growth habit. Click the photo for additional images.
American Hosta Grower's association 2009 Hosta of the Year! So nice to finally find a giant blue with a cream margin that grows
phenomenally well. The heart-shaped blue-green leaves have thick substance. Early in the season the wide margin is yellow, but as the season progresses it turns to cream. Earth Angel, earrrth angellll - doo-wop-doooooo. Did the Penguins sing that? Pale lavender flowers. Sport of 'Blue Angel'. Click the photo for additional images.
New for 2011! What a whopper!
H. 'Empress Wu' boasts the largest known leaves of any hosta in cultivation. Medium green leaves on mature specimens can reach up to two feet in length. Foliage exhibits good substance and deep venation. One of the most talked about introductions of the past two years. Massive! Click the photo for additional images.
H. 'Eskimo Pie' presents a bit
of a conundrum for me. Gorgeous in pot with very cool tri-colored puckered leaves that emerge with pale yellow centers and chartreuse streaking. Later in the season the centers fade to cream and the streaking becomes apple-green. The issue I have is that when planted directly in the ground, H. 'Eskimo Pie' seems to stall out. Therefore, I'm now recommending that plants be potted in 2 gallon containers and the whole shebang planted directly in the ground. White flowers. Click on the photo for additional images.
Certainly not a newcomer by any means, but
H. 'Faith' is such a dynamic hosta, we can't possibly neglect to include it in our collection. A vigorous grower with heavy puckering. Leaves are bright gold and exhibit slight cupping. A cross between H. 'Evening Magic' and H. 'Big Daddy'. Best in morning sun. White flowers. Click on the photo to view an enlargement.
New for 2011! This seelding of H. 'Sagae'
has heavily corrugated medium gold foliage with thick substance. Broadly ovate leaves are 12" long by 9" wide and are deeply lobed. Although H. 'Fat Cat' is a seedling of H. 'Sagae' it grows as though it's a smaller, brighter version of H. 'Sum and Substance'. Lavender flowers. Click on the photo to view an enlargement.
This incredibly popular cultivar can only be
described as intense. The spring color of the leaves is a brilliant, glowing yellow with very visible red petioles. The red of the stem extends into the base of the leaf. As the summer progresses, the leaves of H. 'Fire Island' tend to green up slightly. A great addition to any hosta collection. Must have absolute afternoon shade. Lavender flowers. Click on the photo to view additional images.
What a great little freak. H. 'Fireworks has leaves of a most unusual habit in
that they are stiffly upright. Creamy white centers with a dark green margin. Visitors to our display gardens never cease to be amazed by its unique form. For us H. 'Fireworks' has grown quite vigorously. If you need a 'little stick of dynamite' in the front of your hosta garden, you gotta have 'Fireworks'. Click on the photo for additional images.
This hosta really holds up to its name. Ovate
leaves of good substance begin the season with blue centers and a gold margin then become dark green with a creamy-white (frosted) edge. Nice medium-sized hosta. I have one client who loves hosta and is only at his vacation home in September and October where we suggested a mass planting of H. 'First Frost' - he's delighted with the results. American Hosta Grower's Association 2010 Hosta of the Year! Pale lavender flowers. A sport of H. 'Halcyon'. Click on the photo to view additional images.
This one was recommended to us by the folks at The Bickelhaupt Arboretum in Clinton, IA, and let me tell you I'm not disappointed.
A lesser-known cultivar, I can't understand why H. 'Frosted Jade' isn't more widely grown. A mature specimen is simply gorgeous. Giant dark green leaves have incredible pure-white margins. The 'frosted' part of H.'Frosted Jade' is a waxy, waxy coating like that of the great blue cultivars, but it's rather unheard of in a variegated green. This is one great hosta. Pale lavender flowers. Sport of H. montana. Click on photo to view larger image.
Who could possibly know more about hosta than Mr. Zillis at Q & Z Nursery who introduced this fabulous hosta? The large leaves of H. 'Garden Party' are gold-centered with a green edge.
