Busse Gardens

Review of Busse Gardens
March 1998
by Steven C. Chamberlain
105 Academy Street
Manlius, NY 13104
Steve_Chamberlain@isr.syr.edu

Busse Gardens
5873 Oliver Avenue, S.W.
Cokato, MN 55321-4229
Phone: (320) 286-2654 or (800) 544-3192
FAX: (320) 286-6601
Catalog - $2

Owner: Ainie H. Busse, Member AHS

In the past I have purchased the following hostas from Busse Gardens:

• H. 'Amber Maiden'
• H. 'Bengee Sport'
• H. 'Butter Rim'
• H. clausa var. normalis
• H. 'Golden Nugget'
• H. 'Good As Gold'
• H. 'Green Acres'
• H. 'Helen Doriot'
• H. 'Helen Field Fischer'
• H. 'Honey Moon'
• H. 'Housatonic'
• H. 'Jade Tiara'
• H. 'June'
• H. kikutii var. yakusimensis
• H. 'Krossa Cream Edge'
• H. 'Middle Ridge'
• H. 'Moon Shadow'
• H. 'Raleigh Remembrance'
• H. 'Satin Flare'
• H. 'See Saw'
• H. 'Unducosa'
• H. 'Weihenstephan

All of them are thriving here in Manlius. I have placed this year's order for hostas and other perennials already.

The 1998 perennials catalog has 6 pages of hosta listings. First there is a list of 30 classic species and cultivars that are available in quantity. Then there is a second alphabetical listing of 221 hostas under the title, 'Select Hosta'. Finally, there is a listing of 10 cultivars available as "Tween-agers"tissue culture plants that have not yet reached adult size and are priced accordingly. A brief description is given for each species and cultivar, including who introduced it. Most of the species and cultivars offered are commonly available in the trade, although a few such as H. 'Aristocrat' and H. 'Banana Sundae' were not commonly available according to the 1997 Hosta Finder.

Prices are good for one or two division mature plants. I imagine the newer varieties are all tissue cultured plants, but they are old enough to have adult leaves. The most expensive plants are $35 for H. 'Aristocrat', H. 'Austin Dickinson', H. 'Banana Sundae' and H. 'Night Before Christmas. The 30 plants available in quantity are $5 each or 3 for $14.25...or 25 for $100. Progressive quantity discounts are available on total purchases of select hostas over $100. Credit cards are accepted and charges are made at the time the order is received. The catalog has 56 pages of perennial listings overall. I have also purchased Sedum, Heuchera, and Pulmonaria from Busse Gardens in the past with good results. Busse Gardens seems to occupy the niche between the neighborhood garden center and the rare plant specialists. The plants offered aren't the most unusual or the rarest, but they aren't likely to be commonly available at Walmart and the prices seem very good for the quality of what they ship.

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