Hosta 'Sum and Substance'

Common Name: Hosta

One of the largest hostas available today, with 16", broadly ovate leaves and a huge, mounded form
Leaf color varies with the amount of available sun from light green to chartreuse to gold; prefers ¼-¾ day of sun
Leaves are of good substance, corrugated, and glossy, giving them good slug resistance
Pale lavender, bell-shaped flowers on 48" scapes in mid to late summer
Exhibits greater sun tolerance

Hostas are exceedingly popular perennials in today's gardens due to their versatility in the landscape. Their subtle colors, tall flower scapes, and broad, coarse leaves fill a niche in garden designs that few other plants can achieve. Their large leaves provide excellent coverage for dying bulb foliage. Hostas also grow well in city environments where the air may be polluted by car exhaust, etc.

Height:

3.0 Feet

Spread:

5.0-6.0 Feet

Scape Height:

4.0 Feet

Hardiness Zones:

3,4,5,6,7,8,9

Flower Color:

Purple shades

Foliage Color:

Green shades

Sunlight:

Full Sun (> 6 hrs. Direct Sun) Part Shade (4-6 hrs. Direct Sun)

Water Requirements:

Average Water Needs Consistent Water Needs

Soil Quality:

Average Soil Quality Fertile Soil Quality

Soil Chemistry:

Acidic Soil (pH < 7.0) Neutral Soil (pH = 7.0)

Bloomtime:

Midsummer Late Summer

Attracts Wings:

Attracts Hummingbirds

Growth Rate:

Rapid

Garden Style:

Eclectic Woodland Shade

Other Features:

Border Plant Cut Foliage Easy To Grow Attractive Foliage Specimen Focal Point

Origin:

Not Native to North America

Hostas grow best in moist, well-drained, highly organic soils with a pH between 5.5 and 7.5. Sandy loam is better than clay because it provides more aeration for the roots. High-filtered or dappled sunlight is necessary for clean, healthy growth. Morning sun is tolerable and will help to intensify the leaf colors, but hot afternoon sun is usually deadly to hostas. They are most at home in shady, woodland settings and often work well as specimen or edging plants.

Hostas are very easy to propagate through division. This can be done at any time during the growing season with little or no affect on the growth of the parent plant. Since each division should have at least 3 eyes, plants should be allowed to mature for several years before being divided.

Especially in northern zones, hostas should be mulched with a layer of finely shredded organic material to prevent heaving in the winter. Mulch is beneficial because it retains moisture around the plant's roots, but it is also the ideal place for slugs to hide. Watch for holes in the center of the leaves. If they are present, so are slugs. Applying a slug bait in early spring when new shoots are beginning to emerge will help to reduce the slug population. After a few years when plants are firmly established, the mulch can be removed completely, which should eliminate the slug problem altogether. Also be sure to clean all hosta foliage out of the garden in early winter after the plants have gone dormant. By doing so, you will be ridding the area of the eggs of slugs and other leaf-eating insects.

Awards

American Hosta Growers' Association Hosta of the Year -- 2004

American Hosta Society Eunice Fisher Award (Best large leaf hosta) -- 1984

American Hosta Society President's Exhibitor Trophy -- 1987

Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit -- 1993

American Hosta Society Alex J. Summers Distinguished Merit Award (Awarded to an AHS member for outstanding service to the Society and/or the development of the Hosta genus)

American Hosta Society Benedict Garden Performance Award Honorable Mention -- 2011

American Hosta Society Benedict Garden Performance Award of Merit -- 2013

American Hosta Society Benedict Garden Performance Medal -- 2015

Characteristics