Sylvia,
Its not the sandy soil that hostas don't like - its the fact that they need
a lot of water.  So - sandy soil drains quickly and you must give them more
water.  The clay soil holds the water around the plant.  Kay Goguen

-----Original Message-----
From: Conchologists of America List [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
Behalf Of Lynn Scheu
Sent: Sunday, January 16, 2000 6:12 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: images + Jenny Cline


"Sylvia S. Edwards" wrote:
>
> Hostas thrive here in North Alabama.  They will really grow in shady
areas -
> one of the few things that like the shade.  Ours get very tall, not just a
> ground cover, and bloom (the flowers aren't particularly pretty, though).
> The foliage is spectacular, especially in the variegated variety.  I
believe
> they are in the lily family and started from a small bulb.  But they
> multiply profusely.  We keep dividing them and now have them all over our
> yard.  They are tolerant of some sun, but not a lot.  No reason you could
> not grow them in Florida as long as it is in the shade.
>
> Sylvia S. Edwards
Sylvia,

A COA friend planted some hostas at her house in Jacksonville Beach on
my recommendation for shady areas. Well, they didn't thrive. In fact
they soon died off. I think they do not like sandy soil. Everywhere I
have them, and I have a lot, they are in heavy clay. You live on clay
too, don't you? They are equipped to get what they need from soil, no
matter how heavy or root bound. So loose open, quickdraining sandy soil
which loses fertility very fast could be a problem.

Thanks, Bob Dayle, for getting us a message from Captain! Jenny Cline.
What a time she must have had in Honduras. Can't wait to hear the
details...a pity she didn't get to do a ton of shelling!

Lynn Scheu
Louisville, KY
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> Huntsville, Alabama
> [log in to unmask]
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Richard Sedlak" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Saturday, January 15, 2000 2:29 PM
> Subject: Re: [CONCH-L] images & Fancy Website Construction.
>
> > Hi Peggy....
> >
> > A hosta is a very popular shade/"ground cover" plant for northern
gardens.
> > They have big bold leaves in many textures, patterns and
variegations..and
> > they do flower.  Our Florida equivalent would be perhaps the Ti plants
> > (cordyline) or the Peace Lily
> >
> > Happy Shelling,
> >
> > Richard Sedlak
> >