Hostas for DEEP shade

jobranch · Post by **jobranch** » Sep 28, 2007 10:00 pm

I have a very deep shade area that I want to put some hostas in next spring. What should I consider buying that is tough (will take heat) and easy to find, preferably from Hallson. I also want to put about 6-8 some unique looking ones on my screen porch in pots that will get very little light.

Jeff

Wild Dog · Post by **Wild Dog** » Sep 29, 2007 11:44 am

I think I would choose large growing varieties because deep shade will cause them to be smaller and some small plants may just not grow large enough to make much of a show.

I would also choose plants such as Patroit that show the color regardless of light. Pauls Glory for example may not produce the nice yellow color in deep shade.

I planted one fairly large area all blue and fine it very peaceful.

Just some thoughts good luck.

Frodo the Hobbit · Post by **Frodo the Hobbit** » Sep 29, 2007 4:03 pm

Sum and Substance does well in deep shade for me. I find that if I move one of my larger blues into deep shade rather than a "baby" blue it does better, Just takes too long for a hosta to get to a decent size when starting in deep shade...

Frodo

Noreaster · Post by **Noreaster** » Sep 29, 2007 5:20 pm

Frodo, when you move a larger hosta into the shade, does it continue to look nice and large in the next seasons, as it comes up? I moved Big Daddy into one of my deeper shade pockets from a sunnier spot that it was planted early last summer. I moved it at the beginning of this summer, and was really pleased at how much bigger it had gotten in just one year...the leaves were huge this year, and it was much taller and wider, too. I've been wondering how it will look next year, though, now that it's in almost total shade (I'm pretty new to all this) I think it was also the only hosta that didn't bloom for me this year.

I actually have Paul's Glory in a fair amount of shade (dappled, no direct sun), as well, and was surprised to see that it has grown noticeably (planted this summer), and the leaves colored up really well. A friend of mine has five Sum and Substances in a very dark corner of her yard and they look fantastic and huge.

thy · Post by **thy** » Sep 29, 2007 7:08 pm

Frodo is correct, small new ones will be slow in deep shade, but they will just add a year or 2 to maturity..exept tokudamas.. here they do not grow at all in deep shade.. but Alabama is way different

Here the blue ones are mostly green in deep shade ( a few hours of nordic morning sun) but do a test for your area. Wilddog is correct when a problematic hosta as Patriot can be a beauty and keeping the white edges.. even Knock Out is great here in shade.
My favs. are ventricosa, El Niño and Striptease. Blue Angel is a good one too... mine is just getting some sun and blue green, Fan Dance is in my garden only beautiful in shade, June is always beautiful

Guardian Angel is good in shade too... remember Water, Water and just a bit of water

Ask Chris for good size plants and you may let them have some sun the first summer... but then.. I do not know anything bout mowing hostas from Michigan to Alabama

Pia

DryGulch · Post by **DryGulch** » Sep 29, 2007 7:26 pm

I don't have a recommendation for a particular hosta, but in deep shade hostas that are variegated white or a nice clear golden yellow or are very limey yellow capture the available light and add a great impact.

Wild Dog · Post by **Wild Dog** » Sep 29, 2007 8:28 pm

Plants moved will be working on the roots they have depending on the time of year moved of course. The following year they will start to work on the roots they can produce in the conditions they are in.

I don't think short term observations have long term validity. After 3 years you will know something about what to expect.

Wanda · Post by **Wanda** » Sep 29, 2007 10:34 pm

Hosta so need a certain amount of light, so it may be kinder to switch them out periodically so they have a chance to get some light - like they do in the big office buildings. Have two groups of potted plants...one in the deep shade on your deck and the other group in more light somewhere - and every two weeks switch them. Would add more interest, too.

wanda

jobranch · Post by **jobranch** » Sep 30, 2007 10:43 am

Thanks for the comments. That's the good thing about pots, one a sunny weekend, I can put them out in the sun and then move them back into shade when it gets too hot. Another thought is to put some potted hostas in the ground so I can move them when the heat of the summer arrives. Do any of you do that?

Jeff

John · Post by **John** » Sep 30, 2007 12:04 pm

I don't know that moving hostas from one light level into another on a regular basis would give them much chance to adapt to their growing conditions. I'd like to plant them in the ground, let them adapt, and show what they can do.

I think the large blues would be fantastic.

Willowy · Post by **Willowy** » Sep 30, 2007 1:45 pm

I love how the same plant can look like a totally different when planted in semi shade vs. deepshade. I have a very deep shade area and have 3 large beautiful Francis Williams, plus Super Nova growing there. In addition, Bressingham Blue and (yes I agree) Patriot does well in my deep shade too. Last year I planted Emerald Ruff Cut in this area and it doubled in size this year. However my Love Pat has resided in two different deep shade areas and has not performed well, perhaps it would like more light.

Experiment and be ready to move things when they don't work out. Good luck!

jobranch · Post by **jobranch** » Sep 30, 2007 1:57 pm

Thanks Willowy - I already have a Bressingham Blue that I could divide and put in my deep shade area. Also, I have one Francis Williams there already. I love both of these hostas.

Frodo the Hobbit · Post by **Frodo the Hobbit** » Sep 30, 2007 9:03 pm

Noreaster: A few years ago I moved to a new house and had a couple larger blues that I placed in deeper shade than they had been in. What is hard to determine is how much the decrease in size the next year was due to the move, and how much was due to the lack of sun. After a couple year they both did well, but neither one got much larger than when I placed it there. I assume they would have started to grow a bit more once they got settled, but I moved them to a new house this year so they never got the chance...

Frodo

Noreaster · Post by **Noreaster** » Sep 30, 2007 10:15 pm

Thanks, Frodo. I'm pretty much just getting started with gardening and hostas, and I'm really eager for the ones I planted over the last few years to get some size to them...the idea that they can actually decrease is so depressing. I really want to put a new hosta bed on the north side of our house, replacing a row of yews that are there now. It gets no direct sun at all, and now I'm wondering I can't get nice large hostas to grow there. (or if I have to wait decades for it).

VThosta/daylilylover · Post by **VThosta/daylilylover** » Sep 30, 2007 10:26 pm

I put Blue Angel in a spot that gets very little sun. I did make sure it had lots of water (although we've had a fairly wet summer). It looks like it did when I put it in the ground in June. I think I'll have to take a match to it to see if it's plastic... The rest of the hostas I put in at the same time either bloomed or showed some growth but they were in an area with a little more sun. I hope it makes it through the winter.

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Oct 01, 2007 11:25 am

Hello Noreaster

To grow well, hostas need
a lot of water,
more water,
light and
nutrients, and,
did I mention WATER.

Deep shade often means close to trees and shrubs. This can cause very dry shade and a very poor top soil.
No sense in planting out hostas in those spots without soil improvement (nutrients and water retention) and some way of supplying enough water.

Love from the Hosta Mill

Rob

Hallson Gardens

Hostas for DEEP shade

Hostas for DEEP shade

In deep shade...