Bought four of these at Lowe's today, they were left out to freeze, then marked down to a dollar each. Anyone know anything about them.
The information I found says SunHosta is a trademark name, and that the plant should be placed in full sun for the white borders to fully develop. They appear to all be TC plants, anyone ever grown these?

I have never heard about SunHosta.

I did find this information on growing them and some pictures. They are Fragrant! They are grown in Naples, Florida. The photo shows them casting a shadow so I assume they are out in full sun, can't tell there is any shade cloth over them, but I assume not.
http://www.sunhosta.com/cultur...
http://www.sunhosta.com/pictur...

I think (IMHO) that this is just a marketing technique to sell Hostas. I'll bet that they are not specifically chosen cultivars that have been tested in a number of climates. Many hosta are sun-tolerant in some climates like the Pacific Northwest but not in Texas or Arizonia. Having said that there is no reason not to experiment as to how they will work for you.

These seem to be grown in Naples, Florida. So I figured if they could take full sun there they should do good most places. We shall see.

Found one more little article that mentions Sun Hosta was introduced in south Florida several years ago and that it does indeed do well in Florida.
http://riverlandnursery.com/bl...
One more that mentions it:
http://lee.ifas.ufl.edu/FYN/Ne...

How does a hosta obtain dormancy in Florida?

Found what I was looking for. 'SunHosta appears to be a mutation from 'So Sweet' which has done well for me.
http://forums.gardenweb.com/di...

For $1.00 each,I would just enjoy them for the season! If they come back next year that's great! If not,I know I've spent more than $1.00 for annuals in my yard.

I have no doubt this is not an annual, otherwise there would be no point at all to it. Most hostas could be grown as annuals even in zone 10. The patent application said as an "annual potted or garden plant" and I think that is what gave some people the impression it was an annual. The entire point of having a very short cold period needed for dormancy would be irrelevant if the plant were only an annual. So I am fully expecting this to be a perennial that acts very much like 'So Sweet' in my garden. One of the articles stated that 'SunHosta' was the last hosta in the area to go dormant, I wonder if it is the first to awaken from dormancy?

The variety is not registered. Nor is it listed in MyHostas.be.

The first link you sent said, "Southern growers in zones 10a and 10b are able to grow SunHosta year around, plants will bloom in April if planted in the fall. For the rest of the country we recommend the following schedule:"

Then it went on to say about buying them in the Autumn as well as in the Spring. Made me think that they are indeed marketing them as an annual - buy them twice a year to grow them throughout the year because hostas do indeed need a dormant period. I think its mostly a marketing stunt taking a variety that grows better in the sun than most. Nevertheless, I'd like to hear what happens to yours after a few years.

ViolaAnn,
The first link as I read it did state that the plants could be grown year round in zones 10a and 10b, but then as I read it, it stated that commercial growers should plant liners in summer and early fall for sale of gallon sized plants in the spring. Then said that they should plant liners later in the fall to grow qt. size plants for spring sale. Notice that the sales to retail customers would be all taking place in the spring.
The link listed below is a response to a person asking if it is true that there is a hosta that survives in Florida?
The response is "Yes" and states that regular hosta can be grown as annuals in pots or in the garden, but that the 'SunHosta' is an exception to the rule and does not need the regular dormant period of other hostas.
So to me this indicates there are two differences in the 'SunHosta' one is direct surn tolerance, and one is the lack of need for the regular dormancy period of other hostas. I blew the one picture up of the 'SunHosta' sitting in pots at Home Depot and I can almost say for sure it says "perennial" on the pot, but can't be 100per cent sure, just can't quite get it really clear.
This plant appears to have been selected to be marketed to the very warm areas of the southeast, where lack of dormancy and sun tolerance would be well received. But, somewhere I did read that this hosta should perform just like any other hotas in the more northern regions. I think I will travel over to the Florida forum and ask over there if they are familiar with the 'SunHosa'.

http://lee.ifas.ufl.edu/FYN/Ne...

Can it be grown as a perennial without a cold spell as long as the flowers are cut off and not allowed to form mature seed?

Frillylily.
I have read nothing about it setting seed, or anything about it being necessary to cut off the flowers in order to grow as a perennial.

It is my understanding that all hosta would send up a stalk and bloom and then if the stalk is not removed seeds would develop. The seed would not be true if other hosta were around because of cross pollination and that is how new varieties are formed. I assume once the seeds are mature the pods break open and the seed drops or a person cuts away the stalk in fall clean up. Some plants die after producing seed. I would think that in a warm zone where no winter occurs that the hosta would just continue growing and growing. Am I understanding that a hosta MUST have a cold dormancy in order to LIVE? I could see where a plant would need a dormancy in order to bloom again or produce seed. But hosta will not even live without that cold period? So this means that hosta could not be used as house plants either, even if they were not allowed to make seed?

Frillylily
Here is a link for Pod sterile Hostas.
http://www.hostalists.org/host...

And yes are correctly understanding that hosta must have a cold dormancy in order to live, that is one of the things that makes 'SunHosta" unique as far as I can tell. Here in Alabama I have had several hostas that lived only a short while and never returned and I attributed that to not having enough cold for them to have a successful dormant period. It appears the ones with the least requirements for cold hours do best here and also seem to be the ones that do better in the sun, and also are often the more fragrant ones. So naturally I am very interested in the new 'SunHosta' and am hoping it is not just a marketing gimmick.

so the question here is if these hosta are genetically unique or if they are already registered named hosta being sold under a new name with a fancy new label?

#2

I am still voting for #1.

ha ha ha
well I put my money on #2