Sun Tolerant Hostas: Popular Hostas To Grow In Sun

Hostas add interesting foliage to areas in need of large, spreading, and colorful leaves. Hostas are most often considered shade plants. It’s true that most hosta plants should grow in a partial shade or dappled sun area to keep leaves from burning, but there are now many sun-loving hostas available for the garden.

About Hostas for Sunny Spots

Newer hostas for sunny spots are appearing in the market with the claim of being hostas that tolerate the sun. Yet, there are hostas for sun that have grown for decades in many well-planted gardens too.

These plants can grow happily in areas that make morning sun available to them. Afternoon shade is a necessity, especially during those hot summer days. Further success comes from consistent watering and planting them in rich soil. Add a layer of organic mulch to help hold and conserve moisture.

Sun Tolerant Hostas

Let’s take a look at what’s available and see how well these hybrids grow in a sunny spot. Sun-loving hostas may help fill your landscaping needs. Those with yellow leaves or genes of the Hosta plantaginea family are among the best hosta plants to grow in sun. Interestingly, those with fragrant blooms grow best in full morning sun.

• Sun Power – A bright gold hosta holding color well when planted in morning sun. Grows vigorously with twisted, wavy leaves and pointed tips. Lavender flowers.
• Stained Glass – A sport of Guacamole with gold center colors that are brighter and wide green bands around edges. Fragrant, lavender blooms.
• Sun Mouse – A miniature hosta with rippled leaves that are bright gold in morning sun. This member of the Mouse hosta collection, developed by grower Tony Avent, is so new that nobody is yet sure how much sun it will tolerate. Try it if you want to experiment.
• Guacamole – The 2002 Hosta of the Year, this is a large leaf specimen with wide green border and chartreuse in the center. Veins are lined with dark green in some conditions. A rapid grower with fragrant flowers, this is proof that sun-tolerant hostas have existed for years.
• Regal Splendor – Also a Hosta of the Year, in 2003, this one has large, interesting leaves as well. It has gold margins with mostly blue-green leaves. It is a sport of Krossa Regal, another blue-leaved plant. Great tolerance of morning sun, flowers are lavender.