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bellarosazone5

Hosta for edging

6 years ago

Hi, I'm new to hostas. I'm searching for any suggestions on a hosta that has a good amount white coloring - not pure white (is there one?) - that I could use as an edger. Also, if you have any recommendations on where to purchase hostas that would be appreciated. Thank you!

Comments (15)

  • 6 years ago

    Mostly white will not grow well. You might try hi ho silver.

  • 6 years ago

    where are you.. z5 is about half the US.. and varies wildly .... and how well a hosta does in your location would depend ... its a summer heat thing with hosta ... not winter cold ...


    how much sun ... it makes a difference as to how aggressive they will be.. as to how fast an edging would fill in ... or in the laternative.. how ugly they might get in late summer ...


    white tissue is a net negative in a hosta leaf ... so the more white ... the less vigor the plant will have ... also sun tolerance.. and water needs ... there are exceptions ...


    but you left out the most important info ... how big ...


    the workhorse with white is undulata ,... but its a larger hosta... but you cant beat it back with a stick. if you wanted to ... and thats what i call.. an edging plant ...


    there are 3 undulata .. the white centered one [undulata].. the white edged one [undulata albomarginata] .. and the green one [erromena]...

    https://duckduckgo.com/?q=hosta+undulata&t=ffcm&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images


    ken

  • 6 years ago

    Ken, I'm in NW Illinois, Zone 5b. Thanks much for the information. Very helpful. When I said hostas with white coloring, I meant one similar to "Patriot", which there's nothing wrong with that particular variety. I was just curious to see which other varieties folks have used as an edger.

    Also, any recommendations on good sources for hostas? I know that Santa Rosa nursery is good. Any others?

  • 6 years ago

    Bella, Hallsons is a wonderful place to get hostas online. Chris at Hallsons is very helpful if you need to ask any questions as well.

    bella rosa thanked rosiewells7b
  • 6 years ago

    Bella, what about Vulcan?

    bella rosa thanked oursteelers 8B PNW
  • 6 years ago

    How about either Diamond Tiara or Platinum Tiara?

    bella rosa thanked ConnieMay ON Z6a
  • 6 years ago

    Are you trying to do a line of hostas along a bed? One of my favorite garden youtubers has planted a "hedge" of Autumn Frost. They look very nice.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l55utwIlsj8

    bella rosa thanked popmama (Colorado, USDA z5)
  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    Oh, so many wonderful suggestions! I'll have to look these up. Thanks everyone!

    Question - What about the hosta, Liberty? Would that make a nicer edger?

  • 6 years ago

    anything can be an edger.. its really only a word for how you use it.. rather than a specific plant characteristic ...


    but part of an edger.. is how fast it multiplies ... so that if you need a hundred of them.. you dont need to buy 100 ...


    there are a few ... like lancifolia ... that you could make 100 thru division .. in maybe 3 years .... just because they multiply like rabbits ... undulatas also ... the difference between thos two is size ...


    but with liberty ... being a much larger plant ... simply wont multiply that fast ... but you could buy as many as you like to accomplish your goal ...


    most of us... and i am our king ... are hardcore collectors ... and really have no use for more than one of anything ,.. we might be called 'name collectors' ....


    and there are peeps who are more into design ... and they want groupings ... or multiples for visual impact ...all the power to them.. but they confuse me.. lol ...


    and all an edging plant is.. its a straight line grouping ... and really .. only limited by your imagination ...


    its really all about your goal.. your dream.. and your garden.. and you should do whatever.. to make yourself happy .. and not worry about making other peeps happy ...


    as far as fast multiplier ... lancifolia is a smallish green lance shaped leaf version ... an old stand variegated one is golden tiara .... just as a couple examples ...


    here is a link to the hosta library ... if you want to look them up ..


    ken

    http://www.hostalibrary.org/


    bella rosa thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
  • 6 years ago

    bella, there are a lot of amazing pictures of Liberty on the forum. Check out the thread titled "Hosta L 2017 No Lakesides"

    https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/5081456/hosta-l-2017-no-lakesides

    Liberty is a beautiful hosta (well, aren't they all?) but it does seem a bit tall for an edge. But that's just my opinion and obviously depends on the full picture.

    bella rosa thanked popmama (Colorado, USDA z5)
  • 6 years ago

    Ken...your hilarious! Thank you so much for the links. Great source of information. I've bookmarked this page right away!

    Popmama, thanks for the link. I think you're right about Liberty being too tall. I also like Autumn Frost, which doesn't get too tall. I think I'm going to look for that one locally. Too many choices, but that's ok with me. :-)

  • 6 years ago

    Free is good.

    The Tiaras are an old line of hostas that are trouble free and fast growers. Here are some photos of different Tiaras. They are frequently used as edgers by landscapers.

    [https://www.houzz.com/discussions/tiara-family-of-hostas-dsvw-vd~1955766[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/tiara-family-of-hostas-dsvw-vd~1955766)
    bkay

  • 6 years ago

    Oooh, I thought of another one that would make a good edger and a fast grower. Blue Mouse Ears. Only downside, no white.

    bella rosa thanked oursteelers 8B PNW
  • 6 years ago

    Here's another good edger for me, but it does not have white -- 'Kabitan'.

    bella rosa thanked roxanna7