Sum and Substance fertile?

[R. Rock]

Hi,
I thought I had heard 'Sum and Substance' was not fertile? Perhaps it was just difficult to cross?

Anyway I have a 'Sum and Substance' loaded w/ nice dark/black seeds. I don't recall seeing any fertile pods on ones in the past, if even any pods.

Has anyone germinated these seeds? What were the results/seedlings?
Thanks

[John]

Mine often sets seeds, open-pollinated. I've never saved them or sprouted them.

[eastwood2007]

Sum and Substance is one of those that is considered marginal by most, I think.

However, many hostas that have previously been considered sterile or difficult are coming thru this year with the unusual weather we've been having. I've been hearing it from lots of hosta seed growing fans.

Personally, I would definitely grow them to see what I got.

[DBoweMD]

It is definitely possible to get seed from it.
I have one. Zilis crossed it with Venusta and got some plants that he registered from it, but I don't recall which was the pod parent.

[Linda P]

I have pods on some of my Sum and Substance group of plants this year, too.
Don't know if I'll grow any or not, but I may.
Leather Sheen is a cross between S&S and a venusta seedling, but I'm not sure which is the pod parent.
Linda P

[sugar]

Zilis quotes in the Hostapedia that Leather Sheen is a "Sum and Substance x Venusta sedling cross"

So S&S is the pod parent...

[dmi188]

I picked a few S&S pods today. I am all for trying those that are not considered to be fertile, those that no one else bothers with. A little experimentation is what gets me thru the winter months.

[Chris_W]

It is fertile if it gets enough water. I've grown them in a lot of different conditions and whenever they've been in spots with a lot of extra moisture I've seen pods on them. Here I have some very large clumps at the edge of the swamp and they have pods on them, while plants further up the hill where it is pretty dry don't have a single one.

[digs57]

Another hand up for "yes, fertile". Mine sets seed easily and these have produced a number of interesting (very thick-leaved, not necessarily very large) seedlings. Give it a try!