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Hosta fade

16 years ago

Have planted a bunch of variegated hostas in our 8b coastal SC yard with shade/deep shade conditions. Plants look OK but return from dormancy with little of the variegation they had at purchase. This doesn't look like reversion; the variegation is still there, but just barely. Two varieties, Francee and Undulata Albomarginata, were purchased from a reputable nursery. The others came from big box stores and I didn't keep the tags.

Too much shade? Trying to provide a bit of relief from all the deep green - better perennials for these conditions? Appreciate your suggestions!

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Comments (3)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
16 years ago
compare your question to your NC brethren ... at the link below ...

and consider your zone .. even warmer.. even shorter witner dormancy .... tree root competition... and lack of water.. besides vermin ...

what can you add to the facts you gave.. ken

Here is a link that might be useful: link
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
16 years ago
hey jo ... you replied personally .. i hope you dont mind that i paste it back here for others to learn ...

you said:
Ah, I see. Thanks for the reference! Our plants look pretty healthy, maybe a little bigger than last year, just don't have the same variegation as when we got them. They are in sandy soil amended with compost; haven't been fertilized this year, sigh. They compete with 80' pine trees and it IS pretty shady; we have been watering them pretty often - 2 x week. The winter dormancy, if they need it, is just about nonexistent. The horticulturist where we volunteer said recently that hostas just aren't going to do well here and just get over it. .. Jo
---------

first.. you are welcome ..
second .... everything sounds perfect...

EXCEPT for your comment about dormancy ... hosta definitely have a requisite dormancy ... which i cant recall right now.. something like 90 days with soil temps under 40 degrees .... if you need it to be more precise ... i hope others will chime in ... without this rest.. the plants come up weaker... or crown rot.. leading to to potential for dormant buds to proliferate ... and those buds, may or may not be true to the named plant .. in other words.. the variegation may NOT hold ...

i think your horticulturist friend summed it up quite precisely for you in your hot zone ...

good luck .. ken
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jotuna
Original Author
16 years ago
OK, Ken, on to other "bullet proof" plants! Thanks again for the explanation for the "why" they're not coming back true. The not knowing why almost makes me crazier than than the problem.
Jo

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