Check out this link for folks who live in your area to get specifics. http://www.nehosta.org/

Generally speaking the ones with more glaucous bloom (ones that look sorta blue) don't like a whole lot of direct sun, as it melts that waxy coating. Morning sun is always the very best. Don't know how intense your afternoon sun gets, but it will probably turn them crispy. People who live in your are will have the very best advice, and the link above to the New England Hosta Society has people who can tell you exactly what will do well in your zone.

A happily situated hosta will reward you tenfold and if you hang around here long enough you will be building arbors and other things for shade, just so you can gaze upon those fantastic hand painted leaves.

-Babka

This list shows what others have grown successfully in full sun. Keep in mind that growing hostas in full sun requires you to supplement their water needs, a lot more water transpiration goes on when in full sun and all that water needs to be replaced.

Pieter

Pieter, yes those can take more sun over all, but in CA or South Carolina, or Florida, or Boston, MA? BiG difference. Hmm, should we include latitudes in our postings? (We did for awhile) Here in Silicon Valley, we get the same sun St. Louis. Those in British Columbia can take a lot more than mine. Yes, put them in the sun and get that hose running wherever you live.

-Babka

for boston ... and the ilk ..

hosta are ONLY shade tolerant ... the only problem with too much sun.. can be that they get ugly in late summer .. by which time.. who cares.. lol ..

and its not necessarily the sun that is the direct problem.. its the fact that they sweat ... give off water.. and if you dont water them enough .. then they can brown ... so its as much a water issue ... [which is to say.. they give off more water than they take in .. so they brown]

and if its a water issue.. then its a media issue ... i hope you do something better than dirt in any pot you use ... and dont forget pot in pot .... as small plants in huge pots.. arent the best idea ...

finally ... not really ... white tissue is a nothing in a leaf .. a net negative ....no chlorophyll ... and its usually thin .. and so it burns fastest ... so try to avoid plants with too much white ..

most of the fragrant ones are much more sun tolerant.. its genetic ... but not a given ...

and finally ... cuz im bored .. not really ... coffee buzz ... the best world.. is sun all day.. but for the heat of the day ... so one of your pots is perfect.. and the other will be a bit more challenging ... but then.. heat really doesnt peak until later in the afternoon ...

but the bottom line is.. JUST DO IT ... and if whatever you opt for doesnt work.. next year .. switch them out... and try a different one .. again ... they wont die.. they will just get ugly ...

that only leaves one problem ... winter storage ...

ken

Thank you, ALL! I'll check out both links, especially the NE hosta people.

Babka - that's a good idea! I never thought of arbors....

Everyone - Watering is not a problem, as long as the drought of last year doesn't come back. I'm now able to spend most evenings after work out there. I'm loving it!

Ken - the two Francees that I have, have been coming back and growing for close to ten years, maybe longer. The barrels are too big and heavy to move. One is bigger than the other, due to a difference in sun, but I moved the smaller one to a better place last year. It's bigger this year. I have two other hostas in small pots, and all I do is move them to where DH blows snow, and once the soil freezes, I tip them on their sides and leave them. They get buried, and I haven't lost one yet, although it's only been 5 years or so for those. Thanks for the tip about the smaller pots - I also never thought about that. It'll also make it easier to keep them watered and fed.

We do get pretty strong sun in the afternoon, but it goes behind pretty dense maples between 3 and 4, so it's not on them for long. The maples are why I've gone to pots. These particular half-barrels were a way to use the rain barrel after the gutter was changed.

And it's good I don't particularly care for hosta that have a lot of white. Hosta = green in my mind. Same goes for the blue. So it sounds like I *can* find plants that will work! I'll post photos once I decide which ones! I can't thank you all enough!

Lynn