Yes it is,Robin. Texas growers,I understand grow their hostas in pots,so they get cool enough to go dormant. There a few soles that grow hostas in north Fla.,around Jacksonville,but even there it is probably too warm. From what I've been reading here,the pacific northwest seems to be the ideal weather for hostas. Lots of rain,and never gets really cold. Hostas grow well over here in the mountains,and it gets cold enough for dormancy. Where you live is probably zone 7,and I am in zone 6,because of the elevation. I am at a little over 2000 ft. We get to single digits,at times,but usually in January. I've never seen it below zero,but we have only lived here 12 years. We retired here from Fla.,instead of the other way around. Phil

I'm out in CA just north of San Jose. Zone 9 as far as cold goes. It drops below 32 degrees here only for a few hours each Winter, but enough to grow apricots, plums, cherries next to the citrus trees. I've been growing hostas in pots for about 12 years. Hostas need about 6 weeks of nighttime temps below 40 degrees to grow well. I'm at about the same latitude as Southern Illinois.

-Babka

hosta have a requisite cold dormancy of something between 45 and 60 days ...

it has to be cold enough to cause dormancy ...

and long enough for a rest ...

zone is minimum winter temp ... so dont be confused by babka's z9 ... though it may not get very cold in winter... the z9 part .... it is long enough for the requisite period ...

does that make sense..

let me put it another way.. most z9 arent cold enough.. long enough ... for hosta to thrive ...

make sense???

both aunts who retired to FL.. ran back.. complaining about only two seasons.. hot and bugs.....

ken

Hosta grower of Florida here. We have winters here. It is just that we go from summer to winter and back to summer. We do have cold spells down to 24 deg. Stop laughing. This is my second year and I am hooked on hostas. I also grow cactus and orchids and all southerners have tomatoes growing somewhere. I find that I can control my watering better in containers. I will be adding more to my collection but I will be watching my zones for more heat tollerant ones. Have a blessed day all. My cell phone died and I am at peace. Paula=^..^=

Not only are cold zone maps available, but heat zone maps also. They are good guides. These zones can be stretched by creating micro-zones. Cold zones can be stretched by using reflective surfaces during winter increasing sun exposure, and wind breaks, for example. Heat zones can also be stretched. Think of the walks through the woods on a stifling day and feeling like you are in air conditioning. Not all woods are like this. The difference is in the soil. Woods with hardpan or very heavy clay soil aren't cool. Woods with humusy soil are cool. The evaporation of water is what cools things down.

However you do it, you can stretch either cold or heat zones somewhat. But remember, if you hope to fool "Mother Nature" it usually comes at a price.(lol)

Les

frankly.. unless you move next door to babka.. i doubt you are going to find many z9 micro climates ..

ken

Would someone scroll down to the climate information on this page and tell me two things about my hardiness zone?

First of all, does it look like 8b or 9a to you?

And second of all, does it look like I would get enough winter chill to put Hostas in the ground or should I continue to keep them in pots?

I'm thinking 8b and pots, but I'd like more input

Here is a link that might be useful: Santa Rosa Zone and Hosta Comfort

Most of the TX folks on the forum grow in pots. However, now that I am familiar with hosta, I see them everywhere. They're at the big cemetery here. I saw a stand of some kind of white edged hosta in full bloom last week. There must have been 10 or 15 mature plants. They looked great (and we've had 30+ days of 100+ temps). One of my old clients has several large blues in her front yard. One of my current clients has some kind of white edged plant that is sporting a plain green in her atrium. I saw some in a planter box next door to her. All are in the ground and doing fine. I would guess that all are in areas with automatic watering systems.

I'm not sure where the line is where hosta quit thriving. I understand that fragrant hosta do better in warmer climates. It seems that way to me, but I'm not all that experienced at growing lots of varieties.

bkay

Landperson,

Zone is a function of average low temperature. That won't necessarily give you the answer you are looking for. Hosta need approximately 40 days at 40 degrees or lower. The only way for you to know for sure is to try it. Try some in pots and/or in the ground. Just do it.

Steve

Okay, got it.
I'm just gonna keep them in pots for now because that way I can also keep them under shade cloth and up off the ground...

There are plenty of other things (roses, hydrangeas, hardy geraniums) that are so well adapted to this zone as to make it a point I simply do not need to agonize over.

Thanks.
Susan

Landperson, according to the National gardening assn. website, you are in 8b. I did a search by zip 95401, and it's in 8b.

bkay

Yippeeeeeee !!!!

Better for hostas.

Actually I have done that search at a couple of sites, and some of them say 8 and some say 9, but I think 8b suits me better, so....I'm gonna go to my profile and change it.

Susan :-))))

There seems to be disagreement on the cold zone maps. I was using the AHS/USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map Issued in March of 2003 that does away with "a" and "b" designation. The other map is from 1990, which some people say is more accurate, and some disagree. Even the American Horticultural Society and the USDA cannot agree. When I go to Bkay's link I'm in 8b too.

I think Steve is right...just do it and see what happens.

-Babka