We sometimes use terms or descriptions that may be unfamiliar to you. You will see these used throughout our catalogue.

Guidelines for leaf and plant size:
In each hosta description, we provide guidelines for mature leaf (LxW) and plant (Ht.x W) sizes. We provide this information to assist you in planning your garden. This data is collected from plant registration and various growers' experience. Some variance, while minimal can occur with environmental differences.

Our Growth Ratings:
We rate the growth of all of our hostas. This is a definition of multiplication rate and growth to mature plant. Our ratings are based on our growing experience, reasonable care, and environment.

• Rapid: Hostas in this category are your "best bet" for quick coverage and maturity. An excellent choice for the new grower. Depending on when you plant, you may see an additional eye in your first season. Well established plants will produce multiple new eyes per year. This is also the most "forgiving" group if you have poor soil.
• Average: A slower growing plant that may produce only 1 additional eye per year for the first couple of years. Growth should accelerate if given reasonable care and environment.
• Slow: Slow to establish. Expect only one additional eye per year for the first 3 to 5 years. Your hosta may skip the first year producing a new eye in order to establish...longer if not given reasonable care. This growth category deserves thoughtful placing and soil amendments. Given optimal conditions you can improve your growth to maturity considerably. Their true beauty is with maturity. These are good candidates for specimens that are not moved or divided. Slow to re-establish when divided.

Originator Stock:
Plants were propagated from stock purchased from the Originator. The Originator is the hybridizer or registrant of the original plant. These plants have been multiplied by division not by tissue culture techniques. A lengthy process to develop commercial volume, these are the most representative plants you can purchase. All of the hostas we market are quality plants true to the registered name. But we only use the term Originator Stock when we can positively trace our stock.

Tissue Culture:
Using micro biological techniques, tissue is taken from a plant in order to mass produce. This technique has revolutionized the hosta industry. Now varieties are available sooner and at an affordable price. There is a lengthy gleaning process involved with this technique as all produced are not valid representations of the original plant. Detailed registration data of the original plant is used to keep non-representative plants out of the market. This work is completed before the young plants are ever placed in a field or nursery operation. Not all hostas are tissue cultured. There are many on the market today that were registered over 20 years ago and probably were produced by division. Tissue culture techniques are typically used on newer varieties.

Hybrid:
A hosta developed by cross pollenation of two different varieties. Extensive hybridizing has produced many of the hostas available today. We often refer to one or both parents of a hosta in our descriptions.

Sport / Mutation:
Used interchangeably, an alteration in the hosta that has naturally occurred. Sometimes this alteration, which is usually a leaf color or variegation change, is temporary and does not repeat the second year. However, a worthy mutation that is consistent and stable is a good candidate for registration.

Unstable Variegation:
Some hostas will alter leaf color on part or all of an eye of a plant. This typically is not repeated in the second year. We note in our description if this occurs.

Spring Hosta:
A hosta with a completely different leaf color spring to summer. They usually demonstrate vivid color in the spring turning solid green early to mid-summer. Their color transition is temperature sensitive. Many of these emerge early. They work well with hostas that peak later. We note in our description if it is a Spring hosta.

Shade / Sun Tolerance:
We list shade and sun levels for all our hostas. We rate many of our hostas for Shade to 1/2 sun. All hostas will grow in deep shade. However, they will grow faster and produce more eyes if given some sun. We prefer the 1/2 sun be in the morning with the plants in shade before noon. Unfortunately, all gardens are not set up perfectly. Broken hours of sun or filtered by trees can achieve similar results. Many of the golds need some sun for best color. How much sun a variety can tolerate varies with the region, and you may need to experiment in your garden. A good place to start is noting the times of the day your garden is in full sun both spring and summer.

Southern Regions and Arid Western Regions (Zone 9) with extremely hot mid summer temperatures should consider more shade and less sun. Mid summer heat is stressful and especially if there is no relief at night. Warmer regions should also consider cooler sections of the garden, i.e. near a body of water, north side of the house, etc. Consistent watering and good soil amendments will go a long way toward success. There are some varieties that do not tolerate heat well. There are also some very good varieties available today that were bred to tolerate more heat. We try to note both in our descriptions.

We are always happy to make recommendations. Please let us know if we can help. Email hostas@singletree.com