Sun tolerant hostas:

2 years ago

last modified: 2 years ago

I had a nice row of hostas planted in a bed we made in 2020, as the foreground row backed by flowering shrubs. But 2 years ago the neighbor cut down a tree that provided light shade, and now the row get full sun from about 10 am to 3 pm. By 3 one of my own trees provides shade.

We had to move out all the blues first, as first they became all green, then burned. Some of the golds are still there, but I moved the ones that bleached the most first. “June” doesn’t seem to mind it.

I check the Sun Tolerant list in the hosta library before placing a new plant. But “tolerant” doesn’t mean it won’t bleach. Of the ones I have now, Liberty (Planted elsewhere) and June (I have probably 10 Junes) will lighten somewhat, but pretty much don’t get really bleached until late in the season. I consider that a lot more than just “Sun Tolerant.”

How sun tolerant are Brother Stefan and Cathedral Windows, in this sense of not bleaching much? Zone 6 now, Chicago.

Thanks!

Featured Answer

Pieter zone 7/8 B.C.

2 years ago

It's not so much about zones as it is about latitude of the location: the further south you go the steeper the angle of the sun and the more intense the sun gets. I can get away with a heckuva lot more direct sun where I am just across the 49th parallel whereas in Chicago you're about the 45th parallel or so and the sun will be more intense. I've had great success with fragrant hostas in full sun and I even have an 'Empress Wu' that gets full sun in the summer from around noon to 8PM. Be prepared to supplement water needs in the hot periods!

Pieter

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Comments (6)

mikgag Z5b NS Canada
2 years ago
I have both in all day sun no issues. I have another 20 or so that are in all day sun no issues either....zone 5b
Linnea Lahlum thanked mikgag Z5b NS Canada
djacob Z6a SE WI
2 years ago
Sun tolerant generally means early morning sun until maybe 1:00. You don’t want them to be in full sun during the hottest part of the day, between about 1:00 to 3:00. We are in the same zone. My sun tolerant hostas are in shade by about 12:30-1:00. In their first year you may need to protect them until they harden off to your garden weather. I have used old umbrellas bought at the goodwill.

debra
Linnea Lahlum thanked djacob Z6a SE WI
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Linnea Lahlum
Original Author
2 years ago
How do you know which ones are the fragrant ones?
Pieter zone 7/8 B.C.
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Simple Linnea, for a quick reference go to the Fragrant Flowered Hosta List. You'll see 'Cathedral Windows' is one of them.

Taking a look at the Sun Tolerant List you'll see both of your preferred varieties on it but your comment with regards to "melting out" is a valid one inasmuch as IMHE 'Gold Standard', which is also on that list, for me it "melts" by late summer whereas for example 'Guacamole' does great in that same location.

Pieter
djacob Z6a SE WI
2 years ago
These lists Pieter refers to are located on the home page of the Hosta Library, middle column second row, “Rawson’s Lists.” You will find lists for many characteristics: for instance

Green hostas
Yellow hostas
Blue hostas
Mouse Ears series
Slug resistant hosta and many many more

debra