The documented history of hostas dates from the late 1600's when botanists from the Dutch East Indies Company began collecting them. In recent years, interest in hostas has risen to the point that it competes annually with daylilies as one of the most desired and valuable garden perennials.
Hostas range in size from 2 inch dwarf size to extra large leaved varieties exceeding several feet in dimension with individual leaves 18 inches or greater across. Scapes carrying flowers range from inches to in excess of six feet in the air. Colors range from very dark blue to blue-gray to shades of chartreuse, yellow, white and cream. Margins, stripes and streaking add to the various leaf textures from smooth and glossy to highly puckered, and create great garden versatility.
Adjectives used to describe different hosts leaves give the new gardener an idea of the varieties which exist: leathery, puckered, oval, irregularly margined, thick, cupped, abruptly tipped, heart shaped, crinkled, highly corrugated, thickly veined, ruffled.........................the list goes on.
Here at Vermont Flower Farm we have always grown hosta in our gardens. As the horticultural industry began to promote them more and more, our interest grew and we began to study them. We knew they grew well in shady Vermont and when we learned of the thousands of registered varieties, we decided it was time to make them more available to our gardening friends.
Architecturally exciting,
hostas are great to integrate with other shade loving plants in garden borders,
along pathways and near wood lines. These plants have lots of possibilities
in combination with other perennials. They certainly are not those "dull,
leafy green things" some people used to make them out to be. The darker
colors fare much better with more shade while the golds, yellows and lighter
colors can usually handle more sun. Add them to ligularias, Solomon's Seal,
pulmonarias, tiarellas, Bleeding Heart, heucheras, variegated iris, or any of
the cimicifugas, especially the dark leaved ones, for a very special woodland
or northern exposure garden. Toss in some dark blue or mixed clematis, or similar
climbers for vertical affect and you will have a new and exciting dimension
to your gardening experience. The praise for your efforts will convince
you that hosta belong.
| PICTURE |
NAME |
S-M-L |
DESCRIPTION |
$EA | |
| Abba Dabba Do | L | T. Avent '98 24" tall, green with yellow edge. Prefers more sun than not. A sport of Sunpower. | $17.50 | ||
 |
Abby | S | Ruh '90 Deep blue-green heart shaped leaves w/yellow margins, 15-18" scapes with purple flowers. A sport of Gold Drop | $12.50 | |
| Abiqua Drinking Gourd | L | Walden West '89 Nicely cupped, corrugated, powder blue-gray leaves, white flowers mid season. Big over time! | $12.50 | ||
 |
Abiqua Moonbeam | M | Walden-West '87 Bluish green heart shaped leaves with chartreuse margin, white flowers. Some sun for best color. Good grower. | $12.50 | |
 |
Albopicta (fortunei) | M | Miquel 1869. Nice lime green w/dark green edge in spring. Excellent at this time! Then all green. Light to full shade. | $9.50 | |
| Alex Summers | ML | V. Santa Lucia '89 Striking , wide chartreuse margins with medium green centers on this vase shaped beauty! Margin size varies. Morning light needed for good color. Named for American Hosta Society founder. | $21.00 | ||
 |
Allan P. McConnell | S | Seaver '80. Dark green flat leaves, white edges, purple flowers. Border or groundcover | $9.50 | |
 |
Aristocrat | M | Walters Gardens. Deep blue green, lightly corrugated with a cream margin | N/A | |
 |
August Moon | M | Langfelder/Summers '68. Medium to glowing gold w/some leaf puckering w/age. Med-fast grower. Try near dark cimicifugas for contrast. | $10.50 | |
 |
Aureomarginata Montana | L | AHS '87. Huge, 12" deep green, shiny leaves w/gold margins. Slow going in cold Vermont springs but worth the wait. | $12.50 | |
| Baby Bunting | D | R Savory '82 Round and pointed blue-green leaves, white flowers 8-10" tall | N/A | ||
 |
Big Daddy | L | Aden '78. Chalky blue, puckered leaves, almost really cupped and round. Heavy substance, white flowers. Slow but you'll love it! | $12.50 | |
| Black Hills | M-L | Savory '80. Thick, heavily corrugated, deep greenish blue leaves, cupped and puckered | $12.50 | ||
 |
Blue Angel | XL | Aden '86 Huge, heavily textured12" wide X 16" long leaves. Neat white flowers. Slow to establish but outstanding in time. Shade to 3/4 sun | $12.50 | |
| Blue Arrow | M | Anderson '82. Medium blue lance shaped leaves with excellent substance. Clusters of white flowers in August | $15.50 | ||
