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Experiment under a Locust tree - Hostas for a sunny area

vivian_2010 (IL Zone 5a)

10 years ago

I am still new at hostas but have learned a lot at this forum, thank you all for sharing your experience and advice. I do not have a close up with some of the plants and blooms. Here is a shot of the garden planted under a locust tree, mixed with shade and sun plants. Mostly for foliage. It is a difficult place to garden, with morning shade, afternoon sun (and a white big garage door near by), and big roots. Sun loving plants do not do well, shade plants get too much afternoon sun. Anyway here are the results after some experiment over the last 2-3 years.

Endless summer hydrangeas love this place exept they do need water more frequently. Hostas (Sagae, Majesty, Regal Splendor, June, Stained Glass, all of them except June are 2nd yr plants from Land of Giants so still need to grow) and heucheras are strong performers here withstanding 3-4 hours of hot afternoon sun without too much need for water.

Would love to see your hostas in a sunny area.

Vivian

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Comments (8)

vivian_2010 (IL Zone 5a)
Original Author
10 years ago
Here are some close up pictures for the hostas, planted last October from Land of Giants' orders (except H. June and Sun Power). They are all doing well with minimum need for water considering the hot afternoon sun they are getting

June

Sun Power
{{gwi:264865}}

Sagae
{{gwi:259616}}

Majesty

Regal Splendor

Stained Glass. This one worries me with a couple leaves showing different texture. Virus?
coll_123
10 years ago
That's a lovely garden, Vivian. I think most of the ones you chose ought to do ok there. I used to have Sun Power in a fair bit of sun on the side of my house and it fried badly...although I think it was likely from the heat bouncing off the siding.

My Stained Glass has some rumply leaves mixed in which are from cold damage in the Spring. Happens to it every year, pretty much.

Since you asked, here is a pic of one of mine grown in more sun. Actually it only gets a few hours late morning to lunch but it does not like it. So definitely don't plant Elegans in the sun!
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Great photos. We can identify some if you would like us to try. I see what I think is Francee and two I think are u. albomarginata. Others might be able to name others. If you want us to try that, start a new post with ID or NOID in the subject line. Give us a big photo of your hosta and only put two per post. (It gets confusing when there are more than two varieties in a post.) I, too, have had good luck with Hallson's. I also like Land of the Giants and Green Mountain. I've always heard great things about Naylor Creek. Here's a link to a thread we did a couple of years ago, entitled "where to buy hosta". Pay attention to the places that are recommended by more than two people. http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/1963531/where-to-buy-hosta?n=51 bk
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I had success for about 10 years under a huge old silver maple, then, the hostas just started to diminish for no apparent reason....maybe the maple roots got into the bed, because I do remember digging out the hostas and there were maple roots in them. Changed the whole dang garden over to geranium macrorhizzum...which works great under a maple, btw.... 3-4 years later, the maples came down. Now I COULD have hostas, but my sunburst honeylocust doesn't actually provide that much shade, so I pretty much plant for sun. I do think it's very important to try things out (if you have have the time and can afford it)...what works for one person, might not work for the next, and vice versa.
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WILDernessWen
10 years ago
Vivian, I know I'd be stopping to chat every time I saw you out in the yard. Very pretty picture you've created. WW
vivian_2010 (IL Zone 5a)
Original Author
10 years ago
Thank you Coll and WW.

I have a few blue hostas and they are mostly in the back yard with more shade (still with a couple hours of afternoon sun). I have a Blue Angle there. She seems to do fine. I do not have Elegans but did read somewhere that they do not like sun. -Vivian
in ny zone5
10 years ago
Perhaps you should create a separate posting for the deformed leaves of your h.'Stained Glass'. I do not know what that is. My 'Stained Glass' was severely affected by maple roots, I put it into a spin out bag, and it grows normally again. Bernd
Delphinium zone5
10 years ago
Vivian,
Your garden looks fabulous! I love the mix of plants you chose. What type of heuchera is to the right and left of June? Your hydrangeas look like they are really doing well. I have some Endless Summer hydrangeas as well, planted under an ash tree and I think they are struggling due to root competition.
Terri
vivian_2010 (IL Zone 5a)
Original Author
10 years ago
Hi Terri, The heucheras are Georgia Peach (to the right of June) and Cajun Fire (bottom left of June). Both of them are very good growers and do not need extra water. Geogia peach has beautiful peach color which my camra did not pick up.To the upper left of June is Heuchera Paris, whose pink spike flowers are the main reason I have them. Also grows well.

Thanks for your comments
Vivian
gogirlterri
10 years ago
Vivian, you've chosen some of my favorites and they look absolutely GREAT - as Tony the Tiger says. I can't wait to hear how you feel as your Sagae family hosta LEAP. They are awesome.

Theresa

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