Although hosta plants are mainly known for their love of shade there are many varieties that are sun tolerant. It used to be that these were mainly the hosta varieties with gold leaves but more hybrids are being developed every year that allow the beautiful hosta plant to tolerate more sunshine. In this article we will discuss some Hosta varieties that are known to be sun tolerant.



Hosta August Moon is an old time favorite sun tolerant hosta that grows well in almost any climate. The leaves start out as broad flat swords and turn into large corrugated golden slats by the end of the summer. The tiny flowers are a pale lavender color.

Another popular gold hosta is Gold Regal. This plant performs well in direct sunlight and is topped with a showy bouquet of lavender flowers during July.

Krossa Regal is a upright creamy blue hosta which can grow almost anywhere. This hosta forms a vaselike mound of foliage topped with very tall flower scapes during the summer. Krossa Regal is very popular due to its dependability and elegant appearance.

Hosta Regal Splendor is basically a Krossa Regal with a creamy golden margin! This sun tolerant sport of Krossa Regal displays the same growth habits but adds a twist of color. Both of these varieties are fast growers and sure to please.

Sun Power starts out with chartreuse colors which slowly evolve into a bright golden hue. Leaves are more pointed than those of August Moon. Holds its color well through out the season.

Hosta Francee is a classic green hosta with white margins. It is a fast increaser which boasts clumps full of eyes within a few years. Excellent all purpose hosta great for filling large areas or creating dramatic borders in your landscape. It is a clean looking hosta which has a very nice growth habit.

Rascal is a harder to find gold hosta. A very subtle chartreuse margin is hard to see at first glance but offers a unique variegation pattern. It is a sport of Hosta Gold Regal.

These hostas are some of the best choices for your sunny planting locations. If you are new to hostas make sure you take a look at Krossa Regal and Regal Splendor. You can find these two varieties almost anywhere you shop for hostas. Low maintenance and healthy plant vigor make these 2 beginner favorites!

Even some of the sun tolerant hostas have minimum watering requirements if you are experiencing warmer than normal summer conditions. As a quick rule of thumb, just remember most gold hostas can tolerate more sun than other varieties.