 |
Blue Boy | 19" | D. Stone/AHS '86. An H. nakaiana X H. sieboldiana cross. Blue wavy leaves, pale lavender flowers. Good grower. | $10.50 | |
 |
Blue Cadet | S | Aden '74. Neat, almost round clumps of blue green, heart shaped leaves , dark green later in summer. Medium lavender flowers on 24" scapes. Fast grower. | $9.50 | |
 |
Blue Shadows | M | Anderson '80. Not a fast grower but one to admire!! Thick, textured, rounded, heart shaped leaves. Dark shadows swirling into chartreuse leaf center. | $17.00 | |
| Blue Umbrellas | XL | Aden '78. Blue green changing to dark green later in summer. Leaves are heavy & droop--hence the umbrella name. Pale lavender flowers to 36" Clumps to 4 feet. | $12.50 | ||
 |
Blue Vision | 20" | Aden '76 12" x 5" blue green leaves w/texture. White flowers over period of time. In lower garden, left of entrance. | $15.50 | |
 |
Blue Wedgwood | M | Smith '88. Smooth, thick leaves. Good blue and faster grower than most. Pale lavender flowers | $12.50 | |
 |
Bressingham Blue | L | Bloom '84. Exceptionally large, crinkled blue green, heart shaped leaves, near white flowers. | $12.50 | |
 |
Bright Lights | M | Aden/Klehm. Our Alex loves this one! Puckered golden leaves w/wide green-blue margins, white flowers. Light to full shade. Slow | $15.50 | |
 |
Brim Cup | S | Aden '86. Highly corrugated, cupped dark green w/wide creamy edges. 18" lavender flower scapes. Do not fertilize or it will tatter. | $15.00 | |
| Captain Kirk | M | Brill '99 Everyone including Star Trek fans will love this Gold Standard sport. Textured leaves with wide, dark green edges with wide golden center. Good grower. One by the weeping larch on left inside lower garden | $20.00 | ||
 |
Cherry Berry | S | W&E Lachman '91 Upright mound of thin, smooth leaves. Start yellow, turn ivory-white w/some chartreuse streaks. Violet flowers on burgundy red scape. Needs sunlight here | $15.50 | |
| Chinese Sunrise | 14" | Summers/Schaeffer/Ruh '92 Shiny, narrow chartreuse-green leaves w. slim dark green margin, fading to light olive green. Late lavender flowers. Needs sun | $9.50 | ||
 |
Christmas Tree | L | Vaughn/Seaver '87. Creamy white edged, crinkled, rounded emerald green leaves. Good grower. Name from 28" scapes ----with imagination, you'll see! | $12.50 | |
| Color Glory | L | P. Aden '80 7" round, variegated leaves w/yellow ctr., blue-green margin. Lavender flowers. A good grower, enjoys shade. | $15.50 | ||
 |
Dark Star | 12" | R. Herold. Forms mound of blue green leaves w/long point & cream edge. Nice lavender flowers in August here. | $14.00 | |
 |
Daybreak | L | Aden '86 Bright yellow green leaves with good substance. Lavender flowers on 30" scapes | $12.50 | |
| Diamond Tiara | S | Zillis '85 Small, dark green leaves with white margin. Fast grower. | $10.50 | ||
 |
Donahue Piecrust | L | T. Donahue/Ruh 99. Medium green with great piecrust margin after few years. White flowers on 30" tall bloom scapes | $15.00 | |
| Dream Weaver | 18" | B. Ruetenik/Walek '96. Wide margined blue-green with chartreuse turning to ivory-white center. White flowers. Sport of Great Expectations. Divide often to keep leaf pattern stable. | $20.00 | ||
| El Capitan | L | W&E Lachman '87 . Large sage green, puckered leaves w/creamy yellow edge. 22" X 50" Great color! | $17.50 | ||
| Fire & Ice | S | H. Hansen & Shady Oaks '99 Pure white leaves w/dark green margins, white scape w/lavender flowers. Needs sun here. A Patriot sport. | $15.50 | ||
 |
Fragrant Bouquet | M | Apple green w/narrow creamy white margin. Large, memorably fragrant flowers. Fast grower. | $10.50 | |
 |
Francee | L | Klopping '86. Wide, heart shaped forest green leaves w/narrow white edge. Good grower. Check out Patriot & Minuteman and see if you see any resemblance........ | $10.50 | |
 |
Frances Williams | L | F&C Williams '86. Heavily textured blue green leaves, chartreuse-yellow margins. Slower grower. Avoid sun, keep moist to minimize leaf scorch. | $12.50 | |
| Fried Green Tomatoes | M | Solberg '95. Deep green leaves, fragrant pale lavender flowers on tall scapes. A fast grower. | $12.50 | ||
 |
Fringe Benefit | L | Aden '86. Heart shaped, slightly puckered medium-green leaves w/white margin. Pale lavender flowers. Good grower. Strong! | $12.50 | |
| Ginko Craig | S | Craig/Summers '86 Mid-green color with irregular white margin & abundant lavender flowers on 15" scapes | $10.50 | ||
| Gold Drop | S | Anderson '77 Heart shaped golden leaves, 15" scapes w/pale lavender flowers. Fast grower. Nice clumps. | $10.50 | ||
