H. ‘Laugh Out Loud’

Overview

Registered in 2013 as a sport of Hosta 'Confused Angel', 'Laugh Out Loud' is a giant cultivar distinguished by its reverse-variegated foliage: broad, medium blue-green margins frame a pale yellow leaf center. The leaves are broadly ovate with a rounded base, flat in profile, and measure up to 15 inches (38.1 cm) long by 10 inches (25.4 cm) wide, with a dull finish on both surfaces.

In the Garden

With a mature spread of 40 inches (101.6 cm) and height of 32 inches (81.3 cm), this mound-forming hosta is best suited to partially shaded sites in typical hosta-growing zones. Its substantial size makes it effective as a specimen or accent in the middle to back of a shaded border, where the blue-green margins contrast with gold-centered companions such as Hosta 'Sum and Substance' or Carex species. The white scapes, reaching 36 to 40 inches (91.4 to 101.6 cm), bear pale flowers in midsummer.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture during the growing season, particularly in warmer climates, and apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new shoots emerge. Like most large-leaved hostas, this cultivar is susceptible to slug damage and may require management in damp conditions; deer browsing is also a potential concern.