pic please

I think it is exceptional that only 5-6 out of 18 are affected. As to the possibility of an alternate like OBL - I have one growing in a south-westerly corner of the house, is fairly new, planted only last summer. It is also affected by desiccation. I think with OBL it is hit and miss and not desiccation-proof although some have had no issues. Same can be said about FW I suppose.

Many varieties of Heuchera grow in sun/full sun very well I have found, in my zone, especially the dark ones. Blackout is amazing, so is Cajun Fire etc etc. I don't have a lot of recent introductions but the ones I do have (13) grow really well. Once established, coral bells withstand drought quite well. They dislike constant wet feet.

My blemished OBL as of minutes ago as example

Tokudama Flavocircinalis is similar to France's Williams, although smaller. The Hosta Library says it is more sun tolerant. This is a second year plant.

I suggest Jack of Diamonds - but the description on the Hosta Library indicates that it is smaller than Frances Williams so this may not work.

Olive Bailey Langdon is an excellent choice. A fast grower in my Zone 5 garden.

It's one of the first to appear in the spring, stays healthy all season and is one of the last to bite the dust in the fall. I do have Francis Williams in the same bed, in deeper shade, so it is holding up as well.

Not quite the same coloring as FW, but Northern Exposure and America Halo are the same size, leaf shape, and plant habit.

if you have a literal line of 18 plants .. and you want to fill in holes with an exact duplicate.. i dont think you will find it.. that is why i asked for the pic of the situation ...

i suspect.. the solution is to figure out how and which to remove and MOVE ... so you can make a different scene.. with the least moving of the established FWs ... but some might have to move ...

it just might not work out.. if you dont rearrange ...

ken

I am not sure what pics to post. It is literally a line of 18 hostas along the fence line in front of the evergreens (broken up by some Oakleaf Hydrangeas in the middle. The hostas on the right (north side) are doing ok -- the ones on the south side of the "line" are suffering. I have no where to move any of them. Here are the three that are on far left (south) end of the "line" (you can see the two on the left are burnt up):

Here is a picture of the whole "line":

Question regarding Josephine's comment about OBL's being subject to desiccation like FW; so what is the difference between the two?

That's not spring dessication. How much water are you giving them?

We have lacked rain this year, but I keep them well watered.

Gardecool, OBL is reported to be the larger plant and better grower...I called them up side-by-side to compare and thought if you were interested, linked it.
Compare Hosta Library pictures

but I keep them well watered.

==>>> how do you water.. how much water.. how often ..

based on the lawn.. it does not appear you are using lawn sprinklers ... on the hosta

is there landscape fabric out there ???

ken

You might consider digging that one up and looking at the roots to see what's going on. Maybe someone can post a picture of spring dessication so you know what it looks like.

kath beat me to it.. dig up that bad one. .and lets see whats going on with it ... post pix .. pot it while we discuss

ken

Thanks for your response, Josephine. I ask because I got some divisions from my neighbor when they moved last year and I now have the perfect FW. I was unaware of OBL so never considered it as a poss. OBL. Then I saw the OBL at Cantigny near a FW and shook my head trying to differentiate the two.

I already had many FW's with most of them usually displaying dessication, though not so much this year. Someone here last year offered the advice that if you don't like the FW when it displays poorly to dig it up and throw it away. I haven't done it yet but that is always an option!