Hostas

Lauri · 03-08-2006, 10:09 PM

That is "hostas" as in shade loving plants! These are planted for the beautiful foilage...yellows, all shades of greens, and even blue tints. The flowers are liked by hummingbirds, but they are not the main show with these plants. They can go years without ever being divided and won't reseed like a weed. Nice plant that behaves itself.

If your not particular on specific types, sizes, etc. but have lots of shady areas in your yard, check out Gilbert H. Wild's "Hostas by the handful". He sells really nice bareroots @ $1 ea in lots of 100 or $35 is purchasing 25. (Compare that to the $7 - $15 greenhouse stock.) I've purchased from Wild twice and been very happy with the rapid growth of the plants.
In fact, I was too late to order hostas by the handful from Gilbert H. Wild one year and settled on the only other "hostas by the handful" on the internet. Big mistake...the other company sent the puniest little bitty roots possible. Even after growing for two years, the hostas from the competitor wasn't as vigorous as those I received from Gilbert H. Wild two years later.

AlumniClub · 03-08-2006, 10:35 PM

Thank you very much for the tip!
I bookmarked that site for futher projects next summer.
I need to transplant Hostas from one property to another and have to do that before I get anymore.

**AJE** · 08-15-2006, 06:28 PM

A couple in Manitowoc County has an exquisite variety of hostas on display with the names, if you like a particular one you see they will probably have that species on hand. A bonus is that each of them is planted in a woodland shade to give you a prospective of just how much space, light, etc etc. As of right now it’s more of a love for the Hostas Hobby than a family business but I can see that in the near future. The Hosta range in price and they'll let you know what type of bargin is in store for you. The closest cultivator to this many plants is located in the UP.

Louis Corners is located on cty 149 a little under 1/2 between Kiel and the town of Meeme. The garden estate "Pondside Gardens" is on Louis Corners Rd (going south from Louis Corners) and on the way to a hot fishing spot of Cedar Lake. This garden spot is free to public. The residents live across the street along with a thousand Hostas.
:P

**MrKhay** · 03-09-2007, 02:43 PM

Gotta luv them hostas!
Where is the link to the Wild fellas website?

**AJE** · 03-10-2007, 06:45 AM

The Husband and Wife team Do Not have a Website that I know of which is why I left an address. I'll see them this spring I'm sure and will find out more information.

pk · 03-11-2007, 01:43 AM

Quote:

That is "hostas" as in shade loving plants!

Normally people think of hostas as shade only but I have them in both sun and shade and they do quite well in both places. I have a shed that is mostly shade on one side but the other side gets the afternoon sun. It's funny but some summers the shade side does better, and other summers the sun side does better.

I also have hostas planted on the west side of the house by my driveway that gets sun most of the afternoon and they always grow huge there each year. The plants I put in where it is mostly shady also does well.

So all in all this plant is great in just about any area as long as you keep it watered if it is in the sun more.

pk

kmfarm · 03-11-2007, 09:07 AM

Hosta's are very tough. We've got some around the base of a Maple where nothing would grow. Dressed it up nice. Now we don't look at the tree roots proturding up and bare ground between.

What's nice is after just a couple years, you can divide and have a whole new crop to plant or trade. It's one of those plants that you dig up, whack in half, replant and it grows. Hard to make a mistake.

Mark

**CarolsCritterCare** · 03-12-2007, 08:10 PM

My son worked at Z Gardens last spring/summer and he'd bring home all sorts of plants that they were throwing out for one reason or another.
He brought home a lot of hosta's. By weeks end of planting them the dog had dug them all up and slept in the area the hosta's just were.
Mine didn't do to well last year.
Carol

Lauri · 07-21-2007, 05:19 PM

Hostas are one perrenial that is basically maintenance free!!! Just give them shade (or water if in hot sun) and deadhead after the flowers have finished providing a feast for the hummingbirds. They provide peace, tranquility, and rest within a sea of perrenials at my home. Gotta love the subtle, and not so subtle variagated leafed plants for nice contrast.

pk · 07-21-2007, 09:59 PM

Nice picture! I also love hosta plants in how they seem to fill in the gaps in a garden or areas that otherwise has a difficult time finding a plant to grow.

Seems as if the weather has been kinder this summer to our hostas and they have all grown huge. They are all in flowers right now and doing a great job in our yard. I mostly plant the variagated leaf plants since I like the added color it gives.

pk

Lauri · 08-02-2007, 09:45 PM

I read somewhere that lighter colored hostas do better than the dark varieties if you are going to plant them in sun.

pk · 08-02-2007, 09:49 PM

Quote:

I read somewhere that lighter colored hostas do better than the dark varieties if you are going to plant them in sun.

Interesting, I never heard that before. I'll have to remember this.

thanks!

pk

Lauri · 11-26-2007, 09:29 PM

Gilbert H. Wild or Gilbert H. Wild

**CarolsCritterCare** · 11-29-2007, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pk

Interesting, I never heard that before. I'll have to remember this.

thanks!

pk

Mine do horrible! I think it has something to to with the dog laying on them all the time............
Carol

Lauri · 11-29-2007, 10:11 AM

I don't have a dog, but I would think if it were hot outside and the dog was seeking a cool spot to lay down in, a large leafed hosta would have cool soil beneath it in which to find relief. I'll bet other Bubbler members have had the same or similar problems. I wonder how they resolved it. Lauri