Never had a problem with white centered leaf hostas and have quite a few-all grow very well. Even Pistache grows very well for me and has little green in it. I think the problem may be more with the genetic makeup of the plant. A number of years ago I purchased a Variegated Brugmansia. It did horribly with the white part of the leaf constantly browning. Research indicated poor genetics but discovered Epsome salts solved the browning but growth was still poor so I got rid of it.

Scott

Of the 3 you mentioned only two have white centers. Patriot doesn't.

The term often used when those white centers go bad is "meltout". It happens to some cultivars when they are in direct sunlight for prolonged time. Down in Alabama, I'm sure your hostas are in the shade at least after 10am so they won't cook. If it does happen to a hosta you have, just move it to a shadier place. It doesn't kill the plant, just makes a few leaves look unsightly.

My favorite white centered one is Fire and Ice and it does just fine with morning sun here in California. You are South-er than I am.

-Babka

think of it more along the lines of how big the green edge is.. rather that how big the white center is ...

white tissue is a TOTAL net loss to the plant..sucking water.. not producing food.. and subject to burning out ...

so by the end of the season.. when it comes time to start storing food for next year.. if there is just a little green edge.. the plant will suffer in its ability to store food ... so the more green edge.. the better off it should be

i bet.. in your zone... white tissue will probably burn in full sun ... so you are going to have to site in more shade.. but with a little green edge .. too much shade.. again.. is going to interfere with food storage ... its a vicious circle ... to much sun.. it burns.. too much shade.. ti dies ..

all that said ... you know you are going to be hard pressed to get a specific answer.. because you are on the cutting edge of zone.. and the only way you are going to find out.. is to DO IT .. and you become the Z9 expert ... IMHO.. even babka's z9 pagoda.. is not going to be SPECIFICALLY helpful to you .. though obviously a lot closer than my z5 ...

ken

Thanks for the responses.

I've noticed some of the gold hosta which have a tendency to fade to near white as the season progresses. Or parts of the leaf with gold fade out to a creamy white/yellow. I love the gold leaves, and will be experimenting with how they respond to the heat, humidity and shade that I can make available.

I'm assuming that the GOLD leaves do not have the same sort of melting problem that predominantly white leaves have. But then, I am on the front end of the learning curve, and have a long uphill climb ahead of me. You betcha, Ken, I feel on the cutting edge, and hope to give it a good run, to see how a deep south garden can expect to have hosta featured in the planting.

There are a few golds, such as Gold Standard that will fade to a parchment color if exposed to to sun. However, most golds are either virescent (start out gold and turn green as the season goes along) or Lutescent (start out green or chartreuse and turn gradually golder during the season). Some hold their color longer and better than others, but all change to some extent during the summer regardless of their sun exposure.

Piedmont Gold (Virescent)

Here is what it looks like in June.

Here is what it looks like in August. This one is in pretty much full shade.

Steve

Piedmont Gold has a graceful shape. I think my NOID Satisfaction is a sport of this one.

I'll just have to make more careful notes of which ones fade to almost-white as the season progresses. Or starts white and colors up to pale cream or yellow.

This chameleon character of hosta is one reason I am so fascinated with them. They respond to their environment more variably than many plants that I'm familiar with.

I haven't had much luck with white centered hostas in the heat here. Eskimo Pie barely made it a year. American Sweetheart grew well for me last year, but isn't up yet. Dream Queen and Thunderbolt grow slowly. The thicker leaves seem to help a little.