Hosta 'Sum and Substance' | Giant Gold Hosta | Shade Perennial | Bare Root Live Plant | Fall 2026 Pre-Order

Hosta 'Sum and Substance' is one of the largest and most celebrated hosta varieties, prized for its enormous heart-shaped leaves that emerge chartreuse in spring before maturing to brilliant golden yellow. Winner of the 2004 Hosta of the Year Award, this giant hosta creates a bold focal point in shade gardens with its impressive size, thick slug-resistant foliage, and elegant pale lavender flowers that bloom in midsummer.

Perfect for woodland gardens, shaded borders, foundation plantings, and large containers, this easy-care perennial provides dramatic texture and vibrant color from spring through fall while attracting hummingbirds and other pollinators.

Key Features

• Botanical Name: Hosta 'Sum and Substance'
• Common Name: Giant Gold Hosta
• Plant Type: Herbaceous Perennial
• Flower Color: Pale Lavender
• Foliage Color: Chartreuse to Bright Golden Yellow
• Leaf Shape: Large, Heart-Shaped, Corrugated
• Mature Height: 24–30 Inches
• Spread: 36–48 Inches
• Growth Habit: Large Clumping, Mounded
• Bloom Season: Mid to Late Summer
• Light Requirements: Partial Shade to Full Shade
• Water Needs: Moderate
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3–9

Why You'll Love It

• Giant award-winning hosta
• Massive golden foliage creates dramatic impact
• Excellent slug resistance
• Easy-care perennial
• Long-lived and dependable
• Attracts hummingbirds and pollinators
• Ideal for woodland and shade gardens
• Outstanding specimen or mass planting

Perfect For

• Shade gardens
• Woodland landscapes
• Foundation plantings
• Mixed perennial borders
• Under mature trees
• Large containers
• Cottage gardens
• Collector hosta gardens

Care Instructions

Plant in rich, well-drained soil with consistent moisture. Morning sun enhances the golden foliage color while afternoon shade helps prevent leaf scorch in warmer climates. Apply mulch to conserve moisture and suppress weeds. Divide mature clumps every 3–5 years in spring or fall to maintain vigor.