Shade tolerant, sun loving, sun tolerant, shade loving???

11 years ago

I have now read comments from 2 knowledgable posters here that hosta are shade-tolerant, not shade-loving. Hmmmm.... Where does zone come into the picture? And don't different varieties have different light requirements/tolerances? Here in zone 7a, hostas grown in sun are completely bedragled by July.

Shifting gears slightly, when I lived in Louisiana, (zone 8a)my fave plant for naturalizing was wood hyacinth. They grew in dense shade, even under shrubs. So when I moved here to Delaware (7a), I planted them in dense shade. No good at all. They can thrive in full sun here, only one zone different, (best in morning sun, afternoon shade) which would have been a death sentence in Louisiana.

With much respect, I would suggest that best hosta gardening practices in zones 4 and 5 may differ from the more southerly zones.

Christine

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Comments (8)

Steve Massachusetts
11 years ago
Christine,

It's not zone that matters it's latitude. At lower latitudes like Louisiana Hostas have to have more shade due to the intensity of the sun. In the PNW they can grow many Hosta in full sun even though they may be in zone 7 also. That's because they are at 45 or 47 degrees latitude. The intensity of the sun at that point is much less. You could be in zone 5 in Illinois and have more intense sun.

There's no question that Hostas grow better in sun. However, they have such large leaves that they transpire a great deal of water. If the roots of the Hosta can get enough water, you can grow in all day sun. I do that with a number of Hosta. But at some geographical point the intensity of the sun becomes so great that the roots can't supply enough water and thus leaves will wilt.

So it's a balancing act not only with where you live but with each individual cultivar based on its heritage. Not only with climate, but with micro-climate and with your ability to supply water. There are places where Hosta must stay in the shade due to sun intensity, but even there if you can get them some morning sun, or dappled sun, they will grow faster.

Steve
franknjim
11 years ago
Zones are for gauging low temperatures only.

I have spoken with my hosta and they told me that they are sun haters except for when they are kept well watered.

I for one am shade loving as I overheat quickly if working in direct sun. I will begin to wilt if left out in full sun too long then my edges start getting crispy.
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
11 years ago
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 ...
hosta_freak
11 years ago
Hostas are shade tolerant,but just like anything grown in dense shade,they will do poorly in too dark a place. Here,in my zone6,I grow hosta on the west facing slope of a small mountain,but the afternoons are in shade,so they remain cool all afternoon. When the morning sun comes over the mountain,is when most of the sun comes into the garden. No matter how hot it has gotten,I have never lost a hosta due to too much heat. Rain is all the water they ever get. That may give you an insight,but it depends on how much shade your garden is in. Mine is in the woods,so I don't get intense sun ever. Phil
chris-e
11 years ago
Christine,

I am not nearly as scientific as the previous answers, but I know what works for me. I am also in zone 7, in Maryland. All of my hosta are planted in dappled shade, and are doing very well for the most part.
Usually I have done something stupid if they expire.

I do have to water often in the heat of summer and especially the ones in pots. So dappled shade is my best recommendation.

chris

ps I like your name. : )
anniegolden
Original Author
11 years ago
Thank you all for your knowledge, Steve, Frank, ken, Phil and Chris. I absorbed all of your responses. This is an excellent forum.
Christine
coll_123
11 years ago
I have all mine in dappled shade, too. A couple now get a nice shot of morning sun thanks to the neighbor cutting down some trees and they grow very well. I used to have Sun Power next to the house where it got half a days sun and it got crispy. I guess I don't want to spend my life watering, so I'll take the slower growth and more shade....and I hate the look if crispy hosta!
in ny zone5
11 years ago
I am living in the same lattitude than Rome, Italy, sunny Mediterranean, but in upstate NY. Whatever people tell you about 'only shade tolerant', those hostas sitting in 2-3 hours afternoon sun will get sun damage when not watered often during a hot summer. Those burned hostas, I am sure, would love to be in more shade. In my area I have to pay double the rate when my water use is above an average rate. I am putting up screens to prevent hostas to burn up.
Bernd

Shade tolerant, sun loving, sun tolerant, shade loving???

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Shade tolerant, sun loving, sun tolerant, shade loving???

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