Hosta 'Sum and Substance'
Hosta 'Sum and Substance'
Hosta 'Sum and Substance'
Hosta 'Sum and Substance'
Hosta 'Sum and Substance'
Hosta 'Sum and Substance'
Hosta 'Sum and Substance'
Hosta 'Sum and Substance'
Hosta 'Sum and Substance'
Hosta 'Sum and Substance'

Hosta 'Sum and Substance'

"Plantain lily"

Hosta 'Sum and Substance'

1 bare root — £6.25

Spring planting season is currently closed 
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Delivery schedule

Orders placed until 29 February 2025
You can expect your order in February/March 2025

Orders placed 1 March - 15 April 2025
You can expect your order in March/April 2025

Orders placed 16 April - 15 May 2025
You can expect your order within 10 business days

Available for (pre)ordering again in December
Free delivery on UK orders over £50
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Shipping to the UK

UK orders over £50
Free shipping

UK orders under £50
£4.99

Northern Ireland orders under £50
£5.99

More info

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— Invest in soil carbon storage.

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Description

One of the Goliaths of the hosta world, Hosta 'Sum and Substance' goes all out to make its point. It’s leafy, giant and slightly Jurassic appeal is what these fantastic foliage plants are really all about. Not only does this large plantain lily make a stand-out focal point in the garden with its incredible, broad, zesty lemon-lime leaves which fill a fair-sized area with lushness and colour from spring through to autumn each year, but Hosta 'Sum and Substance'will treat you (and the bees) to a lovely summer show of lilac-coloured flowers too.

Part of the fun with plants is watching them grow. Hosta 'Sum and Substance' starts life a modest size, but you will notice each year it returns slightly larger than the year before and with more leaves, the leaves also increase in size as the plant matures. After a few years once mature, this statuesque hosta can grow up to around 75cm tall and each leaf can measure up to 50cm from base to tip. Equally at home in borders, where it makes a truly breath-taking statement, or a larger container, Hosta 'Sum and Substance' will thrive in full or part shade and any free-draining, but reliably moist soil or compost. The easy way to know you’re onto a winner with a plant is if it’s accredited with and RHS Award of Garden Merit, which this one indeed is and is completely worth of! 

Key features

  • Perfect for pots

  • Comes back every year

  • Loved by pollinators

  • Great for shade

  • In peat-free compost

  • Low maintenance

  • RHS Award (AGM)

  • Fully hardy

  • Rodent resistant

Specs & details

  • Botanical name

    Hosta 'Sum and Substance'

  • Plant size

    1

  • Established height

    50-75cm

  • Established spread

    50-75cm

  • Plant spacing

    5 plants per m2

  • Leaf colour

    Green, lime, yellow

  • Habit

    Clump-forming
    Upright

  • Life cycle

    Perennial

  • Hardiness

    Fully hardy

  • Years to establish

    1-2 years

  • Sunlight

    Partial shade
    Dappled shade
    Full shade

  • Position

    Sheltered

  • Suitable for

    Pots
    Large containers
    Borders
    Ground cover
    Cottage gardens
    Low maintenance gardens

  • Soil acidity

    Any

  • Soil moisture

    Damp
    Free draining

  • Soil type

    Loam
    Clay
    Loam-based compost
    Multipurpose compost

  • RHS Award (AGM)

    Yes

  • Growing skill

    Easy to grow

  • Scented

    No

  • Pollinator-friendly

    No

  • Mouse resistant

    Yes

  • Rabbit resistant

    Yes

  • Deer resistant

    Yes

  • Toxicity

    No report

Plant calendar

JanFebMarAprMayJuneJulyAugSepOctNovDec
  • Planting
  • Flowering

Useful information

    • Soak the Hosta 'Sum and Substance' roots in water for 3-6 hours prior to planting

    • Plant your "Plantain lily" bare roots into temporary pots with a multipurpose compost in spring and grow-on in a sheltered spot outdoors

    • Choose a pot which comfortably fits the bare roots. Some have a noticeable crown which should be just below the soil surface with any top growth exposed. Some varieties are a length of root which should be planted lengthways and shallowly (1-2cm deep).

    • Plant out into borders or permanent containers in late spring or early summer once in full growth. Choose a position in sun or shade depending on the variety.

    Read all planting & care instructions

  • Orders placed until 29 February 2025
    You can expect your order in February/March 2025

    Orders placed 1 March - 15 April 2025
    You can expect your order in March/April 2025

    Orders placed 16 April - 15 May 2025
    You can expect your order within 10 business days

Perennials in 1 minute

The beauty of perennial plants doesn’t just lie in their long-lasting flowers and sturdy, resilient nature, but it’s their sheer determination to keep on coming back stronger every year —in year one they’re good, but in future years they’re even better!

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