The worst sun damage to hostas comes in high summer from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM.  Most experts agree that hostas lose a lot of their moisture content from the sun and wind.  So, if you plan to grow hostas in the sun, water profusely and keep them heavily mulched.  Thick leaved and fragrant hostas with plenty of water will also tolerate sun conditions better than other hostas.  

 

There is no such thing as a truly sun-tolerant hosta.  In Zone 6 and further South, hostas should remain in some shade, as the sun is much too intense. In northern gardens, you must give hostas a lot of water in order to keep that good look in the sun.          

 

Below is a list of plants that are known to hold up well in 4 hours or more of sun without excessive care in Zone 6 and further north.  Consider this list as helpful, but not factual, because hostas prefer some shade.

 

Hostas with Full Sun Tolerance Potential

H. 'Allan P. McConnell'

H. 'August Moon'

H. 'Blue Angel'

H. 'Elegans'

H. 'Francee'

H. 'Halcyon'

H. 'Honeybells'

H. 'Invincible'

H. 'Krossa Regal'

H. 'Lancifolia' 

H. 'Pearl Lake'

H. plantaginea & family including:

--- H. 'Aphrodite'

--- H. 'Ming Treasure'

--- H. 'Venus'

H. 'Royal Standard'

H. 'So Sweet'

H. 'Sun Power'.

H. 'Sugar & Cream'

H. undulata & family including:

--- H. u. 'Albomarginata'

 

Hostas with 4 hours of sun tolerance                  

H. 'Abba Dabba Do'      

H. 'Abiqua Moonbeam'

H. 'Alex Summers'      

H. 'Ani Machi'

H. 'Aztec Treasure'        

H. 'Birchwood Parky's Gold'

H. 'Blonde Elf'

H. 'Blue Cadet'                       

H. 'Blue Mammoth'      

H. 'Blue Umbrellas'      

H. 'Calypso'

H. 'Canadian Blue'               

H. 'Chartreuse Ruffles'           

H. 'Cherry Berry'

H. 'Choko Nishiki'

H. 'Christmas Tree'

H. 'Colossal'

H. 'Crusader'
H. 'Dee's Golden Jewel'

H. 'El Capitian'

H. 'Eternal Flame'

H. 'Fair Maiden'

H. 'Feather Boa'                

H. 'Fire and Ice'

H. 'Fortunei Aureomarginata'

H. 'Fragrant Bouquet' & family including:                    

--- H. 'Fried Bananas'        

--- H. 'Fried Green Tomatoes'

--- H. 'Guacamole'   

H. 'Fragrant Gold'   

H. 'Fringe Benefit'           

H. 'Geisha'      

H. 'Golden Fascination'
H. 'Green Fountain'        

H. 'Green Wedge’

H. 'Ginko Craig'

H. 'Glory'

H. 'Gold Drop'

H. 'Gold Edger'

H. 'Gold Regal'

H. 'Golden Anniversary'

H. 'Golden Tiara'

H. 'Green Gold'

H. 'Green Sheen'

H. 'Grey Piecrust'
H. 'Hadspen Blue'

H. 'Hirao Supreme'

H. 'Hoosier Harmony'

H. hypoleuca

H. ‘Inniswood'

H. 'Janet'

H. 'Jewel Of The Nile'

H. 'Joker'

H. 'Josephine'
H. 'June'

H. 'Kiwi Sunshine'

H. 'Krossa Regal'

H. 'Lady Isobel Barnett'

H. 'Lakeside Kaleidoscope'
H. 'Lakeside Shoremaster'

H. 'Lemon Lime'

H. 'Love Pat'

H. 'Lucy Vitols'

H. 'Mackawa'

H. 'Marquette Park'

H. 'Mayan Moon'
H. 'Moonlight'

H. 'Morning Light'

H. 'Nancy Minks'

H. nigrescens

H. 'On Stage'

H. 'Paradise Joyce'

H. 'Patriot'
H. 'Paul's Glory'

H. 'Punky'
H. 'Radiant Edger'

H. 'Regal Splendor'

H. 'Richland Gold'

H. 'Sagae'

H. 'September Sun'

H. 'Shade Fanfare'

H. 'Shining Tot'

H. 'Snow Crust'
H. 'Squash Casserole'

H. 'Solar Flare'

H. 'Stained Glass'

H. 'Stiletto'

H. 'Sum and Substance' & family

H. 'Summer Fragrance'

H. 'Sundance '

H. 'Sun Glow'

H. Sunspot

H. 'Sweet Home Chicago'

H. 'Sweetie'

H. 'Swirling Hearts'

H. 'Treasure'

H. 'Vanilla Cream'

H. 'Vera Verde'

H.' Warwick Delight'

H. 'Whirlwind'

H. 'Wrinkles and Cream'

H. 'Zounds'