1999 HOSTA VARIETY DEMONSTRATION RESULTS
City of Tyler, Cooperator
BY: Keith C. Hansen, County Extension Agent-Horticulture
Tyler, Texas Smith County Precinct 4

SUMMARY:

A hosta variety trial was established in 1997 within the Tyler Rose Garden with 22 varieties; 14 varieties were added in 1998, and 4 in 1999. Hostas, like many perennial ornamental plants, it takes several growing seasons for plants to become established and show their potentials and limitations. Several varieties, however have performed well all three years and could be recommended for East Texas landscapes.

PROBLEM:

There is a need for landscape plants adapted to shaded conditions as trees in urban areas mature and cast increasing amounts of shade. Hostas are attractive warm-season perennials adapted to shady locations. There are several species and hundreds of varieties with varying characteristics including plant and leaf size, leaf color, leaf variegation, flower color, fragrance, season of bloom, resistance to sun scorch, and degree of pest resistance. Most nurseries offer only a few varieties to the consumer, who are generally unfamiliar with this plant. There is also a general perception among those familiar with hostas that they are not adapted to Texas growing conditions.

OBJECTIVES:

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

In May, 1997, the following hostas (three each unless otherwise noted in parentheses) were planted at the Tyler Rose Garden: 'Patriot', 'Invincible', 'Francee', 'Great Expectations', 'September Sun', 'Sugar and Cream', 'Aphrodite', 'Blue Cadet', H. montana 'Aureo Marginata', 'Emerald Tierra', 'So Sweet', 'Colossal', and 'Blue Angel' (Tawakoni Plant Farm in Wills Point, Texas); and 'Elegans' (2), 'Hyacintha', 'Sun Power' (2), 'Albo Marginata' (6), 'Undulata' (5), 'Royal Standard' (2), 'Lancifolia' (6), 'Gold Standard', and H. fortunei 'Aureo Marginata' (Whitehouse Gardens in Whitehouse, Texas).

On June 25, 1998 three each of the following hostas were planted in the same area: 'Honeybells', 'Grand Tierra', 'Krossa Regal', 'Big Daddy', 'Halcyon', 'Fragrant Bouquet', 'Sum and Substance', 'Daybreak', 'Hadspen Heron', 'Bold Ribbons', 'Summer Music', 'Resonance' (Tawakoni Plant Farm); 'Shade Fanfare', 'Gold Edger' (Whitehouse Gardens). Also, a few of the 1997 varieties which either had only 2 original plants or had lost one of the three original plants were brought back up to three of each variety - 'Invincible', 'Sun Power', 'Great Expectations' and 'Royal Standard'. The following were planted May 6, 1999: 'Guacamole', 'Sagae', 'Fried Green Tomatoes' and 'Temple Bells' (Tawakoni Plant Farm).

The bed, amended with sand and aged pine bark, is located under a mixed canopy of pine, oak and blackgum on the southern side of the Tyler Rose Garden. The plants were treated, as needed, with Deadline to control slugs, snails and pillbugs.

RESULTS:

Second- and third-year hostas were evaluated every 6 weeks beginning on May 6; first-year hostas were not evaluated. Smith County Master Gardeners evaluated the hostas on four dates (5/6, 6/17, 8/5, 9/23) and were asked to judge overall attractiveness. Hostas were assigned a number from 1 -10 with 10 being the best, and 1 being the worst (almost dead). Evaluation was based on the qualities of individual varieties (rather than comparing varieties with one another). General qualities included appearance, fullness, compactness, flowering and pest damage. Since this data is considered preliminary, it was not statistically analyzed and is offered only to give a general indication of the performance of the varieties during the initial establishment phase.

Eleven varieties averaged over the 4 evaluation dates a rank of 7.5 or above (see Table 1): 'So Sweet', 'Sugar & Cream', 'Blue Angel', 'Blue Cadet', 'Royal Standard', 'Francee', 'Patriot', 'Albo Marginata', 'September Sun', 'Lancifolia', and 'Elegans'. Only five ranked 9.0 or higher: 'So Sweet', 'Sugar & Cream', 'Blue Angel', 'Blue Cadet', and 'Royal Standard'.

