More Sun-Tolerant Hostas
Hostas are a staple of most shade gardens; they love it there and thrive in the full shade. Luckily, for us hosta-lovers in the south, there is a fairly large number of hostas that do well with a bit of dappled sunshine. And wonders of all wonders, a special few even need a period of full sun to look their best.
The Golden Rule
A quick rule of thumb is to choose a hosta with yellow or gold leaves if it’s going to get some sun. It used to be that those hostas were the only sun-tolerant varieties. Hybrids have opened that up – big time. Now there are many different and unique hosta plants that will work well in your part-shade/part-sun gardens. Here are a few to choose from:
Sun Tolerant Hostas
Yellow & Yellow Variegated Hosta: August Moon, Gold Regal, Sum and Substance, Sun Power, Silver Threads and Golden Needles, Golden Sculpture Rising Sun, Squash Casserole, Stained Glass, Gold Standard, Inniswood, Regal Splendor, Sundance, Summer Lovin’, Swamp Thing, Vulcan
White Variegated Hosta: White Wall Tire, Albomarginata, Francee, Shazaam, Minuteman, Patriot
Fragrant Hosta: Guacamole, Aphrodite, Honeybells, Fragrant Bouquet, Fried Green Tomatoes, Invincible, Royal Standard, Summer Fragrance, So Sweet, Sugar & Cream
Blue Hosta: Blue Angel, Halcyon, Elegans, Krossa Regal
Green Hosta: Pearl Lake, Invincible, Hosta clausa
All sun is not created equal.
Of course, how much sun these plants will tolerate will depend on where you live: your Zone and your garden micro-climates. For gardeners in the north, you have more leeway. Just remember to make sure your hostas in the sun get enough water. For those of us in Zones 6 and further south, we need to be careful about how much direct sun hits our hostas. The southern sun is quite harsh in the summer so keep an eye on your new hostas until you are sure that they will work out in that particular spot.
How much is too much?
Don’t worry, if it’s too much sun for your hosta, it will tell you fairly quickly. Look for browning edges of the leaves and on the tips of your plant. Also look for their color to fade, becoming dull looking.
Just dig ‘em.
The good news? Hostas are a strong, hardy plant; you can dig them up and replant them somewhere else. I have one hosta that I’ve relocated three times in the last three years. This spring it popped right up and is simply stunning. In spite of, or maybe because of, my rough handling this hosta is sure to be a focal point in my shade garden. So go ahead, grab that shovel and dig ‘em up. They can take it.
That’s pretty much my golden rule for gardening. If I have to baby a plant, I’m not interested and it does not even make it into my garden. There’s too many plants and too little time.
Good thing these hostas are working with me and are perfect for my southern shade (with a tad of intense sun thrown in at times) garden.
