Fall Plant Sale Preview 2019: Hostas

Hosta 'Cathedral Windows'. Photo by Mandy Cuskelly.

By Katherine Hale
Marketing assistant

It’s never too early to be thinking about next year’s garden—and that’s especially true when it comes to hostas. Though these dependable perennials wind down with the cooler temperatures of fall, now is the best time to plant new ones to fill in gaps in your collection or add additional variety to your landscape. Hosta fans already know why these versatile leafy plants sell out quickly in all our plant sales, while newcomers are in for a real treat with all this genus has to offer.

L-R: Hosta 'Wu La La' and 'First Dance'.
Photos courtesy of Walters Gardens Inc.

While the broad ribbed leaves are the main focal point throughout the growing season, hosta flowers are nothing to sneer at. Stalks of dangling, bell-like flowers rise gracefully out of the canopy in mid-summer, swaying gently in the breeze. The effect is multiplied when hostas are planted en masse in a perennial border or woodland garden, especially if fragrant varieties are involved.

L-R: 'Maui Buttercups' and 'Touch of Class'.
Photos courtesy of Walters Gardens Inc.

All hostas are incredibly tough, though they exhibit their best color and vigor with afternoon shade, adequate moisture, and high organic matter. Their main enemies in the Triangle region are white-tailed deer, who vacuum up any plants they can reach, meaning that fencing or other protection is a must. Slugs may also be a concern in the shadiest areas.

Hosta 'Sum and Substance'. Photo by Jason Holmes.

Because hostas are such regular bestsellers, we always make sure to have a wide variety for gardeners to choose from at our plant sales. This isn’t as hard as it sounds, because every year sees new releases from plant breeders along with the return of old favorites. This year, our list includes 'Cathedral Windows’, a variegated tetraploid hybrid with added vigor; 'Dancing Queen’, a completely yellow cultivar; the giant ‘Sum and Substance’; and 'Halcyon', a popular and reliable “blue” hosta. There will also be the miniaturized ‘Sun Mouse’, the leaf-curling 'Maui Buttercups', and the creamy blended ‘Revolution’.  ‘Touch of Class’, 'Wu-La-La' and 'First Dance' round out our offerings.

L-R: Hosta 'Dancing Queen' and 'Sun Mouse.'
Photos by Beth Hall (L) & Walters Gardens Inc.

Whether you are a beginning gardener interested in exploring this incredible genus, or an experienced connoisseur, the perfect hosta awaits you. And if you need advice or suggestions about which ones would best suit your landscape, we will be happy to help you select the right one—or two or three or more. With hostas, the possibilities are limited only by the imagination.

FALL PLANT SALE DETAILS:
Date: Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019
Time: 8 a.m.-noon
Member benefits: Duke Gardens members get 10% off all purchases, plus access to the members-only previews sale and dinner from 5-7 p.m. on Sept. 27, and a full list of plants in advance, plus staff recommendations. Join online or on site.
Parking: Free.
Pets not permitted. Please see Duke Gardens' pets policy here.
Wagons + boxes: Our supply is limited; please bring your own if possible, and you'll have more time to spend gathering beautiful plants.
Your support helps Duke Gardens to provide summer internships to aspiring horticulturists from across the nation.
Please see our event page for more information, and we'd love for you to spread the word by sharing the event on Facebook and inviting your friends.
Thank you!

Hosta 'Revolution' and 'Halcyon'.
Photos courtesy of Missouri Botanical Garden.

Spring Plant Sale Preview: Hostas

Hosta 'Sum and Substance'. Photo: Jason Holmes.

By Katherine Hale

Each spring and summer, gardeners’ hearts are taken hostage by hostas—and with good reason. These shade-garden stalwarts come in a dizzying number of horticultural hybrids, with hundreds more introduced each year by enthusiastic breeders. While the classic green-leafed hosta remains popular, showy blue, gold and variegated leafed-varieties offer new twists on old favorites, ranging in size from petite to giant. With hostas, the possibilities are limited only by the imagination.

