Ginsu Knife

Ginsu Knife is a really nice looking and unique hosta.  With its tight, wavy edge and graceful blade-like leaves it’s special and isn’t going to get confused for anything else in your garden.  This is the second season for mine (in my garden) and it seemed to have safely made it though the winter/spring vole attacks despite the fact that almost every other hosta in the bed where it was previously was ravaged.  It’s since been moved to a more visible spot in the Berry garden where we can see it from the fireplace. 

Ginsu Knife is a hybrid of Hosta ‘Iron Gate Supreme’ and Hosta ‘Green Fountain’ that was registered in 2002 by Bob Solberg of Green Hill Hosta.  I believe that I got my Ginsu Knife in 2007 from Naylor Creek Nursery.

Go get one.  You know you want it.

Green Eyes

Here is one of my favorite hosta – Hosta ‘Green Eyes’.  How on earth can this be one of my favorite hostas when I can barely find it in the yard?  I don’t know but it is whenever I’m lucky enough to catch a glimpse of it.  Green Eyes was in the concrete garden that had been overrun by tree roots.  I moved some things around today and closed the concrete garden down so Green Eyes is in a new spot, growing in a bed full of vole deterrent.

On my first website, I described Green Eyes as a pointy, dangly mop.  It still is.  Love it.  Green Eyes is a Kabitan hybrid that has a brilliant chartreuse/gold leaf with a bit of a deep green edge.  I purchased mine in 2006 from Hostas Direct.  From 2006 (first pic) and 2007 (second pic):

Gold Standard

Hosta ‘Gold Standard’ is one of the most beautiful hosta you can find and – lucky you – it’s easy to find!  Gold Standard is a medium to large sized gold plant with a green edge.  The color can vary depending on how much sun your plant is in and can turn almost white in too much sun.  Sadly, the hosta in my photo was damaged and is now less than half the size but within a few years it should be back to normal. 

BEWARE!  Gold Standard is commonly affected with HVX, a virus for which there is no cure.  Don’t shop for Gold Standard (or any other hosta) at home improvement stores!  Stick to hosta specialists when purchasing your plants. 

Golden Scepter

I really like this little plant but I think it’s missing in my garden this year.  Hosta ‘Golden Scepter’ is a small sized gold sport of Hosta ‘Grand Tiara’ that I purchased in 2005 from Bridgewood Gardens.  My biggest problem is I don’t remember where I planted it!  Crap.  It might be in the concrete garden… This photo is from 2005:

Grand Tiara

Hosta ‘Grand Tiara’ is a brilliant and lovely, medium sized gold and green plant.  She’s a fast grower and will hopefully continue to increase even in my sandy, dry soil.  The color is just … wow … with the gold edge practically overpowering the green leaf center.   I bought this plant in 2007 from Naylor Creek Nursery and haven’t been disappointed for one day.  This plant had always been on my must have lists but was always culled in favor of other plants. 

Want to knock your neighbor’s socks off?  Plant a herd of them!

This photo is from May of 08, only the second season in the ground: