Narcnh, the light conditions you describe should be just fine for hostas--in fact, they should thrive.

i've got patriot and francis williams growing in almost half day morning sun and both have done nicely over the years. i agree with ginny - your light conditions sound fine for hostas.
viv

General rule of thumb with hostas (at least I was taught so) is that the more yellow in it the more sun it could take, the more white, the less sun. White centered hostas being most susseptible to sunburns even if well watered.

I tend to follow what EGO45 just shared. The "blue" varieties tend to appreciate a little more shade. And it doesn't really have to be alot... dappled shade seems to be all they really ask.

I have two huge Krossa Regals in the front bed and they get blasting sun until about 1PM in the longest days of the summer. The soil is pretty good and I give them a drink when it's been terribly dry, but other than that I do nothing for them. I also have Frances Williams and Blue Angel and they're both in a bed that gets dappled shade, they do beautifully. The two varigated varieties really need protection from the sunshine, they are in the woodland bed with Astilbes and the like. One is really wavey and crinkled, the other is simply white down the centre of the leaves. They aren't my favorites (I like the big ones), but they are pretty and came from someone I loved who is now dead.

I have an all green variety that is very sun tolerant, flowers early (4th of July) and laughs off nearly every offront, save slugs. I also have Hosta Plantaginea ("August Lily") that has bright green leaves (sort of puckered) and wonderfully fragrant, white single flowers from August-September. It takes a lot of sun without showing damage (but the soil is deep and rich)... it was nearly 24" across the crown when my boss and I pried it out of the ground for division!

Sounds to me as though the conditions you have will be ideal for Hosta... now, toss in some Asarum, Lamium, Ferns and set the cruise control. :)

Hosta are tolerant of a lot of conditions, but truth be told most would rather have a bit of sunshine - they are shade tolerant. The other posters gave you good information, I just want to add to be careful with Francis Williams. It is a big beautiful hosta, but the edges burn fairly easily so be careful how much direct sun it get's.

Guacamole should be fine in a little more sun as should Patriot, they are both pretty durable. Halcyon will keep it's dusty blue color longer in more shade.

This post was timely! I have a H. plantaginea I want to move and some variegated that got a little too much sun last year in their current location. Now I know where to put it.

All you hosta nuts should head over to the hosta addicts forum...here at GW

ETA: that wasn't meant in a mean way...just pointing out that there's a hosta forum if you didn't know about it.

mmqchdygg- No offense taken. I actually started off in the hosta forum and still visit it constantly. I am over here hoping to learn how to grow something other than hosta!

Thanks to everyone for all your, as usual, great advice. Now, I have the planting scheme mapped out in my head (and a spreadsheet). IÂll let you know how it turns out.

No problem, mmqchdygg. I like the specialty forums fine and often visit their FAQs. But, when possible, I prefer to ask questions of folks, who live and plant in conditions similar to mine. Sometimes the specialty forums can give some pretty technical answers, and the experience of someone in Southern Cal might not be very relevant to my situation. The NEF is quite a diverse group, and there always seems to be helpful experts in pretty much every area in which I have questions.

Where everybody knows your name.......

narcnh

What does ETA stand for?

I didn't think anything about the Hosta forum suggestion, either. In fact, I've enjoyed it a lot and it was a timely reminder. :)

ETA

My guess: Edited To Add

narcnh

sort of like PS

WRT PS I ROFL but IMHO re ETA I LMAO, OC YMMV.

eieio

My Bluestone order arrived with my hostas. They gave me an extra Blue Angel and Patriot, I think because a couple of other plants are backordered. Still, it was nice of them and unexpected.

I planted them in order from shade to sun:

Blue Angel
Halcyon
Francis Williams
Middle Ridge
Patriot
Guacamole
Sum & Substance

I'll report later in the year about how they did.

Thanks for all the great advice!

narcnh