H. 'Paradise Island'

No self-respecting, penny-pinching, pension-collecting Dutchman can resist a sale. Particularly when it's an end-of-season twofer sale on perennials at one of his favourite local nurseries. This is one of six Hostas that came home that fateful day, October 17th, 2009. Yes, I know, it looks a little worse for wear, but what do you expect this time of year...

This cultivar comes out of 'Fire Island'. Like 'Fire Island' it is quite bright yellow in the spring and with the green edge to it's leaves I suspect they will compliment each other quite nicely. There were 2 decent sized shoots in the pot when I purchased it, so even though it is late in the season I did divide them, planted one next to a 'Fire Island' in the yard and the other was potted up to overwinter.

We're now on 24 April 2011 and this is the remaining one of the 2 divisions, the one planted in the yard succumbed to slug damage but as you see this one's doing just fine. Like the parent 'Fire Island', it is nice, bright yellow when it emerges and the thin green edge gives it that extra bit of interest.

The plant grew so well over the course of the year that I decided to divide it late July. Here are the 3 divisions in the middle of August, 2 singles and one double shoot. Although almost impossible to see the scape in this shot, the largest division was actually in bloom by early September.

While there is the obvious evidence of withered first flush leaves, I believe one of the reasons for the plant having done so well is that it spent the season in full sun. Next year I'll put one of them, along with a 'Fire Island', in a location with less direct sun exposure and we'll see how it fares in terms of both growth as well as colouration later in the season. For the sake of maximum growth I'll still keep one or more in full sun though.