Hosta 'Guacamole'. Photo: Walters Gardens.

While the broad ribbed leaves are the main focal point throughout the growing season, hosta flowers are nothing to sneer at. Stalks of dangling, bell-like flowers rise gracefully out of the canopy in mid-summer, swaying gently in the breeze. The effect is multiplied when hostas are planted en masse in a perennial border or woodland garden, especially if fragrant varieties are involved.

All hostas are incredibly tough, though they exhibit their best color and vigor with afternoon shade, adequate moisture, and high organic matter. Their main enemies in the Triangle region are white-tailed deer, who vacuum up any plants they can reach, meaning that fencing or other protection is a must. Slugs may also be a concern in the shadiest areas.

Hostas are regular bestsellers at our annual spring plant sale, and we’ll be offering a smorgasbord of great selections again this year: ‘Akikaze’, ‘Bridal Falls,’ ‘Chartreuse Wiggles’, ‘Cool as a Cucumber’, ‘Dancing Queen’, ‘Dream Weaver’, ‘First Frost’, ‘Guacamole’, ‘Joy Ride’, ‘June Spirit’, ‘Komodo Dragon’, ‘Lakeside Paisley Print’, ‘Neptune’, ‘Sum and Substance’, and ‘Waterslide’.

Hosta 'Chartreuse Wiggles'. Photo: J. Holmes.

Whether you are a beginning gardener just beginning to explore this incredible genus, or an experienced connoisseur, the perfect hosta awaits.


SPRING PLANT SALE DETAILS:
Date: Saturday, March 30, 2019
Time: 8 a.m.-noon
Members-only preview sale:  4-6 p.m. Friday, March 29
Member benefits: Duke Gardens members get 10% off all purchases, plus access to the members-only preview sale and a full list of plants in advance! Join online or on site.
Parking: Free during the sale.
Pets not permitted. Please see Duke Gardens' pets policy here.
Wagons + boxes: Our supply is limited; please bring your own if possible, and you'll have more time to spend gathering beautiful plants.
Your support helps Duke Gardens to provide summer internships to aspiring horticulturists from across the nation. Thank you!
Please see our event page for more information, and we'd love for you to spread the word by sharing our Facebook event page and inviting your Facebook friends.

Fall Plant Sale Preview: Hostas

Hosta 'Wheee!' in the Historic Gardens. Photo by Mandy Cuskelly.

By Mandy Cuskelly
Assistant Horticulturist, Historic Gardens

Have lots of trees and shade? Not sure what to plant? No problem—plant hostas! I am a bit of a hosta enthusiast, if you couldn’t tell. I mean, what’s not to love about a classic perennial that is shade tolerant and comes in so many shapes, sizes and colors? I could talk about hostas all day, but I'm going to behave and just talk about a few that will be offered at Duke Gardens’ Fall Plant Sale this Saturday, Sept. 29.

Hosta ‘Wheee!’ is just as much fun as the name makes it out to be. Its foliage flips and turns in every direction and never fails to grab the attention of passersby. Plant this hosta near a path or bench to attract interest and serve as a conversation piece.  Maturing at a little less than 2 feet tall, it is ideally placed at the front of a shaded bed.

Hosta 'Halcyon' in the Historic Gardens. Photo: M. Cuskelly

‘Halcyon’ is a tried and true champion of the hosta world. This classic hosta has dark blue-green leaves that hold the blue color well in our hot and humid summers.  As a bonus, ‘Halcyon’ tends to shoot off color mutations in some new shoots, and in fact is the sport parent of popular hosta cultivars like ‘June’, ‘First Frost’ and many, many others. In the Historic Gardens, we like to tuck containers like this one in unexpected places. The ‘Halcyon’ pictured has been growing in the pot for several years, looking great—and it’s low maintenance, just needing some occasional water.

Hosta 'Mini Skirt' in a mixed arrangement.
Photo: M. Cuskelly

‘Mini Skirt’ is a fun new miniature hosta. It measures only 5 inches tall at maturity but has big personality. It has very wavy blue-green leaves with yellow margins. Miniature hostas are perfect for fairy gardens or mixed bowls with other miniature shade plants. This photo shows an example of several different cultivars of miniature hosta that I put together for a display in the garden this summer. ‘Mini Skirt’ is the bottom right plant in the center.

