I have a hard time resisting it when I see it at a sale.

Hasn't been a great grower for me.

Lately I've seen disagreement about whether or not hostas need some sun to grow well. I bought 4 single eye Orange Marmalades in 2007. Three get decent sun, the fourth gets very little. All are watered equally. What a difference! The shady guy is SO much smaller than the other 3.
The first 2 pics below are from 2008, showing one year's growth. Nice corrugation already.

a second one, very early in 2008

this is the third one, last year. It's bigger than it looks.

This is the first one, but last year, 2009.

I don't take pics of the one in the shady garden. It still doesn't have corrugation, and looks juvenile compared to its siblings. Going to move it this spring to a happier sunny spot.

bunnycat,

As a rank amateur, I'm still convinced that Genus Hosta should almost always be considered as 'shade tolerant' vs. a shade plant. Whilst I'd believe that there are exceptions by USDA zones, here up north we can prove to any visitors that most any given cultivar will be twice vigorous with at least partial day sun.

Anyone here on the list who wants to visit for a demo is welcome, just contact us ahead to ensure we're not elsewhere for the intended visit date/time.

I think I understand that folk further south or in bigger USDA zone numbers may have to provide more sun protection, though, huh?

hh

Ummmm, DOH, I forgot to mention that even in 4b, ya gotta give Hosta in sun lotsa water. Always remember that the Genus Hosta homeland is a place that gets more water than most of us in the U.S.A. and OH! Canada, by twice or more, considering monsoons.

Go soaker weeping hoses!

hh

OK, on a binge, but (promise) final note here. LIGHT is what gives a plant energy to grow, food from the soil.

Yup, if it's gonna grow, the light is where the energy comes from.

Ken, sorry, I know you would have given this speech, teehee!

hh

hh...not disagreeing with anything you said at all...I think they clearly prefer some sunlight, especially morning sun. And Orange Marmalade needs it more than most to do well. My 3 happy ones all get morning sun followed by dappled sun the rest of the day

My Orange Marmalade is only 2 years old when this pic was taken last year. I find it is slow growing,but this one is in morning sun,and by August it is nearly white in the center. Phil

{{gwi:914432}}

Orange Marmalade. . I love this one and had no trouble with it so far. .

In it's setting with others. . .Parhelion in front of OM. . Yin behind OM