Soules Gardens

Review of Soules Gardens
December 1997
by Steven C. Chamberlain
105 Academy Street
Manlius, NY 13104
Steve_Chamberlain@isr.syr.edu

Soules Gardens
5809 Rahke Road
Indianapolis, Indiana 46217
(317) 786-7839
Catalog - $2

1 December to 10 March
4421 Lane Road
Zephyrhills, FL 33541
(813) 783-3616

Owners: Clarence and Marge Soules, Life Members, AHS

H. 'Apple Green'

H. 'Banyai's Dancing Girl'

H. 'Betcher's Blue'

H. 'Betty'

H. 'Birchwood Parky's Gold'

H. 'Blue Boy'

H. 'Blue Cadet'

H. 'Bountiful'

H. capitata

H. 'Dear Heart'

H. 'Decorata'

H. 'Drummer Boy'

H. 'Ellerbroek'

H. 'Golden Prayers'

H. 'Green Fountain'

H. 'Happy Hearts'

H. 'Heartleaf'

H. 'Jingle Bells'

H. 'Lucy Vitols'

H. 'Mackwood 23'

H. 'Minnie Klopping'

H. 'Nakaimo'

H. 'Oxheart'

H. 'Peter Pan'

H. 'Regal Rhubarb'

H. sieboldiana 'Mira'

H. 'Special Gift'

H. 'Subcrocea'

H. 'Sumi'

H. 'Tot Tot'

H. 'Viette's Yellow Edge'

H. 'Yellow Splash Rim'

My order for 1998 has already been sent.

Virtually all of the plants I have received from Soules appear to have been adult divisions. Many of them bloomed later in the same season I received them. Plants are shipped bare root and need to be revived slightly upon arrival before planting. Every hosta I have ever received from Soules is growing nicely in my garden.

The 1998 Daylilies & Hostas Catalog has 36 pages with a cover bearing 4 color photographs. There are 17 pages of alphabetical hosta listings. I counted 339 species and cultivars listed for sale not counting those listed as being on display only. These include H. 'Space Odyssey' a 1998 Soules introduction. I did not note any other offerings unique to Soules Gardens; however, a dozen or more of their listings were only available from 2 or 3 sources in the 1997 Hosta Finder. There are no illustrations in the catalog, but the individual species and cultivars are each briefly described.

Plants are seem to be priced somewhat erratically. Some seem very expensive, while many others are very reasonably priced. The most expensive plant I found in the catalog was H. 'Dick Ward' at $175; whereas H. venusta is listed for only $3. There are numerous quality cultivars available at $4 and $5. Plants are shipped promptly in the spring by first class mail on or about the date requested.

The H. 'Golden Prayers' sold by Soules Gardens is a particularly nice plant. Most nurseries supply a plant indistinguishable from H. 'Little Aurora'; however, Soules Gardens sells a larger gold Tokudama-like plant that is quite sun tolerant and has larger leaves than H. 'Little Aurora'. Their particular clone of H. 'Betcher's Blue', although seemingly identical in appearance to that offered by others, is particularly vigorous in my garden. All of the other hostas I have received have been true to form so far as I can tell.

The catalog also lists many, many daylilies including 5 new Soules introductions for 1998.

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