Hosta 39sum and substance39 is a great plantain lily that has been awarded the coveted rhs award of garden merit 40agm41 this bold and beautiful hosta has huge deeply corrugated deep green leaves which make a good backdrop for tall stems bearing pale lilac flowers which appear in july this is the hosta for a shady courtyard or border where it makes a bold statement it looks good with ferns and provides really effective ground cover in areas where many other plants prefer not to