STREAKED HOSTA!
SKU: 251-010
Description
There are no Hostas that come true to variety from seed. This is why seed companies do not offer hosta seeds for sale. This is true of ALL hosta seeds. In fact, most hosta seeds rarely produce variegated color at all, and mainly produce single-colored seedlings. The only exception is streaked hostas, which are 'unstable' (haven't settled on a pattern yet) and therefore can produce offspring with variegated color! The majority of seedlings will still grow to be solid colored, and about 25% will be variegated, though this can vary widely. To clarify, variegated seedlings are those with a leaf-rim that is a different color than the center of the leaf. The rim can be darker or lighter than the center, ie a blue leaf with a yellow rim, or a golden leaf with a green rim. These seeds are taken from large streaked hostas with thick, sturdy leaves, so will produce large plants. The streaking on this plant is generally golden early in the season, and lightens to creamy white later on. The leaves show blue and green streaking. Resulting seedlings can be any number of color combinations, and are each unique plants. Even the solid-colored plants that result can be each it's own unique tone/color. Feel free to ask if you have any questions, as growing seeds from variegated hostas is a unique thing!
Type: Perennial
Location: part or part sun
Hardiness zones: 3-8
Bloom time: Mid summer to late summer
Safe: Considered safe, non-toxic to children and people! This is our research, though we still suggest you confirm this yourself.
Seed size: Hosta seeds are long, flat and black. Hosta seeds are a bit like a maple seed, or "key". There is a slightly bigger end which is the fertile seed, and there is a "wing", which allows it to blow, and catch the wind. Some hosta seeds will have broken wings, though this will not affect the ability of the fertile end of the seed to grow. Be sure to view our seed images. The seeds are interesting!
Seeds per pack: 10
Germination: As with many perennial seeds, these seeds benefit from a period of moist cold to help them begin to grow. This is done by giving them a cold 'winter' period (artificial or natural), and then a warming to simulate 'spring', and time to grow! Here's how this can be done:
Obtain a planting container that has holes in the bottom for excess water to drain. Place the seeds just under the surface of your growing medium, and water. Place your container in a cold area (but not freezing, perhaps a refrigerator) for 4-6 weeks. Once the cold period is completed, place the container at room temperature for them to germinate. Be sure to keep the soil moist during this entire germination period. Seedlings will sprout a few weeks, or occasionally several months, after the warming period. We have grown these seeds ourselves using this refrigeration method, with high germination results.
Another option if you are planting your seeds in late winter or spring, these seeds can be planted outdoors while it is still cool out (once the ground is workable and unfrozen), to receive the cold period naturally in the garden.
One interesting thing about Hosta plants, is that they will keep growing as long as they have light. This means, that if you want to speed-up hosta growth during the growing season, artificial lighting (increasing the day length) can help you get your hosta plants bigger, faster! Be sure to allow you plants to acclimatize back to regular lighting later in the season (and plant them in the ground), so they will go dormant in the winter.
Description
There are no Hostas that come true to variety from seed. This is why seed companies do not offer hosta seeds for sale. This is true of ALL hosta seeds. In fact, most hosta seeds rarely produce variegated color at all, and mainly produce single-colored seedlings. The only exception is streaked hostas, which are 'unstable' (haven't settled on a pattern yet) and therefore can produce offspring with variegated color! The majority of seedlings will still grow to be solid colored, and about 25% will be variegated, though this can vary widely. To clarify, variegated seedlings are those with a leaf-rim that is a different color than the center of the leaf. The rim can be darker or lighter than the center, ie a blue leaf with a yellow rim, or a golden leaf with a green rim. These seeds are taken from large streaked hostas with thick, sturdy leaves, so will produce large plants. The streaking on this plant is generally golden early in the season, and lightens to creamy white later on. The leaves show blue and green streaking. Resulting seedlings can be any number of color combinations, and are each unique plants. Even the solid-colored plants that result can be each it's own unique tone/color. Feel free to ask if you have any questions, as growing seeds from variegated hostas is a unique thing!
Type: Perennial
Location: part or part sun
Hardiness zones: 3-8
Bloom time: Mid summer to late summer
Safe: Considered safe, non-toxic to children and people! This is our research, though we still suggest you confirm this yourself.
Seed size: Hosta seeds are long, flat and black. Hosta seeds are a bit like a maple seed, or "key". There is a slightly bigger end which is the fertile seed, and there is a "wing", which allows it to blow, and catch the wind. Some hosta seeds will have broken wings, though this will not affect the ability of the fertile end of the seed to grow. Be sure to view our seed images. The seeds are interesting!
Seeds per pack: 10
Germination: As with many perennial seeds, these seeds benefit from a period of moist cold to help them begin to grow. This is done by giving them a cold 'winter' period (artificial or natural), and then a warming to simulate 'spring', and time to grow! Here's how this can be done:
Obtain a planting container that has holes in the bottom for excess water to drain. Place the seeds just under the surface of your growing medium, and water. Place your container in a cold area (but not freezing, perhaps a refrigerator) for 4-6 weeks. Once the cold period is completed, place the container at room temperature for them to germinate. Be sure to keep the soil moist during this entire germination period. Seedlings will sprout a few weeks, or occasionally several months, after the warming period. We have grown these seeds ourselves using this refrigeration method, with high germination results.
Another option if you are planting your seeds in late winter or spring, these seeds can be planted outdoors while it is still cool out (once the ground is workable and unfrozen), to receive the cold period naturally in the garden.
One interesting thing about Hosta plants, is that they will keep growing as long as they have light. This means, that if you want to speed-up hosta growth during the growing season, artificial lighting (increasing the day length) can help you get your hosta plants bigger, faster! Be sure to allow you plants to acclimatize back to regular lighting later in the season (and plant them in the ground), so they will go dormant in the winter.
