Hostas are easy to grow and, apparently, even easier to propagate. There are hundreds of species and thousands of cultivars out there, and they all have to have names.

That's where the hosta growers jump the rails a bit.

It is good for business if a hosta's name is memorable - gardeners readily admit they purchase hostas that share names with loved ones. Or they purchase a hosta with a name that makes them smile.

Garden Variety did a casual survey of hosta names, and we are still laughing.

And we are hungry.

Apparently the propagators were hungry, too, because lots of hostas are named for food: Banana Puddin', Guacamole, Spilt Milk, Cracker Crumbs, Fried Bananas, Key Lime Pie, Fried Green Tomatoes, Sweet Tater Pie and, of course, Blue Plate Special.

Hostas are often named like thoroughbreds, too. The offspring's name is a derivative of the parent's name: Tears of Joy from Tiny Tears; Cathedral Windows from Stained Glass; Stitch in Time from Embroidery, and Singin' in the Rain from Blue Umbrellas.

Hostas are named for television characters: Barney Fife, Andy Taylor and Captain Kirk, as well as TV shows: Northern Exposure. And they are named for holidays: Fourth of July and Night Before Christmas.

There is Surfer Dude and Swamp Thing and Elvis Lives. Red Neck Heaven. White Wall Tires and Swoosh.

Some names recall the bedroom more than the garden: Big Kahuna, Little Stiffy, Get Nekkid, Nooner, Striptease, Feather Boa and Risky Business.

Some suggest a purer kind of love: Her Eyes Were Blue.

And there is my favorite. A blue hosta named, of course, I Bluit.

Photo credit:Flickr/Morgaine