bratwithcat,

bratwithcat Welcome to ATP!

Terese, maybe you could pile some better soil over the area, kind of like a mini berm for your tomatoes?
I thought of doing a berm kind of thing in my back yard, my soil is kind of clay like, but its ok, just needs compost. The trouble is, it was driven on a lot by previous owners and so it is packed really hard. Full of tree roots too I am afraid (most of which we cut down last summer) so not sure about tilling it. It is still shady enough I hope to grow lots of hostas there. Plus I will try to choose kinds that like some sun.

The hosta that do well with sun, once the shade fills in for me in a few years, will they do ok in shade too?

we have an "Empress Wu"! this coming summer will be its 3rd year. it was pretty big last year, so we're really excited to see how big it gets this year!

Three years ago I put my hands on three Princess Wu Wu thinking they were Empress Wu. Even the best gardeners make mistakes! Last fall I gave the three Princess' new homes with friends to make way for the Empress this spring. Back in May I found some Empress Wu with 4 leaves to its name. Between early May and into June I found myself in the hospital and rehab. During that time Empress sat in its nursery container to be planted on my return. When i came back the plant was in great condition and as such was planted. Since then It has given me another 9 leaves for a total of 13 leaves (... and counting; with the heat the growth has slowed but not stopped). Its height is about 11 inches right now.

I would recommend this plant for anyone - with the space. Now you guys gotta realize that MY GARDEN is 3ft 8in x 8ft 8in. My plants do the gorilla warfare game as they grow up! If we look at the dimensions for Empress Wu It can range from 36 to 54 inches tall and 60 to 108 inches in diameter. To top this off the scapes are said to be 6tt (72 inches) tall. This is no small plant. Now to add to these dimensions the surface of the leaf is reputed to be able to get to 28 inches long x 24 inches wide.

Shhhhh. Don't tell my Sum and Substance that it will be removed in 2 to 3 years to make room for the Empress.

Let's hope I never hear about a 10 foot diameter hosta; Sum and Substance is recorded at 9 feet ...

Peter Kelley
St. Paul, MN USA

You can follow my gardening antics at the HostaByKelley Blog: http://hostabykelley.blogspot....

MstrPBK,
The blog looked very interesting, when I get more time I will definitely check it out.

Peter, I have Sum and Substance and Empress Wu. Within three years I had to move the Empress...I really didn't believe it would get so big so fast. I divided and moved it, and the division is nearly the size of a 5-year-old Tiger Eyes sumac. It makes Sum and Substance look like a regular size hosta, and Sum is several years older.

Seedfork said:MstrPBK,
The blog looked very interesting, when I get more time I will definitely check it out.

Not to put pressure on you but ... a new post is released tonight at midnight!

Peter Kelley
St. Paul, MN USA

I saw Empress Wu at Home Depot for $18, to steep for me.
I looked and Wild's has it for much cheaper.
I might get it next spring.
How big of plants do they send?
I don't buy daylilies from them, is it the same way with hosta?
(Mismarked tiny plants)

virginiarose said:Never heard of Princess Wu. Is it smaller? I see it does exist but I cannot find any pictures.

Yes Virginia ... they do look the same ... when they are 'small'. The Princess can have a outer rim (light green, yellow?) as it matures. Actually that's the tell tail sign if you've gotten the wrong one. Princess Wu Wu will grow about half the size of the Empress Wu.

My Empress Wu right now is putting on a good show as a first season single division with 16 leaves at this moment; grant it the leaves are getting smaller (recent heat streak, and more recent cooler nights [50ºF/10ºC]). I've not seen a scape this year. I expect this to be a garden stopper after this first winter (2015-16).

Peter Kelley
St. Paul, MN USA

Gardening Blog at: http://hostabykelley.blogspot....

Years ago I ordered daylilies from Wilds and said I would never do business with them again. The roots look like they had been dug for a month! No tops and very dried out roots.

How does E. Wu do in dappled sunlight?

I have 5 Empress Wu, all in large planters. Three are in full sun on a patio and two are in a shade garden. They are all doing fairly well, although one did get smacked around the past winter and is looking rather beaten up. It's too bad they grow so slow! Of course, being in large planters is probably slowing them down even more. The will eventually be nice specimens.

After being MIA for almost a year... this was this in my watcher...

here is my Wu taken last summer. Think I've had it 2-3 yrs, I'd have to look it up. But it seems to be growing nicely.

I'm a new member. I have had EW for three going on four years. It is very impressive. The leaves are absolutely huge.It needs to be planted where winds won't tear it up. The biggest leaves have been well over 20" in length. It is in a sheltered area here on the south side of my house where it is shaded by evergreens and shrubs and the house.

Gary

Gary, the biggest hosta I own is Guacamole. How does it compare to Empress Wu?

I grow Guacamole here in Alabama, and after three years the leaves on it are not all that large. I Don't have 'Impress Wu', but I do grow' Winter Snow' and 'Sum and Substance' and after two years they have much larger leaves than Guacamole. I would think that 'Empress Wu' would be even larger than 'Winter Snow' or 'Sum and Substance' by quite a bit.
I do have a large island bed and it would have room for a huge hosta like Empress Wu'.
Does anyone grow it this far south?

I too have Guacamole. It is a medium compared to the Empress. She is also much larger than Sum and Substance.

i have had empress wu for 3 years. growing well and big in its own spot alongside the north house foundation. komodo dragon has it beat for size with only a couple of years head start.

this is HER in 2014. my dog likes to lie underneath the leaves.

I always wanted Komono Dragon, but have never purchased it yet. maybe one day.