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Sun/Shade Question From Newbie

harryshoe zone6 eastern Pennsylvania

15 years ago

I realize this has been asked before, but I didn't find the thread when I searched.

I am wondering how much sun is ideal for a hosta? I have some new garden area in the front (north side) of my house and would like to transplant a few crowded hostas to this prime location. I'm guessing they would be shaded from 10:00 until 2:00 and again after 4:00 during summer.

The plants are blue and resemble a picture I saw here of True Blue.

Thanks for any advice you might offer.

Harry

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Comments (5)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
15 years ago
hey!!

welcome ..

short answer ... JUST DO IT ... if they dont thrive ... move them later ...

longer answer .... as much sun as possible.. avoiding the hot sun of afternoon .... which you seem to do ... and try to drown them.... and they should be happy ...

blue is a wax coating that reflects the blue sky .. if they get too hot in the sun.. followed by rain or watering.. the wax will tend to melt off.. and you will end up with green hosta... but not harm the plant ...

go with first answer.. just do it...

you have to try real hard to hurt, harm or kill a hosta... have no fear...

ken

ps:: you know.. they will live on the driveway with a little water... so placement isnt really that important.. when your really get down to it...
caliloo
15 years ago
Well my goodness! It is an escapee from the daylily forum! I wondered if you would ever escape to the shady side LOL!

Glad to have you in the mix here Mr Shoe. And take kens advice - his sage words reflect his wisdom of the ages (wink)

Alexa
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well ... hmmmm .... you are on the right track ... but working on the wrong variables ... i am going to come at it from another angle ... hosta are VERY HEAVY WATER USERS ... and they use the most water.. in the most heat .. which is why they struggle in the deep south ... they simply cant pump enough water to offset the loss ... and part of that is ... night temps.. they can cope better up here in MI because at night it cools considerably ... hosta actually sweat ... transpire ... in england.. which is above the 60th parallel.. or 2/3 of the way to the north pole.. they are ALL FULL SUN ... partly because the sun barely shines.. lol .. but also because of the declination of the sun.. the British are a pasty peeps.. because the sun is not as strong.. so the hosta can cope ... compare that to LA.. and you can see a stark difference. .. so.. hosta can grow in full sun .. hosta are only shade tolerant.. but the sun .. or conversely.. the shade is not really the issue.... its all about how effectively they can pump.. enough water. and if they have a recovery period to cope ... the fact that a hosta looks ratty in late summer.. is more a function of not enough water.. rather than too much light ... ken ps: zone.. which is.. in its simplest form.. MINIMUM WINTER TEMP ... has nothing to do with it .... pps: i have tons of wood hyacinths.. i dont know why you failed with those.. unless there are multiple plants under that common name ... ppps: hosta also have a requisite dormancy period.. and if you go too far south.. they dont get it ...
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jeanerz12 I was hoping someone was going to chime in here for you but since they haven't I will give you my take on it. The timer does and doesn't start at sunrise. The intensity of the sun is strongest between 10am and 4pm (depending on latitude) and decreases quite rapidly both in the early and late hours. So every hour between 10 and 4 would count for 1 hour but the hours before and after (for simplicity) only account for about 1/2hr. Therefore in your case from 6 to 10 you would have 2hrs and 10-12 would be 2 for a total of 4 so you could class yourself part sun. Now the next factor to throw in is where you live. Sun from 10-2 in Southern California is way stronger than up here in Southern Canada. So if I was to put a part sun plant in that location it might, depending on species, not be enough while in Texas be just fine. So in my case I research each plant and see what light requirements people say they need. An example is zinnia's from what I have read is they do best in at least 7 hours of sunlight. Now this came from a person well south of me so I say they need 8hrs here. I have them planted in a location that gets about 6.5-7 hrs and they are doing 'ok'. Another is some of my hosta's. They say they want part to full shade, basically 3 or less hours. Mine get sun from 7:30am - 2pm and do fine. Hope this is as clear as mud for you. SCG
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
15 years ago
oh.. a daylily guy ...

abuse it as you would a common daylily ...

pull it from the earth.. curse at it... replant it... but give it more water ... and you should be all set..

over think it.. and coddle it.. it will die ...

ken

ps: do daylily grow on the driveway????
Carol_from_ny
15 years ago
Daylillies will grow on the driveway if you threaten them with a move to a shady spot on the far side of the yard!
harryshoe zone6 eastern Pennsylvania
Original Author
15 years ago
Caliloo,

I am more likely to be found posting on the Rose Forum. I have many weaknesses including clematis, perennials and viburnums.

The hostas I plan to transplant are called Halcyon according to the tag. The picture below is a few years old, before the surrounding shrubs closed in on them. There is also a green/chartrueuse hosta behind Halcyon which also needs to be moved.

Thanks everyone for your help.

{{gwi:202256}}

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