Some of its many virtues are its grand size and its splendid veining. Although the leaves are of good substance, this is unfortunately not a slug-resistant cultivar. We keep the little devils from ruining our 'garden party' with aluminum sulfate, which works extremely well, and doesn't harm little Nattie, or the kitty-cats. This is a large hosta that garners a lot of real estate, so be forewarned. Near-white flowers. Sport of H.'Golden Sculpture'. Click on photo to view additional images.
New for 2011! Gorgeous rich blue
foliage on a petite-sized mound. Leaves are four inches long by three and a half inches wide. A hybrid of H. 'Dorset Blue' and H. venusta, combining the best features of both parents. Excellent when used as an edging plant. Lavender flowers. Click on photo to view additional images.
Another great hosta from Bob Solberg, who has brought the
world many great cultivars including H. 'Guacamole'. H. 'Ginsu Knife' is unmistakable in the garden with its delightful, irregular, wavy margins on knife-like leaves. Margins are initially yellow, then turn cream-colored as the season progresses. Très unusual! A hosta no self-respecting collector would be without. Result of a cross between H. 'Iron Gate Supreme' and H. 'Green Fountain'. White flowers. Click on photo for additional images.
A 'grand' improvement over its parent H. 'Golden Tiara'. With H. 'Grand Tiara' we have a much wider gold margin and better substance, but yet we retain that perfect cascade of foliage.
The form of the mound is what it's all about with the 'Tiaras'. Absolutely perfect Nadia Comaneci form. The leaf centers are a nice dark green on perfectly mounded plants that are nearly smothered with purple bell-shaped flowers. If you're looking for an edging hosta of medium height and perfect form, this is it. Of course its parent is H.'Golden Tiara'. Click on photo for a larger image.
Now, seriously, if you don't have H. 'Guacamole' you must abso-toot-a-lutely get one. The shiny chartreuse-centered leaves have a wide green margin and they certainly
make me want to rech for the tortilla chips. Fragrant flowers of pale lavender and one of the last to go dormant in my garden. This is a very vigorous cultivar, and if you're looking for instant gratification, H. 'Guacamole' is for you. With that glossy avacoda- green, I must ask.... Tequila anyone? Does best in a location with a little sun. Sport of H. 'Fragrant Boutquet'. 2002 American Hosta Growers Hosta of the Year ! Click on photo for additional images.
Definitely one of my favorites, H. 'Guardian Angel', has a misted green and white leaf center surrounded
by a blue-green margin. The habit is somewhat open but at maturity it forms a huge, majestic clump. There's also a subtle unique twist to the leaf. This was one of my late associate's, Jo Anne Wand's, favorite hostas, so it holds a special place in my heart. Somewhat slow to get started, but well worth the wait as it makes a fantastic mature specimen. Oh, yeah - by the way - all you angels up there - we've definitely heard you on this one. Absolutely unbelievable. Near wite flowers. A sport of H.'Blue Angel'(naturally).
Another freaky small hosta. Leaves are long, green, tapered,
tortuously twisty, and slightly serrated. Whew! There's a mouthful for you. Great vigorous growth rate. Hopefully it won't give you Nightmare on Elmstreet/Freddy Kruegeresque dreams. Demonstrates good sun tolerance. Lavender flowers. Click on photo to view an enlargement.
I can't ever seem to get enough of H. 'Halcyon'.
Although it's been around a long time, it's still one of the best blue hostas available. Leaves are of heavy substance and are the waxiest blue you've ever seen. Quickly matures into a near-perfect mound. A nice neutral background for some of the wilder variegated forms. Click on photo to view additional images.
What a clever medium-sized hosta.
A naturally-occurring sport of H. 'Striptease', H. 'Hanky Panky' is a bit of a changeling. In spring it emerges with dark green leaves with a pale lime edge and an ivory streak separates the center from the margin. Later in the season the center brightens to almost yellow, the ivory streak changes to dark green and the margin turns almost white. A great unique addition to the hosta garden. Who doesn't want a little 'Hanky Panky'? Lavender flowers. Click on photo for additional images.
