I urge you to post your question in the Hosta Forum. Be sure to share your more specific location. They will need that information in order to best help you.

I presently live in a part of the south where hostas thrive, given some care. But I have lived in the deeper south where attempting to grow them was a futile waste of money.

I live in central Alabama and have been successful with Krossa Regal (I did kill a couple in the beginning) and Gold Standard. The ones I have now are about 6 years old. Since your success is iffy, I wouldn't invest a large amount of money this first season. Also, Home Depot will have a large variety of 1 gallon hostas at very reasonable prices. Keep going back every week through May because they will get in different varieties. Also, growing anything under a tree can be challenging. Hostas do like some sunlight and they don't like to dry out. Tree roots absorb a lot of moisture. And just when you've spaced them out all perfectly, you start to dig a hole, and . . . hit a tree root. Move it over a few inches and . . . hit another tree root. Very aggravating. Remember to plant them high so that the crown doesn't rot.

I've personally not been very successful with coral bells either. Holly ferns will tolerate a lot of shade (but anything likes some sun) and they are very hardy. The holly ferns are also evergreen in my zone, so they should be in your zone also. Home Depot will also have nice, healthy holly ferns for about $5 and Walmart has Autumn ferns for $5, but they may be looking scraggly by now. I bought one a month or so ago when they first came in. Walmart has beautiful plants when they first get them and then their employees neglect them.