Three feet tall and 5 feet wide, 'Sum of All' is a garden standout that earns its adulation with every leaf. This hosta is left unnibbled by slugs and snails and unburnt by hot summer sun, thanks to its remarkably substantial leaf thickness. Its bright band of gold, which edges each leaf, grows wider and deeper with each passing year on heart-shaped leaves delightfully crinkly and puckered. Whether you're a long-time hosta collector or a novice looking for something interesting to fill that large patch of shade, you must consider this bold contender!
Introduced by Zilis in 2000, 'Sum of All' is a sport of the deservedly popular 'Sum and Substance,' itself no slouch in the leaf thickness department. But it leaves its parent far behind as these giant leaves (up to 16 inches long) acquire their bold texture and interresting up-and-out hold, which gives the entire plant a hectic appearance, as if being blown by a breeze. The central green color remains fresh and spring-light, shading unevenly into the band of gold. Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant!
In late summer lavender flowers on 4-foot stems top the foliage, but they can't distract for one minute from its majesty. While this isn't the largest hosta in the world, it is one of the most garden-worthy, its great size more than matched by its vigor and substance. You simply must have it for the garden this season. Zones 3-9.
