Need advice for relocating a couple of hosta

[supercat]

I have a montana macrophylla and a francis williams that are currently in whiskey barrels. I have given up on getting plants to over winter well in the barrels, so need to relocate them. I know that neither of them can take much sun - but which will do better in some sun? The power company came through and did serious damage to my shade trees this year (of course, having electricity is probably somewhat important...) I have space in beds that receive early afternoon sun or late day sun. Any thoughts?

[jgh]

My FW look pretty good about 2 years out of 3 or maybe 2 out of 4... but only after I moved them to deep shade with no direct sun... then the "burn" is only from spring dessication or whatever... (they look reasonably crappy now after cold dry spring and dry summer...)

I don't know Mm specifically... some plants with montana in them, like MAureomarginata and On Stage can take some sun...

[dhaven]

I don't see any reason that Montana Macrophylla couldn't be grown in full sun if necessary. It will certainly take half a day of sun, which is what mine currently gets, and I will be moving it to a spot with 3/4 sun as soon as the new deer fence is finished. Montana Aureomarginata will take absolutely full sun, although the coloration lightens more than I like, but it doesn't burn, and it grows at a faster rate in full sun. Be sure to keep it well watered, especially if you put it in full sun.

Francis Williams not only sun burns, it wind burns, so find it a spot with no sun and no wind. Or give it to someone else who has a very sheltered spot and find a similar variety that doesn't have the burn problems--there are many available.

[supercat]

I do already have Olive Bailey Langdon, which is almost identical to Francis Williams - and hasn't burnt yet! Maybe I will give it away...Thanks for the answers - I think the montana macrophylla will be fine in the spot I was thinking about.

[newtohosta-no more]

Don't completely give up on the whiskey barrels! I have several with hostas in them and some of the hostas have done well and survived the last few winters, while others die off right away. So far the hostas that I've had the most luck growing in barrels have been: Crocodile Rock, Yin, Center of Attention, Rupifraga, Dust Devil, June Fever, Fire Island, and Deep Blue Sea. I think my Heartsong also has survived the last several winters also. Will they be here next year? Who knows, but so far they seem to like the barrels.
Good luck with moving your plants!

[eastwood2007]

I have a Blue Cadet and a hardy fern that have been in the same barrel since 1999. I used to mulch them with straw, but I don't even mulch them anymore.

Supercat, have you tried overwintering hostas in whiskey barrels, or just other plants?

[supercat]

I've overwintered hosta for the last 4 years, and lost 1 francis williams (the current one is a replacement that barely made it last winter), a stained glass - all that was left of a huge plant was one eye, a blue angel - finally recovering after careful nursing for 3 years, and the montana macrophylla, who survived last winter, but was not a happy hosta this spring. It may just be location, etc. But, I think I will learn my lesson that in my yard, I'm throwing the dice every time I leave a hosta in the barrel over winter. However, since I have DH's blessing to populate some empty beds with hosta, space is not a problem - just the "how much sun" question.