| Gold Edger | S | Aden '78 Light greenish yellow heart shaped leaves turning soft gold. Nice mounding habit | $10.50 | ||
 |
Golden Crown fortunei aureomarginata | M | Fast growing, medium green leaves w/wide white margins. Pale lavender flowers late July | $10.50 | |
| Golden Friendship | S | Hideko Gowen 91 Chartreuse, pointed leaves with some shading. 24" scape, lavender flowers | $12.50 | ||
| Golden Meadows | 22" | Light green leaves w/medium green streaks and dark green margins. | $12.50 | ||
 |
Golden Scepter | 12" | R. Savory '83 5"X 3" yellow leaves start bright gold in spring. 24" scape w/purple striped flowers. A springtime eye catcher! | $10.50 | |
| Golden Sculpture | 30" | K. Anderson '82 Rounded yellow leaves, heavy corrugation, bell shaped white flowers. Vase shaped, impressive mound width over time. | $14.00 | ||
 |
Golden Tiara | S | Green, heart shaped leaves with gold edge. Holds color well. Purple blooms. Nice edger or ground cover | $9.50 | |
 |
Gold Regal | L | Aden '74 Oval, gold leaves w/deep veins. Mid season flowers on 30" scapes. Sun heightens gold color. | $15.00 | |
 |
Gold Standard | L | Banyai '76 . One of the most popular!! Gold with dark green, irregular edge, 1/4 to 3/4 sun. Rapid grower | $10.50 | |
 |
Great Expectations | L | Aden '88. Round and puckered blue green leaves with yellow cream in center. Lots of white flowers. Plant in morning sun | $18.00 | |
 |
Green Fountain | L | Aden '79. Long, shiny, medium green leaves for fountain-like shape. | $9.00 | |
| Ground Master | 14" | P. Aden A wavy, dark green leaf w/yellowish-white margins, purple flowers | $9.50 | ||
 |
Ground Sulphur | S | O'Harra '86. Chartreuse to deep yellow leaves, medium lavender flowers, good accent for smaller blues, good edger | $8.50 | |
 |
Guacamole | L | Solberg '94 Large chartreuse green leaves w/dark green edge, lavender flowers. 2002 Hosta of the Year. Light sun to shade here. Sport of Fragrant Bouquet | $15.00 | |
| Hadspen Blue | 16" | Smith/Aden '76 7-8" long blue green leaves w/heavy texture forming small clump. Lavender flowers | $10.50 | ||
 |
Halcyon | M | Smith '88. Blue green leaves maturing to chalk blue, heart shaped with obvious veins. Pale lavender flowers on 24" scapes. One of the very best. | $10.50 | |
| Hirao Supreme | 20" | S. Hirao/Zillis/Ruh Medium green, wavy leaves w/36" scape, abundant lavender flowers | $15.00 | ||
| Honeybells | L | Cummings/AHS '86. Rapid growing, light green, loose, shiny leaves and white, bell shaped flowers w/light fragrance | $9.50 | ||
 |
Hyacinthia | L | Silvery gray, heart shaped leaves to gray green as season progresses. Fast and easy grower. | $9.50 | |
| Ice Cream | S | Rossing '98 Deep green center, gold margin, pale lavender flowers on 12" scapes. Good border or rock garden addition. Sport of Vanilla Cream. | $17.50 | ||
 |
Inniswood | L | Inniswood Gardens '94. Round, gold, textured leaves with deep green edge | $15.00 | |
 |
Invincible | M | Aden '86 Shiny, slightly wavy, pointed, dark green leaves, fragrant light lavender flowers. Rapid grower. | $9.00 | |
 |
Island Charm | S | G Rasmussen '97 Long, pointed creamy white leaves w/dark green edges and uneven red/purple stems | $15.00 | |
 |
Janet | M | Hara '81 Green margined leaves change to creamy yellow later in season. Lavender flowers. | $12.00 | |
| Joyce Trott | 16" | Vaughn '88 Creamy white going to pure white w/broad but varying dark green margins, 20" scape w/lavender flowers | $22.00 | ||
 |
June | M | Neo Plants 91. Blue edged leaves w/creamy centers which change slowly to dark chartreuse. Pale lavender flowers. Halcyon sport & a spectacular plant!! | $16.00 | |
 |
Just So | 10" | P. Aden '86 Chartreuse yellow leaves w/narrow green margin, lt. lavender flowers. Good grower | $14.00 | |
| Katherine Lewis | M | A. Lewis An irregularly margined dark green leaf with yellow-gold turning to ivory white center mix over obvious veining. Purple flowers on 28" scape | $17.50 | ||
| Knock Out | M | Aden '86 Blue green heart shaped leaves, irregular creamy yellow margins, lavender flowers Striking! 18" X 30" | $12.50 | ||
| Korean Snow | S-M | Niche Gardens/Solberg '99 Med. green leaves with flecks of white and green, some cream streaks, and pale purple flowers | $24.00 | ||
 |
Krossa Regal | L | Krossa '80. Tall, distinctive vase shaped plant w/heart shaped powdery blue, textured leaves w/ruffled edges. Sun to half shade. Sterile but good grower | $12.50 |
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