A hybrid of two unnamed seedlings, this cultivar was registered by Paul Aden of New York in 1986. It forms a large size (24 inches high) mound with leaves that have a deeply lobed base, are moderately corrugated and wavy. Lavender flowers bloom in July producing many red colored pods.

According to The Hostapedia by Mark Zilis (2009), this cultivar "...rates as an excellent choice for general landscaping purposes in the shade. It can be used as a large ground cover, in small groups, or as a specimen plant. It is, however, difficult to distinguish from 'Christmas Tree', so grow one or the other."

From the Field Guide to Hostas by Mark Zilis (2014), "Recently, The American Hosta Society Cultivar Origination Commission determined that 'Christmas Tree' and 'Grand Master' are the same plant."

An article by Warren I. Pollock in The Hosta Journal (1992 Vol. 23 No. 1) states that, "Can anyone tell me how to distinguish between 'Grand Master' and 'Resonance'?...I've kept only two plants and they are now good-size mature clumps. But the labels got mixed up,...I've spent considerable time examining them. My conclusion is that they look identical...Sandra Bond says that 'Ground Master' flowers are darker than 'Resonance'."