Truly one for the hosta collector. H. 'Harpoon' has a
unique long, narrow leaf shape. The dark green leaves are very glossy and heavily rippled. A 1/2" wide gold margin embellishes the leaf and persists through summer's heat. A moderate to fast grower that forms a nice, dense mound. Unusual, and hard to come by. A seedling of H. Yingeri. Purple flowers. Click on photo to view additional images.
I'm very pleased to be able to
offer this new sport of H. 'Bright Lights'. The thick blue leaves have a striking yellow center. After bringing one of my favorite hostas - H. 'Dream Queen' to the market, H.J. Van den Top may have created another new favorite. Near white flowers. Click on photo to view additional images.
New for 2011! Introduced to the trade
by Shady Oaks Nursery, H. 'High Society' has wide blue-green margins surrounding leaf centers that change from yellow to white. Small mounds are dense and the foliage exhibits great substance. A sport of one of my favorites - H. 'June'. Could this possibly be an improvement? Pale lavender flowers. Click on photo to view additional images.
This sport of Hosta 'On Stage' boasts
wide, dark green, jetting margins with a bright yellow center. As the season progresses the centers will tend to green up somewhat. H. 'Hollywood Lights' has a lovely arching form and purple flowers. Click on photo to view an enlargement.
This super new sport of H. 'Guacamole' has been an excellent, vigorous
grower for us. The thick leaves are just as glossy as those of H. 'Guacamole', and they boast a 2-inch wide dark, dark, green margin on chartreuse leaves. The near-white flowers are extremely fragrant. H. 'Holy Molé' does best in part sun. If you like H. 'Guacamole' (and who doesn't?) this is a must for your collection. Click on photo to view an enlargement.
An exciting sport of kikutii,
Hosta 'Hyuga Urajiro' is a true collector's item. Leaves are frosty blue and spear-shaped with yellow streaks throughout the entire leaf. Near white flowers. Limited supply. Click on photo to view an enlargement.
H. 'Independence' is the reverse sport of H. 'Revolution'. Dark green leaves
have a great creamy-white margin that's spekled with green splashes. A very distinctive stand-out hosta. I really like H. 'Independence' because of its great growth rate and exemplary garden performance. Large, pale lavender flowers. Click on photo to view additional images.
New for 2011! An intriguing sport
of H. 'Sagae' with much wider creamy white margins and thicker substance. Margins change from yellow in early spring to creamy white in summer. Gorgeous vase-shaped specimen plant to light up the shade. Probable tetraploid. Click on photo to view additional images.
There's no mistaking good ol' H. 'Jimmy Crack
Corn' with its gold leaves and gorgeous deep veining. A ruffly piecrust edge on leaves that are held almost horizontally. Forms a nice, large clump. Near white flowers. A seedling of H. 'Piedmont Gold'. Easily identified and fun. Click on photo to enlarge.
New for 2011! An intriguing sport of H. 'Choo Choo Train'
from the incredible Hosta breeder, Hans Hansen. H. Journey's End features a bright gold center with dark green margins and heavily rippled leaf edges. The striking contrast between the leaf center and margin of H. 'Journey's End' is best achieved when sited in morning sun. One of Hans' best! Click on photo to enlarge.
Everybody loves H. 'June'. And what's not to love? Blue-green margins and chartreuse
centers in spring which brighten to gold in summer. H. 'June has fabulous substance for a light-centered hosta. She's a little on the slow side, but with time, you'll have a hosta to rave about. Truly, if you don't have H. 'June, she's an absolute must. 2001 Hota Growers Association Hosta of the Year. Pale lavender blue flowers. A sport of H. 'Halcyon'. Click on photo for additional images.
This is a really cool 'outer-space' kind of hosta,
especially if you're looking to cover a lot of ground. A mature clump of H. 'Komodo Dragon' is a whopping seven feet across. Heavily rippled leaves are dark green with a gray silver cast and piecrust edge. When it emerges in spring, it almost looks like little cabbages sprouting. A ginormous hosta from the great Hosta Lady herself, Mildred Seaver. Pale lavender flowers. Click on photo to view additional images.
Home Perennials Grasses Shrubs Roses Annuals Trees Fruits Natives Contact Us