Hosta is found in nearly every garden up north, and the blooms attract hummingbirds. For the deep south, try sun and heat-tolerant SunHosta.
Whenever I go to Ohio or Michigan to visit family in the summer, I find myself suffering from “hosta envy”. Folks who live there take hosta for granted, but not me. I live in central Florida, where the winters aren’t cold enough for hosta to achieve the dormancy period it needs, and summers are too hot for them to tolerate. So I was thrilled when a new hosta variety, SunHosta, made its way onto the market.
Do Hummingbirds Like Hostas?
The small trumpet-shaped pale pink and purple blooms are just the right size for nectar-loving hummingbirds. Expect flowers starting in April in southern states, and in summer further north.
Hosta Care and Growing Tips
I enjoy seeing beautiful hostas in borders and flower beds, with their lovely green foliage. However, the reason that most hosta doesn’t thrive in the deep south is the lack of cold winter temperatures. Hosta (zones 3 to 9) is native to northeast Asia, and requires a dormancy period of cold weather (30 days at or below 40 degrees is the general rule of thumb) to thrive year after year.
Plant hosta in part to full shade. Known as the ultimate low-care perennial, they’re a good choice for containers, borders and other shady spots. Cut back flower stalks after end of blooming period.
Cultivars come with endless varieties of sizes, leaf shapes, patterns, textures and colors. Easily divided, hosta is also perfect for the budget-minded gardener.
SunHosta Is More Heat and Sun Tolerant
For anyone living in hotter climates, hosta has always had to be treated as an annual. SunHosta hit the market in 2009 in Florida marketed as the hosta for full sun and hot, humid summers. In recent years, SunHosta became available in other regions too, since it grows in zones 4 to 10. Up north, try SunHosta in full sun or dry places where other hosta varieties don’t thrive. Down south, grow SunHosta in sun or light shade, even in drought-prone areas.
In areas with frost-free winters, SunHosta will grow year-round. In areas with mild freezes, SunHosta will go dormant during the colder months. Up north, SunHosta will behave like other hosta varieties in the garden, except it can be planted in full sun. Finally, no more need for “hosta envy.” SunHosta is for everyone!
Sources
- Monrovia – SunHosta
