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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Found an alternative to hosta in the most unlikely of places.
Confession: I am not a fan of Hosta.
I know, I know. Everyone looooooves Hosta. I don't. I guess because we had a huge amount of it as kids. Along with Pachysandra, which I also dislike.
So I was looking for an alternative, a shade-tolerant plant for the west side of my house. And I found one. Growing on my own front lawn! 
Lily of the Valley
I saw the tiny little flowers come up yesterday and thought, noooo it can't be. Yup, it is! The clump of leaves are so similar, I just thought it was a small-leaved hosta and was planning on digging it up and giving it to my sisters and Mom. SO glad I didn't do that.
Apparently, it's poisonous to cats though. We don't have any so I don't have much to worry about there. Oh and the flowers are fragrant too! 
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Posted 5/13/08 8:05 AM  |
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Lisa
I'm a PANK!!!
Member since 5/05 22334 total posts
Name:
Professional Aunts No Kids
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Re: Found an alternative to hosta in the most unlikely of places.
its beautiful but it spreads like wildfire and will take over a garden with other plants
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| Posted 5/13/08 8:21 AM |
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rkoenke
my little piggys
Member since 3/08 4315 total posts
Name:
rachel
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Re: Found an alternative to hosta in the most unlikely of places.
i HATE hosta too! Didn't know they were poisonous to cats. I have a cat but she doesn't go on that side of the house.
I have one stinkin' plant left. I thought i ripped the whole thing out last year, lo-and-behold, here it came up again!
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| Posted 5/13/08 8:38 AM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: Found an alternative to hosta in the most unlikely of places.
Posted by Lisa
its beautiful but it spreads like wildfire and will take over a garden with other plants
Holy crap. And here, I thought I was in the know about invasives. I just read that on the GardenWeb forum and how they can become a huge problem.
I guess I'll keep looking and keep an eye on the ones I have. 
Thanks Lisa, really glad you said that.
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| Posted 5/13/08 9:02 AM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: Found an alternative to hosta in the most unlikely of places.
Posted by rkoenke
i HATE hosta too! Didn't know they were poisonous to cats. I have a cat but she doesn't go on that side of the house.
I have one stinkin' plant left. I thought i ripped the whole thing out last year, lo-and-behold, here it came up again!
Glad I'm not alone. 
I meant that Lily of the Valley is poisonous to cats, not Hosta. 
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| Posted 5/13/08 9:02 AM |
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Chrisnamy
Summer is coming soon
Member since 1/07 3991 total posts
Name:
Amy
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Re: Found an alternative to hosta in the most unlikely of places.
I love Lilly of the valley also. The smell wonderful. My Mother handed me down some (hard to find) Pink Lilly of the valley.
another alternative to Hosta's are Fern's.
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| Posted 5/13/08 3:21 PM |
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HLT407
So lucky
Member since 11/07 1910 total posts
Name:
Heather
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Re: Found an alternative to hosta in the most unlikely of places.
What about lariape?
They don't spread like Lily of the Valley & are shade tolerant.
HTH!
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| Posted 5/13/08 9:26 PM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: Found an alternative to hosta in the most unlikely of places.
I forgot about lariope!! I wanted to put that in between my daylilies so when the flowers stop and the leaves start to look crummy, the lariope can take over.
I also want to plant this in my shaded areas:
Japanese Forest Grass
Isn't it purty??
And yes, ferns are on the list too. I have to get out there and get to work.
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| Posted 5/14/08 7:32 AM |
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rkoenke
my little piggys
Member since 3/08 4315 total posts
Name:
rachel
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Re: Found an alternative to hosta in the most unlikely of places.
where would you get that japanese grass?
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| Posted 5/14/08 7:49 AM |
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smdl
I love Gary too..on a plate!
Member since 5/06 32461 total posts
Name:
me
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Re: Found an alternative to hosta in the most unlikely of places.
Posted by Lisa
its beautiful but it spreads like wildfire and will take over a garden with other plants
I was going to say the same thing. And I love Lily of the Valley.
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| Posted 5/14/08 7:52 AM |
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smdl
I love Gary too..on a plate!
Member since 5/06 32461 total posts
Name:
me
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Re: Found an alternative to hosta in the most unlikely of places.
Posted by HLT407
What about lariape?
IMAGE
They don't spread like Lily of the Valley & are shade tolerant.
HTH!
Yes, the lariope (also called lilyturf). I love the variegated version.
I am looking for those actually.
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| Posted 5/14/08 7:53 AM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: Found an alternative to hosta in the most unlikely of places.
Posted by rkoenke
where would you get that japanese grass?
I used to shop at Dee's in Oceanside and they had it every year. But now that I'm out in Suffolk, I haven't shopped around much.
If I can't find it, I'll order it online. It's pretty resilient from what I hear but requires shade. All I had was full sun at the old place so I couldn't grow it.
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| Posted 5/14/08 7:58 AM |
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smdl
I love Gary too..on a plate!
Member since 5/06 32461 total posts
Name:
me
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Re: Found an alternative to hosta in the most unlikely of places.
Posted by greenfreak
Posted by rkoenke
where would you get that japanese grass?
I used to shop at Dee's in Oceanside and they had it every year. But now that I'm out in Suffolk, I haven't shopped around much.
If I can't find it, I'll order it online. It's pretty resilient from what I hear but requires shade. All I had was full sun at the old place so I couldn't grow it.
Where is Dee's in Oceanside?
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| Posted 5/14/08 8:00 AM |
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tourist
Member since 5/05 10425 total posts
Name:
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Re: Found an alternative to hosta in the most unlikely of places.
Posted by Lisa
its beautiful but it spreads like wildfire and will take over a garden with other plants
I inherited a garden full of lilly of the valley & they were also growing in my lawn, and through the asphault on our walkway!
My mom HATES Hostas too. I wouldn't plant them, but I inherited a bunch, and they are so low maintanance & are good space fillers, so I'm not going to remove them.
Message edited 5/14/2008 10:12:03 AM.
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| Posted 5/14/08 10:04 AM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: Found an alternative to hosta in the most unlikely of places.
Posted by smdl
Where is Dee's in Oceanside?
I loved Dees. I was there about three times a month in season. It's family owned - there's someone here who is in that family. Their stuff is great, competitively priced, they help you to your car and all that, very helpful.
Dees website
They are right off Long Beach Boulevard.
Tourist, love that second pic!! Those little things are determined huh?
Message edited 5/14/2008 11:47:43 AM.
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| Posted 5/14/08 11:47 AM |
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tourist
Member since 5/05 10425 total posts
Name:
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Re: Found an alternative to hosta in the most unlikely of places.
Posted by greenfreak
Tourist, love that second pic!! Those little things are determined huh?
They really are! The ones on the lawn were mowed down by the landscapers & they kept growing.
The one in the sidewalk made me laugh--it was the little flower that could. We ended up taking them out, b/c it was just too out of control. A few popped up this year, but I thought it would be much worse.
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| Posted 5/14/08 1:10 PM |
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smdl
I love Gary too..on a plate!
Member since 5/06 32461 total posts
Name:
me
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Re: Found an alternative to hosta in the most unlikely of places.
Posted by greenfreak
Posted by smdl
Where is Dee's in Oceanside?
I loved Dees. I was there about three times a month in season. It's family owned - there's someone here who is in that family. Their stuff is great, competitively priced, they help you to your car and all that, very helpful.
Dees website
They are right off Long Beach Boulevard.
Tourist, love that second pic!! Those little things are determined huh?
Wow... I work in Long Beach Rd on Saturdays. It's right there by my job! Thanks!
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| Posted 5/14/08 8:38 PM |
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