Hostas
I want to grow lots of hostas. I think they are beautiful and very collectable – they appeal to the philatelic side of my nature. From a few centimetres high to a metre or more and with plenty of variation in leaf colour as well as nice flowers, they have lots to offer. The elephant in the room is damage by slugs and snails, of course, but these can be prevented.
Most of mine were bought 18 months ago and potted. They had to spend the year in their hastily provided accommodation as I tardily got their home ready. This spring, having improved the rather heavy, compacted soil with vast amounts of organic matter, they finally got planted. The area should be rather shady in time but until the hazels and azaleas get their act in gear they are rather exposed and I don’t expect them to look their best this year. A few hostas have gone into other areas of the garden but the 80 or so I have now are together partly to show their variations and also to look after them while they are small. Many hostas do not reveal their true colour, metaphorically or literally, until they have settled in for a couple of years.
‘Whee’ with curvy, wiggly variegated leaves
‘Laterna Magica’, a small hosta with bright yellow leaves
‘Chain Lightening’ with the colour pattern I particularly like; yellow centre and blue/green edges
‘Fool’s Gold’ which emerged early and has already made a decent clump
‘Pizzazz’ which has a thin white edge so far but shows the lines and spirals that are part of the attraction of hostas in spring
‘Harrry Van De Laar’ seems a good grower and is one of the popular and desirable hostas with red colouring, described widely as ‘red legs’
It is too early to say but ‘First Blush’ is showing potential as a distinctive red-leaved hosta. It was only planted a month ago. I am watching over it carefully.
The Biking Gardener 
Tempted by the last two! We have a pair of “matched” beds, one black, one white. While the white bed has a Hosta with a white edging, (don’t remember the name!) I’ve drawn a blank finding a “black” Hosta. Could fit the bill!
I will report on how well it does but I don’t think it will ever be black!
Well, there’s a lot of artistic licence used!
Indeed
Goodness, you are into serious collection! Great plants for the garden.
I meant to add that slug and snail damage to hostas is not a major problem here. I don’t take any steps to stop slugs and snails and am not too bothered by them.
I am being careful to look after them while they are small but I am tending to chose any that are supposedly resistant to slugs. But it is a tough year for the little devils this year I suspect, being so dry. I am going to have to water again today – seems very strange after waking up to frost!