| Considered shade-tolerant plants, most hostas grow best with some morning sun. Some hostas, especially yellow or yellow centered, need at least a hour or two of direct sun to look their best. Without enough sun, yellow may stay green instead of turning gold, or yellow margins may not lighten to a cream white.
Some cultivars are even sun-tolerant, but in most areas or zones, they should be given afternoon shade. Grown in too much sun, plant leaves may scorch, burn, and / or develop faded or brown spots. Heat will usually effect the edges of the Hosta leaves first.
While drought tolerant, hostas need plenty of moisture to look their best. An inch or more of rain or water per week is usually enough. If the weather is very hot, the plants get more sun or is subject to root competition from trees and shrubs, they will need more water. The best time to water is early morning and before air temperatures reach 90F.
In general, gold / yellow hostas, white variegated hostas and leaves with more substance can tolerate more sun. As a rule of thumb, with more sun, a blue hosta will be greener (the wax melts faster), greens are a lighter green and gold varieties will brighten. Fragrant hostas do need 4 to 6 hours of sun to fully develop their flower fragrance.
We are willing to make some suggestions about growing conditions and varieties noted as sun tolerant. However, we offer NO GUARANTEE as to the plant's performance, except to say - a hosta grown in full sun will NOT look like the same variety growing in dappled or morning sun.
- sun grown hostas typically grow faster than those grown with more shade.
A few additional comments before suggesting any varieties:
⢠Applying mulch reduces lost soil moisture.
⢠Hosta roots can reach 18 inches deep or more. A little water is NOT beneficial to the hosta.
⢠Sun light bounced off of structures near the hosta can scorch.
⢠Take the time to properly amend your soil.
⢠Sloping ground may not allow adequate water to penetrate the soil.
⢠Appliances (air conditioners, air exchangers, etc.) could generate damaging heat.
⢠The higher the elevation, the more intense the sun.
⢠The lower the latitude, the more intense the sun.
Hostas with Sun Tolerance Potential:
⢠Blues - 'Blue Angel', 'Elegans', 'Halcyon', 'Krossa Regal'.
⢠Variegated - 'Francee', 'Inniswood', 'Minuteman', 'Patriot', 'Regal Splendor', 'So Sweet', undulata 'Albomarginata'.
⢠Green - lancifolia, 'Royal Standard'.
⢠Yellow - 'August Moon', 'Sum and Substance', 'Sun Power'.
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