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Sun tolerant hostas:

9 days ago

last modified: 9 days ago

I had a nice row of hostas planted in a bed we made in 2020, as the foreground row backed by flowering shrubs. But 2 years ago the neighbor cut down a tree that provided light shade, and now the row get full sun from about 10 am to 3 pm. By 3 one of my own trees provides shade.

We had to move out all the blues first, as first they became all green, then burned. Some of the golds are still there, but I moved the ones that bleached the most first. “June” doesn’t seem to mind it.

I check the Sun Tolerant list in the hosta library before placing a new plant. But “tolerant” doesn’t mean it won’t bleach. Of the ones I have now, Liberty (Planted elsewhere) and June (I have probably 10 Junes) will lighten somewhat, but pretty much don’t get really bleached until late in the season. I consider that a lot more than just “Sun Tolerant.”

How sun tolerant are Brother Stefan and Cathedral Windows, in this sense of not bleaching much? Zone 6 now, Chicago.

Thanks!

Featured Answer

Pieter zone 7/8 B.C.

7 days ago

It's not so much about zones as it is about latitude of the location: the further south you go the steeper the angle of the sun and the more intense the sun gets. I can get away with a heckuva lot more direct sun where I am just across the 49th parallel whereas in Chicago you're about the 45th parallel or so and the sun will be more intense. I've had great success with fragrant hostas in full sun and I even have an 'Empress Wu' that gets full sun in the summer from around noon to 8PM. Be prepared to supplement water needs in the hot periods!

Pieter

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Comments (6)

mikgag Z5b NS Canada
8 days ago
I have both in all day sun no issues. I have another 20 or so that are in all day sun no issues either....zone 5b
Linnea Lahlum thanked mikgag Z5b NS Canada
djacob Z6a SE WI
8 days ago
Sun tolerant generally means early morning sun until maybe 1:00. You don’t want them to be in full sun during the hottest part of the day, between about 1:00 to 3:00. We are in the same zone. My sun tolerant hostas are in shade by about 12:30-1:00. In their first year you may need to protect them until they harden off to your garden weather. I have used old umbrellas bought at the goodwill.

debra
Linnea Lahlum thanked djacob Z6a SE WI
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"Perfect Perennials" informs us that the most damage occurs from 11 AM to 4PM. They also claim that the thick leaved and fragrant hostas with enough water will also tolerate sun conditions better than others. Additionally they inform us that there is "no such thing as a truly sun-tolerant hosta, zone 6 and south they need some shade. Below I have added ones not mentioned before that tolerate four or more hours of sun without excessive care: Alex Summers Aztec Treasure Birchwood Parky's Gold Blonde Elf Blue Mammoth Blue Unbrellas'Calypso Chartreuse Ruffles Choko Nishiki Feather Boa Fragrant Gold Green Fountain Green Wedge Glory Gold Regal Gold StandardGolden Anniversary Golden Tiara Green Sheen Hadspen Blue hypoleuca Hoosier Harmony Inniswood Joker June Lady Isobel Barnett Lemon Lime Mackawa Nancy Minks OnStage Paul's Glory Venus Radiant Edger Regal Splendor Sagae September Sun Shining Tot Solar Flare Summer Fragrance Sundance Sun Dance Sun Glow Treasure undulata Albomarginata Vanilla Cream Vera Verde Whirlwind Wrinkles and Cream Zounds Just remember, the more sun, the more water they need.
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they are stressed .. probably from handling.. shipping.. planting.. etc ... it sure doesnt sound like too much sun ... but if they were grown in a shade house.. or under shade cloth ... then they are stressed.. or in shock from the change of light levels ... the only way to get over stress or shock.. is to drink heavily ... and then you wont care about your hosta .. lol ... for them.. its just a matter of time ... the next set of leaves should come up accustomed to local light ... be patient ... the peeps who grow the mice.. tend to have most success in pots ... others will have to chime in on that ... yes.. if you can add temp shade.. all the better.. a lawn chair.. whatever ... just remember to remove them if the wind kicks up ... or storms ... ken
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I think any fertiilzer will solve the problem if that's what it is wrong. Also, Steve may be right, that it's an iron problem. We have extremely alkaline water. It's something I see here in hosta at nurseries later in the season. I think some hosta are more susceptible to it than others. Hosta like acid soil. Some REALLY like acid soil. Chris said there were some hosta he couldn't grow because of his alkaline soil at Cement City MI. bkay
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Linnea Lahlum
Original Author
6 days ago
How do you know which ones are the fragrant ones?
Pieter zone 7/8 B.C.
5 days ago
last modified: 5 days ago
Simple Linnea, for a quick reference go to the Fragrant Flowered Hosta List. You'll see 'Cathedral Windows' is one of them.

Taking a look at the Sun Tolerant List you'll see both of your preferred varieties on it but your comment with regards to "melting out" is a valid one inasmuch as IMHE 'Gold Standard', which is also on that list, for me it "melts" by late summer whereas for example 'Guacamole' does great in that same location.

Pieter
djacob Z6a SE WI
5 days ago
These lists Pieter refers to are located on the home page of the Hosta Library, middle column second row, “Rawson’s Lists.” You will find lists for many characteristics: for instance

Green hostas
Yellow hostas
Blue hostas
Mouse Ears series
Slug resistant hosta and many many more

debra

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