If you're looking for an enormous specimen to stand guard over your garden, 'Sum and Substance' is the hosta for you. This friendly giant features sunny yellow-green heart-shaped leaves in a mound that easily reaches 5 to 6 feet wide.

Scientific Name: Hosta 'Sum and Substance'

Common Name: Sum and Substance Hosta

Garden Size: 20-36 inches tall by 60-72 inches wide; scape height 30-48 inches

Growth Rate: Most hostas have a moderate to fast growth rate.

USDA Zone: 3-9

Exposure: Partial to full shade

Water & Soil: Moist, well-drained soil

Habit (Form): Mounding

Foliage: Enormous, heart-shaped leaves that range in color from chartreuse to gold. Sun exposure encourages lighter gold coloring. The leaves are sturdy and substantial with a corrugated texture that resists slug damage.

Flowers: Pale lavender, bell-shaped flowers that grow on scapes above the foliage. Blooms mid to late summer.

Plant Origin: East Asia, primarily Japan and Korea. Most commercially available hostas are hybrids.

Wildlife Support: Hummingbirds and some bees enjoy the flowers. A favorite treat for our local deer.

Fertilizing: Apply compost in early spring before new growth emerges.

Pruning: Remove spent flower stalks to encourage new growth; trim back damaged or yellowing leaves as needed. Leave the leaves over the winter and wait until early spring to clean up.

ASPCA Toxicity flags (see their site for details): Toxic to dogs, cats, and horses

Uses: Ideal for shade gardens, woodland borders, and container plantings.

AHS Classification: I-3 (Giant Leaved, Yellow)

Parentage: Unknown

Notes: Originator of many sports and progeny.