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Are these good? Northern Exposure, Wide Brim, Frances Williams
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Posted by linnea56 z5 IL (My Page) on Tue, Oct 27, 09 at 23:37
| At a store I frequent all the perennials are on sale. The hostas are on sale too but not marked down as much. $3.30 a gallon, a few smaller pots for $2.50. The varieties are, "Northern Exposure", Frances Williams (which I like but already bought one this year), and Wide Brim. These all look a lot alike at this young age. Are any of these exceptional and worth buying? I was hoping for something with a white center and green edges, but all of these have white edges instead.
They are all declining and turning yellow at about the same rate as the ones in my garden. I have never planted hostas this late. Is it too late for my zone 5? Chicago north suburbs. Thanks!
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Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Are these good? Northern Exposure, Wide Brim, Frances William
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| I have Frances William and Wide Brim for years and like them. I did buy Northern Exposure this year and look forward to see it when they are mature. Their pictures being mature you can see in the Hosta Library. Frances William and Northern Exposure will be large, Wide Brim small to medium. They are older cultivars but are worth it, especially at those very low prices. |
RE: Are these good? Northern Exposure, Wide Brim, Frances William
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| at that price.. every hosta is worth trying ... ken ps: was there a drip irrigation project that i recall??? how did that all work out ... |
RE: Are these good? Northern Exposure, Wide Brim, Frances William
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| Wide Brim is a fine old standard... 1979 Aden... it can actually get quite large in a happy location... its listed most often as Medium-Large. It tends to stay small, with smaller leaves, if kept in a pot or a spot with root competition. Frances Williams... though it is a classic and an old favorite, I just don't think I'd even put it in any more. It sets the standard for burning, so growing it becomes an experiment where you see if you can find just the right situation for it, then discuss each year if you had only a little burn or a totally disfiguring burn. There are just so many other hostas with big leaves on big plants with yellow margins... I just can't even justify selling FW anymore. My favorite replacement is Olive Bailey Langdon. Northern Exposure is fine... there are a whole bunch of sieboldiannas with white margins and each one was released with the description that it was an improvement on all the previous ones... I think NE does tend to be on the better-growing end of the spectrucm, though they are all slow to mature. If you have more time than money, I'd pick it up and put it somewhere where it can situate itself... given a few years it will be an attractive clump. |
RE: Are these good? Northern Exposure, Wide Brim, Frances William
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| All three are good growers for me. I have 8 Frances Williams and 10 Wide Brims. Northern Exposure is slow growing,but worth it. I have 2 of them,including this one. Phil 
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RE: Are these good? Northern Exposure, Wide Brim, Frances William
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| Wide Brim is a great hosta that has grown very well for me. My Frances Williams has also done pretty well with rarely any burn, but it is in the shade all day. The leaves seem to drawstring a little, and it's not one of my favorites. I bought it before I knew anything about hosta, but after hearing about its negatives from all the experts, I probably wouldn't get it today. Oops. I got a good laugh out of this. After I posted the photo of FW, I realized it does get some sun. Very little though.
Wide Brim
Frances Williams
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RE: Are these good? Northern Exposure, Wide Brim, Frances Willia
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| I forgot to answer the question about planting at this time. I've planted hosta on November 1 in a snow storm here in Minneapolis. It's probably not the greatest idea, but it worked just fine. I wouldn't plant an expensive one this late, but at the prices you found, I'd go for it. |
RE: Are these good? Northern Exposure, Wide Brim, Frances William
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| That Wide Brim photo is beautiful...mine doesn't look nearly that pretty. |
RE: Are these good? Northern Exposure, Wide Brim, Frances William
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| I have two Northern Exposures and I really like the hosta. One is in early morning sun and high filtered light. The other gets quite a bit of afternoon sun. The one with the afternoon sun is bigger but its margins get much lighter. 
I have three Frances Williams and am not really happy with them. If they burn (and they usually do) they are unsightly. I should relocate them. . but then that would take away from my time of planting more hostas. . hahaha
This picture was taken in early May. 
I looked for a picture of Wide Brim but must have passed over taking his picture this year. My gardening season and picture taking was cut a bit short this year with family obligations. Life has a way of messing with a gardener sometimes. . .I really like Wide Brim. .he's a keeper for me.
The prices sound good. . go for it! |
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