Winter browsing

What better way of spending these cold, dark winter evenings than by sitting beside the fire curled up on the sofa with a pile of the latest hosta and daylily catalogues to browse through? We have an eclectic range of nurseries, all members of the British Hosta and Hemerocallis Society, from which to choose our 2012 "must haves".

Some nurseries offer more traditional selections, listing tried and tested good garden plants, whilst others offer some of the most 'cutting edge' varieties many of which have only recently reached the United Kingdom and been trialled by the growers for the suitability for our maritime climate. Be assured there will be enough of interest to excite the most ardent collector as well as those who just wish have more balanced gardens but none the less have a great love for our two plants.

Make sure you don't miss out by checking our list of suppliers.

Plant Profile

Continuing our new series, Robert Grant-Downton writes about a fairly new daylily, Hemerocallis 'Aliquippa'.

Robert writes: Hemerocallis 'Aliquippa' (J. Baxter 2004) is one of the many wonderful daylilies derived from Fran Harding's superlative 'Forestlake Ragamuffin'.

More ....

As this series develops, earlier entries will be added to the archive

If you have a favourite hosta or hemerocallis and would like to share it with visitors to this site, please contact us

 

Winter care for hostas

Out of sight but not, hopefully out of mind, hostas in the United Kingdom usually come through the winter unscathed since we don't experience the 'freeze-thaw' heaving out of the ground conditions suffered by plants in severe continental climates.

Hostas are generally thoroughly frost-hardy so if a natural approach to the garden in winter is your choice then the seed heads provide some interest in the colder months. If a neat and tidy approach is preferred then remove the desiccating leaves and stems which can create a winter habitat for slugs and snails.

Very small and miniature hostas do, however, require somewhat more care. An established clump planted in a border will come to no harm but new acquisitions of little hostas which are growing in pots are better off in an unheated greenhouse. Until their root system has matured, and this applies particularly to tiny hostas with leaves having a central variegation such as H. venusta 'Crater's Rim', they can be vulnerable to cold, wet winter weather conditions so they need protection and only occasionally need a drop of water.

 

Looking for a photo?

Follow the links for the list of Hemerocallis photos and the list of Hosta photos.

What's on

See the calendar for details.