Planting Hosta 'Francee' in the cast iron pot 3 years ago has proved to be a success. Hostas don't find my part of Texas very agreeable, but I like them so I thought I'd just grow it as annual. I started with 3 plants and was surprised to see all three return after overwintering in the pot. One quickly died that second summer, but two have made it and one is really a big plant now. The pot itself is a bit difficult because the drain holes are too small. Seems to be the right combo of plant and container. I'm happy. I wish it was one of the bluegreen Hostas that I really love, but I'll accept this as long as it's content to grow . Maybe the Wal-Mart fern I put in there this year will surprise me too!

Very creative. That is a great reward to have one specimen that is doing so well in an unexpected habitat.
Good job!

'Francee' performs very well here. I started out with one and now it has been divided several times, and they are all flourishing.

I see fern in the third photo too, Larry. How do Hostas fare in general for you? They don't seem to be very good competitors with other plants when I've tried them in the ground. Too many oak tree roots, I think. I kept 2-3 alive for about 3 yrs once, but they kept shrinking and didn't do well. Do you have any of the blue green Hostas that do well? I'm now inclined to try one of those in a container situation since this one survives winter outside in the container. It's really a dry heat here most of the time and I'm pretty sure any direct sun except early morning would not be good here.

I have Hostas planted under oaks and I am surprised they survive at all due to the invasive roots. There are just mats of very fine roots all under the oaks, sometimes I don't know how anything manages to emerge though them.
Here are some of the Hostas growing under the oaks, really near them. All my Hostas are shaded by the canopy of oak trees.
'Bressingham Blue': Not thriving, but it is a division of the plant shown in the next photo, it is very slow growing here.

'Bressingham Blue':

'Zounds': This plant has been successful in some plantings, and it has died in at least three plantings, I currently have these two.


'Undulata Albomarginata': Without a doubt this plant seems to love it here, it grows anywhere I put it. I have it spread all over.

'August Moon' seems to live here, but it is not that impressive.

Two large growing hostas that seem to like it here under the oaks are:
'Winter Snow':

'Sum and Substance':

I have quite a few others also, but if I were to recommend any for this area (these are growing under the shade of the oaks, but not so near to the trees themselves) it would be.
'Guacamole':

'June':

'Queen Josephine':

Of course 'Francee', and one other that has done very well here is 'So Sweet':


Just wanted to add that you might be interested in SunHosta, I have four of them bought off the discount rack at Lowe's and they are all doing fine, even the one that gets a lot of direct sun. But they have had plenty of rain, and that might make all the difference!