To be eligible for inclusion in The Designer Hosta™ Collection, each variety must demonstrate the following characteristics:
- Have a distinctive* garden presence
- Exhibit exemplary garden performance
- Have a long season of appeal in the landscape
- Foliage must be of good substance
- Demonstrate a greater resistance to common garden pests
*Distinctive = Attractively unique in one or more of the following traits: leaf color, variegation pattern, size, landscape clump form, substance or texture of leaves, aesthetically pleasing long-lasting flowers.
With the incredible number of hosta varieties that are available today, it can be difficult to discern which will perform best in our own landscapes. While some of this comes with trial and error, much of the guesswork has been taken out of the equation with the advent of The Designer Hosta™ Collection.
Designer Hosta™ candidates are tested and selected by a group of specialty hosta growers from six regions of the US. Together, these growers have a combined total of over 150 years of hosta growing experience. Spanning hardiness zones 4-7, the testing sites include:
- Eastern Minnesota
- Western Michigan
- Central Connecticut
- Central Missouri
- Northwestern Washington
- Central Georgia
Designer Hosta™ candidates are overwintered and evaluated in each of the six testing sites for a minimum of two growing seasons based on the list of criteria above. They are compared to all other cultivars known to the specialty hosta growers, which often number 500 or more. Only those cultivars that perform superbly in all six of the testing sites nationwide may become a member of the exclusive Designer Hosta™ Collection.
What does this mean for you? Peace of mind. You can be confident that Designer Hostas™ will deliver an exemplary performance with little effort on your behalf. Just be sure to plant them in the right place to start: a shaded spot with average, well-drained soil.