Please help in identifying these hostas: Both were purchased at a nursery. The blue one was purchased as T-Rex and the lighter one with dark edges was purchased as Titanic. Neither look the way they are supposed to so I believe they were both mislabeled. Please help ID if you can. I realize it is difficult. The blue one looks similar to Abiqua Drinking Gourd. The lighter one seems to be some sort of a sport of Sum and Substance--large leaves, dappled green margins with lighter center. Perhaps the full sun conditions are making it look different then a regular hosta Titanic grown in the shade? Ideas? Earphones on the plant is for scale--it was all I had when photographing.
I am going to guess that 1 and 3 are variants of fortunei and 2 is a variant of Sum & Substance (the waffle pattern on the secopnd one is a characteristic of Sum & Substance.)
I was told on another forum that 1 & 3 (which are the same plants) is Hosta Beckoning. I was told the blue one in the center is Hosta Big Daddy.
My mistake - the waffle pattern is very definitely Big Daddy. As for the other, I am always curious to try to unearth the primary species used to create a cultivar. How did they justify the selection of Hosta Beckoning - it does not have the characteristic leaf variegation?
No idea. . .thread here: http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/hosta/msg0613381218720.html?17 It seems to have the leaf quality of a blue. . .very thick leaves--unlike Sum and Substance sports. It really is pretty and large. . .seems to get better as time goes on. . .until the heat of the summer hits it. . .lol
I am guessing it is related to Sum & Substance. As you say, thick leaves with a distinct undulation and grooved veins (minus the waffle). Steve's posting at the above site also illustrates variegation...believe this is a cultivar characteristic.
Sorry, are you saying it is or is not related to Sum and Substance? As I said the leaves are very thick. . .almost thicker then the heavy blues, and much heavier as well. I think beckoning is a sport of Blue Angel is it not? I still think it is a hybrid between some blue and perhaps S & S. Either way I really like it. . .just hope it gets larger then 6 feet across.
I am by no means a Hosta expert - we have only four in our database. That said, yes, I believe it is related to Sum & Substance - looks more like a relative of that than fortunei. If I were to take another guess, it would be that Sum & Substance and Big Daddy are related too - a slight variation in leaf color and venation could easily make them distant cousins from the same parental stock. Enjoy. They really are lovely and are lucky to have a very fine care-taker.