Those which looked the best on the first evaluation date included the top 5 plus 'Albo-Marginata', which declined somewhat in appearance after August.

Some hostas were very slow to emerge from dormancy. 'Francee' and 'Patriot', though ranked in the top 11, had not emerged on the first evaluation date (5/6).

Table 1. 1999 Hosta Variety Evaluation

NAME
 5/6 6/17 8/5 9/23 Avg. Attractiveness
(5/6-9/23)
So Sweet 10 10 10 9 9.8
Sugar & Cream 10 10 10 9 9.8
Blue Angel 10 10 10 8 9.5
Blue Cadet 10 10 8 9 9.3
Royal Standard 9 10 10 7 9.0
Francee * 9 8.5 9 8.8
Patriot * 9 9 6.5 8.2
Albo-Marginata 10 9 7 6 8.0
September Sun * 9 8 7 8.0
Lancifolia 6 9 8 7 7.5
Elegans 7 8 8 7 7.5
H. fortunei 'Aureo Marginata' * 7 7.5 7 7.2
Gold Standard * 8 8 5 7.0
Undulata 6 7 8 6 6.8
Fragrant Bouquet 5 8 8 6 6.8
Colossal * 10 6 4 6.7
Honeybells 7 8 6 5 6.5
Resonance 3 10 8 5 6.5
Aphrodite 8 8 4 5 6.3
Shade Fanfare 8 9 4 3 6.0
Great Expectations * 6 9 3 6.0
Grand Tiara 8 7 6 3 6.0
Bold Ribbon 8 7 4.5 3 5.6
Gold Edger 7 6 5 2 5.0
Emerald Tiera 7 7 4 1 4.8
Big Daddy * 4 4 6 4.7
Halcyon * 5 3 6 4.7
Sun Power 5 6 5 2 4.5
Invincible 6 8 3 1 4.5
Summer Music 4 5 4 4 4.3
Hadspen Heron 2 5 6 3 4.0
Sum & Substance * 4 5 3 4.0
Krossa Regal 3 5 3 1 3.0
H. montana 'Aureo Marginata' 5 4 1 1 2.8
Daybreak * 3 2 1 2.0
Hyacintha * 1 1 1.0

*missing data due to late emergence or plant death
Master Gardeners were asked to rank each variety from 1 to 10, with 1 = worst/almost dead, and 10 = outstanding in every way.

It is anticipated that many of these ratings may still shift over the next few years as the plants become fully established. Weaker, less adapted varieties will tend to decrease in vigor or die, while strong varieties will become well established. Once overall attractiveness of the trial varieties has been firmly established, the trial in future years will shift to determining slug/snail/pillbug resistance, if any.

ECONOMIC ANALYSIS:

Hostas are one of the most popular perennials for landscaping shady areas in the northeastern US. There are hundreds of varieties on the market, many with outstanding leaf color. There is a perception that hostas are not well-adapted to Texas, and that they are readily decimated by slugs and snails. This hosta variety trial was established to evaluate varieties both commonly grown and newer or lesser known varieties with attractive foliage. Growers can use this information to grow and offer varieties which exhibit the most outstanding characteristics in the landscape. Growers can also avoid growing late-emerging varieties which might miss the prime sales window in spring and concentrate on the vigorous and early-emerging varieties. Once superior hosta varieties are identified, growers and retailers can stock proven performers to the consumer.

CONCLUSION:

It appears that there are several hosta varieties with very good potential for shady sites in northeast Texas. It remains to be seen how they will do in the long term and which varieties prove to have higher levels of resistance to slugs, snails and pillbugs. This trial will be continued for several more years.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:

City of Tyler, Cooperator
Keith Mills - Tyler Rose Garden Center
Smith County Master Gardeners
Tawakoni Plant Farm, Provided Hostas
Whitehouse Gardens, Provided Hostas
ESTES, Inc., Provided Deadline

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