I've been xeriscaping now for over 7 yrs. and I'm pretty tired of it. I have a small patch of "ground" at my new house where I want to make a shade garden and try growing hosta. I will have to replace the sand a rock with real soil and install soaker hose, I think. Has anybody tried this in the SW? It's hot and dry. I grew hosta in KS and IA where it was hot and humid.

You can grow anything (almost) with proper irrigation.

Also, look into Bergenia. It thrives, here, in SoCal & is similar in growth habit to hosta.