Hosta 'Mini Skirt'. Photo by
Walters Gardens Inc.

Hostas can tend to show some wear entering into fall, but this is a great time of year to plant them. With the heat of the summer passing and more occasional rains returning, the hostas will have a great chance to get established and show their full potential next spring.
When siting these plants, you’ll want to check the tag for mature size and then provide an organic and well-draining shady spot. Hope you enjoyed this sneak peek into just a few of the hostas we will have available at the sale!

FALL PLANT SALE DETAILS:
Date: Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018
Time: 9 a.m.-noon
Member benefits: Duke Gardens members get 10% off all purchases, plus access to the members-only previews sale from 8-9 a.m., and a full list of plants in advance! Join online or on site beginning at 7:30 a.m.
Parking: Free.
Pets not permitted. Please see Duke Gardens' pets policy here.
Wagons + boxes: Our supply is limited; please bring your own if possible, and you'll have more time to spend gathering beautiful plants.
Your support helps Duke Gardens to provide summer internships to aspiring horticulturists from across the nation.
Please see our event page for more information, and we'd love for you to spread the word by sharing the event on Facebook and inviting your friends.
Thank you!

Spring Plant Sale Preview: Hostas

Hosta 'Island Breeze'

By Annie Yang
Duke T'20
Photos by Beth Hall

Hostas come in more than 2,500 different cultivars of different shapes, colors, sizes and textures, opening up an vast range of possibilities of integrating them into your garden. They can work well grouped together as background plants, but their exciting colors also make them great ornamentals.

These perennials are low-maintenance and usually live quite long. Hostas have a reputation for being shade plants, but the brighter the leaf color, the more sun it will require. In general, hostas require watering once a week at the soil and not on the leaves. Hostas are relatively pest-free—aside from slugs and the occasional deer—and they will also attract hummingbirds to your garden. There are thousands of hosta cultivars. Here are a few that we’ll be featuring at the 2018 Spring Plant Sale on April 7.

‘Dancing Queen’ 

Hosta 'Dancing Queen'

Unlike other yellow hosta varieties, ‘Dancing Queen’ keeps the excitement going and stays bright yellow all season long. Though hosta’s foliage is usually the star of the show, the mid to late summer blooms of pale lavender flowers are nothing to ignore!

‘Stained Glass’
The glossy gold leaves and green borders of this plant may remind you of the colorful designs on large stained-glass windows. Hosta ‘Stained Glass’ grows huge leaves and large, fragrant light purple flowers in the late summer. This cultivar is also more tolerant of sun than its cousins are.

‘Island Breeze’
The yellow centers and thick green margins of ‘Island Breeze’s’ foliage evoke a sense of tropical tranquility. When grown in darker shade, the yellows will become more chartreuses. But if exposed to more light, ‘Island Breeze’ will also lighten in color. It’s visually quite similar to its cousin ‘Stained Glass’, but an observant eye will notice that the leafstalks of ‘Island Breeze’ are also tinged in red.

EVEN MORE HOSTAS! Specialty hosta grower Green Hill Farm will also be a vendor at our plant sale. See additional specialty vendors at our plant sale link below.

SPRING PLANT SALE INFO:
Date: Saturday, April 7, 2018
Time: 8 a.m.-noon
Preview sale for members: Friday, April 6, 4-6 pm.
Membership plant sale benefit: Duke Gardens members get 10% off & a full list of plants in advance! Join online or on site.
Parking: Free.
Pets not permitted
Wagons + boxes: Our supply is limited; please bring your own if possible, and you'll have more time to spend gathering beautiful plants.
Your support helps Duke Gardens to provide summer internships to aspiring horticulturists from across the nation.
Please see our event page for more information, and we'd love for you to spread the word by sharing the event on Facebook and inviting your friends.
Thank you!