Often is heard the exclamations of astonishment when novice buyers first see the prices asked for some of the newest hosta varieties. Most hosta are priced between $10.00 and $20.00 and that is fine—but when the prices edges into the $50.00-$100.00 range, people tend to take notice. There are, after all, budgets to consider.
And what on earth makes these plants—often represented by only a few, immature leaves—worth that kind of money??? Remember that Patriot, when introduced was offered at $800.00! Today, it is priced at $10.00. Such is the nature of supply and demand.
Twenty years ago, it was common and accepted that all introductory new varieties were priced in the stratosphere . . . . . and that they would stay there for several years. In those days, hosta were reproduced by root division and root division only. No seeds, as a rule, since the hybrids don’t come true from seed. Vegetative propagation can be and usually is, a very slow process. And thus, it took years—literally—to produce enough plants to meet market demand. And this is how new hosta came to market, slowly and tediously. Gardeners were forced to pay the highest of prices in order to obtain the newest varieties. The laborious dividing of plants each year resulted in relatively few divisions.
Perhaps, at this point, a quick tutorial on how plants “go forth and multiply” is in order. The technique of vegetative propagation is, quite simply, the physical division of a plant that creates two or more new plants. Taking cuttings—stem or leaf or root—is also considered in this category. Those methods are faster, because you get more young plants from the mother plant. But, still, rather slow. “Sports”, the term used to describe the spontaneous changes that occur in self-seeded young plants, can represent unique colors and forms. But it usually takes years to accurately evaluate the stability and thus, the quality of these new plants.
But, now in the 21st century, hosta reproduction, as we know it, has changed. In the laboratory, of course. The tissue culture lab. When, in the last decade, tissue culture labs began to emerge into mainstream horticulture, they made new plants quickly available—and relatively cheaply. With the development of tissue culture techniques, grower/scientists are able to take a growing tip, take hundreds of microscopic pieces from it and grow them in a laboratory until they are ready to plant. Plant in the nursery, that is—not by the home gardener.
For a perspective: the paper container that McDonald’s uses to hold a Big Mac holds over 200 new hostas when they arrive here at the nursery. They are extremely tiny and expensive. Each of these plants may cost as much as $8.00!.
After they arrive here, these 200 baby plants are then carefully and slowly transplanted into small growing cells (approximately 1" square), where they are grown in a greenhouse, being carefully watered and fertilized, for many weeks. As the plants get larger, they are gradually transplanted into larger cells. A baby hosta may well be transplanted into successively larger containers 3 times before the plant is ready to be offered for sale. Some varieties grow more slowly than others. The tokudamas, for example, are genetically programmed to grow slowly. These, then, will stay in the greenhouse, needing nurturing, for much longer than a fast growing lancifolia.
Despite the relatively long time needed to bring a new hosta to market, these months are still far less than before when years were the measure. Today, several months, perhaps a year, will elapse before the tiny transplant received here by the growers goes home with you, strong and healthy and old enough to thrive in your garden and be ready for the upcoming winter.
Hybridizers from America and countries all over the world work carefully to breed new and exciting hosta. We are seeing new variegations that include streaking and striping—even new flower colors. They are now able to patent new plant varieties and thus, to earn royalties for their work. While this ensures a continuing stream of new plants with unusual color, texture and stature, we are quite certain that prices will rise, as well. Yet, we believe that the extraordinary amount of time, work and passion that is demanded of hybridizers must be rewarded.
In short, the plants are worth it!