Hosta 'Ice Cream'

This little plant came to me via a plant swap from a hosta friend at Hallson's Hosta Forum. These swaps are really fun! Usually there is an early spring trade & later a summer / fall trade. I have taken part in several of these trades in recent years. It's all secret & fun!

I am liking this bright little fellow. Gleaming blue-green leaves with irregular bright yellow margins. My plant is just in it's second year here. Next year is year #3 = Leap Year. I'm anxious to see how it's matured in spring. It has grown rapidly & so far has been care-free. / MM

"The first commercially offered plant from Richard Rossing; sport of Vanilla Cream with deep green center and gold margin; pale lavender flowers in mid-summer."

"This great new introduction is a sport of H. 'Vanilla Cream', has the same leaf shape and growth habit but the leaves have a deep green center and complimentary gold margin; pale lavender flowers."

"Dark green with a slightly rippled, yellow margin. Slightly shiny on top. Cupped. White flowers with lavender striping."

from MyHostas Database: Ice Cream

Hosta 'Cracker Crumbs'

"Looking for a new miniature hosta for that special spot in the garden or to jazz up a trough of other minis? 'Cracker Crumbs', introduced at the 2002 AHS Convention in Spokane, WA in June, has bright shiny, gold leaves with a shiny, dark margin that looks painted on. Like it's parent, 'Shiny Penny', the color becomes chartreuse, almost coppery in summer's heat. It has great substance and makes a tight, fast growing mound. Nice lavender flowers in mid-summer."
comments from My Hostas Database: 'Cracker Crumbs'

Hosta 'Cracker Crumbs' is not one of my favorites but it did get my attention last season especially in the early spring coloration. I prefer thicker substanced leaves on my hosta plants but actually Cracker Crumbs held up quite well throughout the growing season. I'd say it's an improvement over its parent plant 'Shiny Penny'. Fun in the rock garden, fun in a mini-bed, & very fun in a container or trough, and / or a strawberry pot.

Hosta 'Vanilla Cream'

Changes colors - comes out light limey-green, blends to chartreuse and finally gold (yellow). Also described - chartreuse with blends of gold & cream.
MyHostas Database: 'Vanilla Cream'

Important progeny:

Academy Flaxen Spades - hybrid
Academy Verdant Spades - hybrid
Heart and Soul - sport
Ice Cream - sport
Ladybug - hybrid
Peppermint Cream - sport
Shell Bell - sport
Wylde Green Cream - sport

Hosta 'Lemon Delight'

H- 'Lemon Delight' was a gift to my garden from my hosta friend, Jackie aka 'Hostaaddict'. Jackie is so fun & frilly just like the little hosta ' Lemon Delight'. - MM

"Introduced by leading English hosta growers Ann and Roger Bowden, this small plant is a rapid grower that displays edge variegation. The leaves of 'Lemon Delight' have dark green centers and a yellow margin, which is the reverse variegation pattern of 'Twist of Lime'. The flowers are purple. According to Grenfell, 'Lemon Delight' is a mutant of 'Lemon Lime'."
www.hostalibrary.org/l/l.html

Hosta 'Bedazzled'

Blue-green with wide yellow margins that gives a "maple leaf" appearance to the dark blue-green center. Great substance and some cupping on slightly corrugated leaves.
MyHostas Database: 'Bedazzled'

'Bedazzled' is a favorite little mini-hosta of my friend & neighbor, Trudy. She likes it so much she gave one to me just to be nice. And it is even more special as Dr. Don Dean is its introducer & also a hosta-friend of mine. "Hosta is the Friendship Plant".

Hosta 'Illicit Affair'

I admit the mystery of the name did it for me with this little plant. Not a favorite in my garden but a fun little fellow.

Hosta 'Popo'

Tiny blue-green heart shaped, cupped, thickly substanced leaves. Forms a cute mini-clump. Regarded as the finest of the dwarf blue hostas / from the garden of Russ O'Hara.

What makes the mini-hosta 'Popo' special to me? First it was a gift to me from my hosta-friend, Audra Wilson and it was given to her by Russ O'Hara her good hosta-friend. Again, "Hosta is the friendship plant". And what more is there to ask for than blue-blue color, thick (slug proof) leaves, quickly multiplies, & blooms profusely. Popo is a perfect little fellow.

Mini Hosta Bed

Mini 'Teaspoon'

Cute round green leaves that have a clearly visible serrated edge. Forms a nice round clump. A cross between 'Golden Tiara' and 'Birchwood Parky's Gold'. Nice airy light lavender flowers float above the clump at the end of June. Dense mound of round foliage; appropriately named hybrid of 'Birchwood Parky's Gold' X 'Golden Tiara' from Frank Nyikos of Indiana; good grower, making it an excellent choice as a low ground cover.
Comments - MyHostas Database: Teaspoon

Teaspoon is one of my very favorite mini / small hostas. I almost lost it to tree root invasion once. It recovered quickly once I got it moved to a safe haven in Bed #40 under our deck. It's a raised bed filled with prime compost and other nutritional Lasagna Garden layers of dried leaves, shredded newspapers, & lawn clippings. More perfect growing conditions for hostas would be difficult to discover.

I love the little round, cupped-up leaves of this plant. They are at the far end of thin, relatively long petioles (they look like teaspoons) It's a befitting name and I can easily pronounce it. I like that part. The plant forms a tight upright little mound. Teaspoons should be on every Hosta Wish List - IMHO! It's a great little plant. - MM