Hostas

What Hostas seem to do well in Texas, specifically Houston area? Where did you buy/order yours from?

I haven't been able to get ANY hosta to grow here. Someone else may have had better luck, but the high heat and humidity of mid summer do mine in every time. I've given up on these.

Crow,

Won't they do well under the shade of trees?

If not I sure appreciate this input before I waste money and time!

Hi Tir,

Well, I am about to try with a "heat tolerant" variety that I got on the Hosta Co-Op. Got my box yesterday, so we shall see. It is Guacamole. Of the sites that I have read that talk about ones that might potentially work here, this one is almost always mentioned.

Here is the link:

http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/2908/index.html

I know that the ones at the garden centers here locally don't seem to work. They do okay until it actually gets hot and then they suffer terribly.

Darn, that's what I was afraid of:

I got a couple at the local garden center and put them under my tree just a few weeks ago. They are Hosta Fortunei Hyacinthia. Keeping my fingers crossed that the tree will keep them shady and cool enough.

My trees don't shade to well. They have the "star tree" leaf talked about in Land Before Time, have those nasty hard pokey balls it drops. Anyone know the name of this tree? They are pretty---and provide shade without killing the grass below.

Hey, I just ran across this on a nursery website and it says "If you like HOSTAS, but live in a warmer zone, these are for you! Large deeply veined foliage offering fragrant white flowers. Best suited in a partial shady are with no direct sun. Ideally suited to underplantings of trees and shrubs, mass planting in shaded corners (partial shade). Suited to the warm climates, and is known to go dormant in cooler zones. Larger leaves with a long leaf stem up to 18" long and a broad deep green leaf 10" long. Pure white flowers are 2" wide each with up to 18 flowers in a cluster on the tall 30" stalks."

Here's the DG listing:
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/2754/index.html

Here's the nursery website:
http://buried-treasure.net/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=33&products_id=347

I have a friend here in Houston who has some hostas that do very well for her. I'll find out what kind they are, Aimee.

It could be Sweetgum tree, Liquidambar styraciflua
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/1033/index.html
It is a Texas Native with beautiful Fall color.

Ah yes sweetgum....my realtor said he wasn't sure but growing up they called it the gumball tree. HA! To bad so many in the area. I prefer red maples but no where left to plant one.

marylyn, do find out please, thank you!

digi, thx for the links!

digigirl -- I just saw those the other day. I think I might have to have a couple, just to try them. Certainly would be great for my shadier parts.