We have searched our copies of The Hosta Journal for anything that might relate to any of the over 13,300 hosta names in our database. We extracted parts of articles that dealt with historical matters, opinions of well-known hostaphiles, recommendations (positive or negative), lookalike cultivars and the seemingly never ending problem with confusing names.

Where appropriate, we placed a copy of the material on the individual cultivar or species page. We also put the information and quotations on a group of topic pages listed below:

  1. Blue Hostas
  2. 'Blue Mouse Ears'
  3. Early Hosta Cultivars
  4. Fall Bloomers
  5. Flowers
  6. Green Hostas
  7. Halcyon Group
  8. Hosta History
  9. Hybridizing
  1. Japanese Words
  2. Large Hostas
  3. Look-a-Like Hostas
  4. Hosta Names
  5. Non-US Hostas
  6. Photo Essays
  7. Plant Traits
  8. Hosta Series
  9. Small Hostas
  1. Hosta Species
  2. Top Rated Hostas
  3. Unstable Variegation
  4. White Margin Hostas
  5. White Medial Hostas
  6. Yellow Hostas
  7. Yellow Margin Hostas
  8. Yellow Medial Hostas

1) An article discussing large size hostas by Walter Cullerton in The Hosta Journal (2010 Vol. 41 No. 1) states that, "I've decided to take a look at my favorites, those Big Hostas that excited me along my journey...one in each major category...yellow, edged variegated, medio-variegated, blue and, yes, green. Remember, I like green."

* 'Big John'

- H. 'Big John' has remained in my mind as the tallest green, along with 'Elatior'. Now it seems 'Roderick' has eclipsed those two. But wait another minute...'Empress Wu' as The New Benchmark in Big. A seedling of 'Big John', it reaches an astounding 47˝ inches tall, with leaves bigger than any other that I know of."
* 'Elatior' - My favorite H. nigrescens...an even bigger one now exists -- and its green as well. H. 'Roderick', an 'Elatior' seedling grown by the late icon Russ O'Hara.
* 'Krossa Regal' - It is well over 30 inches tall, with a vase shape...and a soft, almost bluish-gray color...A must for every garden. Not just every hosta garden, every garden...I consider understated in color, and therefore it blends with most other plants, providing connection and good flow.
* Piedmont Gold' - Beautifully mounded, nicely veined, puckered -- and wonderful white flowers in early summer. I'd say a tad of 'Elegans' parentage here.
* 'Sagae' - My favorite bit hosta. H. 'Liberty, a sport of 'Sagae', is an absolute showstopper but, for me, 'Liberty' is a much smaller plant. My 'Sagae' is well over 36 inches tall.
* 'Sun Power' - Possibly 36 inch, vase-shaped mound. Yellows accent the garden full of green so nicely.
* 'Victory' - In my garden, 'Victory' has grown to 30 inches and is a winner.
 

* Other edge-variegated favorites include 'Frosted Jade', 'Regal Splendor', 'Yellow River' and 'Unchained Melody'.

 

* Favorite medio-variegated hybrids include 'Queen of Islip', 'Super Nova', 'Saybrook Surprise', 'Paul's Glory' and 'Inniswood'.

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