How much direct sun hostas can take in your yard is largely a function of the angle of incidence of the sun's rays, in other words, your latitude.

I'm just north of the 49th parallel and have no problem with 'Guacamole' in 6+ hours of direct sun and an 'Empress Wu' in 8+ hours in the summertime, both grow vigorously with no signs of burning. The further south you go the less direct sun they can take.

Pieter

Yes, they will still burn if too much direct sun exposure

Hi, Jerry. I put some Guacamole in my front yard in 2013. In direct afternoon sun, like 4 to 6 hours direct sun. Burned badly the first season. 2014 lasted much longer into the season, but eventually burned in late summer/early fall. 2015 took sun like a champ all season, no burning. They're in the ground, not a pot, so it's "burn or adapt" for them. I guess they wanted to adapt. That's my experience. I have Cerveza and Gosan Sunproof in the front yard now as well, transplanted them in early September 2015. I'll post pics throughout the season of all of them. P.S. Coordinates

39.8367° N, 105.0372° W Elevation approx. 5,700'

The garden at my office gets no direct sun on the winter solstice and NO shade on the summer solstice due to the angle of the building. I planted a Squash Casserole last week near a small crepe myrtle. At this time of year it's in direct sun until about 2 pm. I figure as they both grow eventually it might work. I'll be posting pics as we go. Latitude 36.

So if "north" is above I-80 and "south" is below I-40, and one lives in the zone exactly between the two, how should one proceed?

Would you start conservatively and do incrementally more sun, or try for the placement you want and deal with sunburn going forward?

Haha, I know the only answer is that individual conditions vary and I just need to experiment, but I don't like playing musical hostas and would like to get them into their permanent homes on the first try. It's hard enough designing around heights and widths and colors as it is- I'm afraid of my back yard ending up looking like a patchwork quilt. I have started with too many and am close to being overwhelmed with data and research.

Sagae in half sun last may. Sagae has thick leaves and while, nicely variegated, has a lot of color. Thick dark green or blue hosta need more shade, lighter colored, thin leaved hosta do better in more sun. Another way of putting it is to say that lighter colored leaves have less Chlorophyll (got it right this time) and having less they need more sum to survive. Darker hosta have far larger chlorophyll / color concentrations and survive well and look better in more shade. They generally have thicker leaves and need less water because of this thickness and also because they are in the shade.

Varying zones and elevation need to be taken into account and allowed for as well. The further you get to the frozen north, the lower the Sun's intensity and the more 'Sun' is proportional less intense. You can get Sagae to 'survive' in full Sun if you water it constantly, it will never look good. Stained glass will take more sun, but 100% sun is not going to give you good results unless you water it a lot, IMO. I just planted some Stained Glass last year in 50/50 dappled shade with little direct sun (maybe 10%), so I don't have any actual experience....yet.

Jon

Sagae and Stained Glass (in pots) in direct until mid/late afternoon. They both burned miserably.

==>> no potted hosta should be in full afternoon sun ... unless it was a very huge pot ...

new to emerge leaves... should be acclimated to the ambient light ... but that still begs to question of whether the pot can hold the moisture.. the plant needs while in the sun ...

and... a wouldnt put a recently potted plant into sun.. i would give it at least a week or two.. to get the roots working ...

ken

Thanks to all for the replies and information.

I think as mentioned by a few, is the fact they were in black plastic pots and did not get enough water. It is difficult for me to keep my pots watered good as I take 3-4 trips a year from a few days to a few weeks. The end of July and beginning of August (hottest part of the year) finds me on a 3 week jaunt and I try to get someone here but not to reliable. My choice is to plant in ground near a few large maples or pots, so I do some of each.

Going to try a couple duplicates or less desirable (?) ones in the sun this year I guess.

Thx again

Edit to say: I am at the 43rd parallel. Would the weather zone be as good a measurement as the latitude for sun intensity?

"My choice is to plant in ground near a few large maples or pots, so I do some of each."

Could you sink the pots in the ground during the times you will be away? They would stay a lot cooler and hold onto the moisture better.

cearbhaill, ironic, I just did sink 20 pots to ground level yesterday. I have one bed I am doing this with. Most of the others in pots I move to almost total shade when gone for more than one week.

P.S. Jerry, I have a September Sun I planted out front at the same time as the 4 Guacamoles (2013) in the same sun conditions. That barely burned even in the first season, and hasn't burned at all since. Of course I water everything heavily : )