Hosta 'Sum and Substance'
Approx. 0.5 litre pot
About this cultivar:
Hosta 'Sum and Substance' is 1980 introduction considered to be one of the finest cultivars ever introduced. The giant chartreuse clump is a knockout, topped by tall scapes of pale lavender flowers in midsummer. If you want you can let it spread and it will oblige.
- Position: Full sun, partial shade, full shade
- Soil: Almost any soil, grows well in Ballyrobert
- Flowers: June, July
- Other features: Grows well in Ballyrobert, Interesting Foliage or Fruit, Suitable for Container, Dappled Shade or Full Shade Loving
- Hardiness: Fully hardy - grows well in Ballyrobert!
- Habit: Clump forming
- Foliage: Deciduous
- Height: 75 - 105 cm (2.5 - 3.5 ft)
- Spread: 105 - 135 cm (3.5 - 4.5 ft)
- Time to full growth: 2 to 5 years
- Plant type: Herbaceous Perennial
- Colour: Green, yellow, purple
- Goes well with: Cornus, ferns, allium
About this genus:
Hosta (hos-ta) is a genus of plants commonly known as plantain lilies, giboshi, or the old botanical name Funkia. The name Hosta is in honor of the Austrian botanist Nicholas Thomas Host. However most modern plants were introduced from Japan to Europe by Philipp Franz von Siebold in the mid-19th century. Don't worry about Philipp's legacy being forgotten though; he has a species named after him! (Hosta sieboldiana).
Hosta are often touted as the best shade-loving plants for the perennial garden, which is hard to dispute. In cultivation, Hosta readily mutate and have produced thousands of novel colours and leaf forms (blue, gold, and variegated are the most popular). Because of their great foliage Hosta are often thought of as foliage-only plants, but it is worth noting that many cultivars have fantastic flowers - see "Sum and Substance" and "Stained Glass" for example.
You will read that for best performance, Hosta prefer to be out of full-sun. However if you live on these islands it is doubtful you will ever get any full-sun; so you may try them in your brightest spot as long as they have some moisture. You may have had some experience with slugs and Hosta. So have we. We have found that cultivars matter (some are tastier to slugs than others) so we try to grow only slug resistant cultivars or ones that grow so many new leaves the slugs can't keep up. We've also found that, by not using chemicals, little mites that eat slugs eggs multiply and keep the population down - let nature run its course! Some slug-loving-predator should turn up eventually!
How to use Hosta? Well, if you are paranoid about slugs, place the plant in the middle or back of the border where you can only see the upper part of the plant. Slugs don't climb so high so the lower leaves that get slug damaged won't be seen! As for plant partners we put some red stemmed dog-woods near or through them (Cornus), or large leaf-ferns. It is common to put bulbs in and around Hostas; we do it with Allium. But we don't do it with Narcissi or Tulipa; they don't like the competition.
- Reviews
- Questions
It was a plant not a bare root
I bought this item from the sale section. I was really chuffed when I got it. It's not a big plant but it's healthy and it will grow. It was also a plant in a pot not a bare root in a bag like other places were of for inflated prices.
I love this company
I buy a lot of seeds and 0.5 potted plants. I have a new to me but old garden and despite having gardened for many years, I’m not an expert. This year I have bought from Ballyrobert several times, returning because of the quality and choice of plants I have used Sum and Substance many times in different gardens over the years, it’s a good do-er out of strong winds. I also bought unknown to me before hostas, on their recommendation. Praying Hands is new to me but as I live next to a tiny church they seemed a good choice for a semi shady woodland close by. Buying from Ballyrobert is like having a horticultural mentor within reach 24/7. Their wealth of knowledge is at your finger tips. Occasionally I’ve been carried away by a particular plant photo only to read their comprehensive description which often includes a gentle little nudge at the end suggesting there may be a better choice in some instances. The little things ( ok like the free sweets and hand written note!) help personalise the transaction but the plants are good and the packaging is second to none. Plants are sent with short sticks in each pot, secured to the sides of boxes to make them more stable during transit. I haven’t had any disasters. Dispatch and delivery is fast using Royal Mail, who will leave the parcel without proof of delivery. Less so with other couriers (DPD I think ) with whom we always experience a delay delivering this company’s parcels and they also require a signature and won’t leave the box unless they get one? I look forward to next year when I hope the borders are nettle and sapling free ( I almost ran up a white flag during a two hour battle with a multi stemmed ash sapling) and I can replant them using Ballyrobert recommendations. Thank you.
Quick Service
Purchased three Hosta plants. Very quick turn around after purchase. Plants came a couple of days later and in very good condition.
