Compare HL

The routine underlying this utility is a Javascript developed more than 20 years ago by Hugo Philips. I've had this utility up and running on my personal website for probably 10 or more years and initially the text files used to make the selection had perhaps 4000 entries at most, these days we're more than double that number and I have noticed the routine is getting a little slower to respond because of it.

One of the things that have come to light is that the routine does NOT work on Apple iPad or iPhone without changing a setting in Safari to enable Javascript, just do a web search for how to change the setting. The routine relies on the use of Javascript, which is something Apple has abandoned as a default setting over security concerns in iOS. I have no particular appetite to explore porting the routine into a different programming format at the moment. It is what it is....developed primarily for Windows PC. I suspect it will also work under Chrome OS seeing as it works in the Chrome browser as well as other Chromium based browsers like MS Edge, yet have been unable to confirm that. I know it works on my Android phone and would expect therefor it works on Android tablets.

In order to speed things up and make the routine a little more user friendly I have decided to make the size of the files used smaller by sorting the comparisons into categories, and that's what we have here now. You can now narrow your search by using the parameters outlined below. Taking this approach will make it easier to help identify those dreaded NOIDS. By clicking on the links below a new window/tab will open with your chosen search parameters.

This is very much a work in progress, please keep that in mind. The generation of the new search lists involves looking at literally each and every page in the Hosta Library, that's not gonna go very fast! Frequently I end up having to make a judgement call about which parameter a given cultivar falls in, particularly if it is not a registered variety, is it chartreuse or yellow/gold, blue or a glaucous green.... Inclusions on any given list is done through a combination of examination of the images on the Hosta Library, registration information and Hugo's database.

For some time to come you should use this link just below, which will take you to the 'old' format and will continue to be the must useful for some time to come. All links on this page will open in a new tab/window, this page should stay open in a window or tab unless you deliberately close it.

Original, full side-by-side comparison list and as said, the only you should be using expecting a full list! The ones below are slowly expanding lists and my crawl through the HL now has me in the 'G' section. Bear with me, there are plenty of other things on my plate, as time goes by the ones below will be more fully populated and thus increasingly more useful.

These are the lists with a narrower search scope. Give them a try, PUHLEAZE! You may find a given cultivar on more than one list, since it fits 2 or more parameters, such as a narrow-leaved green hosta with red petioles. WARNING: again, these narrow search lists are a work in progress and are NOT complete as yet.

Blue-Leaved Hostas
Gold-Leaved Hostas, and this of course cover quite a range from yellow to gold
Green-Leaved Hostas
Red-Leaved Hostas, or perhaps I should have called it Blushing Hostas, most of which are red-blushers....and that blush tends to fade over the season...
Narrow-Leaved Hostas, and I'll pretty much follow the list laid out by Don Rawson
Red-Petioled Hostas it's difficult to draw a line in the sand where to just call it a mere blush and where to call it 'red', so having said that, Don's list will serve as a good guide and I will include purple and other dark forms.
Streaked Hostas which includes misted-leaved and speckled-leaved as well
Variegated Hostas both medio and edge, since there really doesn't appear to be a full-proof way to make a reliable and accepted distinction.

It occurred to me the other day while walking around in the garden that it would be quite helpful to be able to scroll through the pictures in the HL single file style rather than side-by-side because what you want to compare is right in front of you!

With that in mind, here's a link to the single-file style for the full list. But I think you'll find the narrow search results more useful for that purpose. Here they are:

Blue-Leaved, single file
Gold-Leaved, single file
Green-leaved, single file
Narrow_leaved, single file
With only just a few Red-leaved on the list there's not much point to have a single file, is there...
Red-Petioled, single file
Streaked, single file
Variegated, single file

Let me know what you think! , please.

A tip to help you navigate the drop-down list faster. If you take a look at the image below you will see the drop down list on the right hand side has a high-lighted name and once you see that you can simply type the first few letters of the name of the variety you're after and the list will pop-up what you want to see. If you keep typing at a normal pace and complete most of the unique first letters of the name it'll take you right there. If you want to go to say 'Halcyon' you type in the first 3 letters in sequence and you're there, if you go too slow, particularly if the name is more than just one word such as 'Blue Mouse Ears' for instance, you may well end up where you didn't expect to go. Just start again with the first 2 or 3 letters and once you're closer to the name you can use the up/down arrows on your keyboard to navigate to your desired name.

Some time ago someone asked me how to compare Hosta Library pictures with pictures of your own hostas. That can ctually be done fairly simply by using the single-file full list with your preferred picture browsing utility side-by-side, like below...