H. ‘Out of the Blue’

Overview

Registered in 2003, 'Out of the Blue' is a giant hosta cultivar originating as a seedling from *Hosta* 'Dorothy Benedict'. Its most distinctive feature is the unstable variegation of the blue-green leaf center, which produces irregular streaks of medium green, greenish yellow, yellow, and creamy white against a white margin.

In the Garden

This cultivar reaches 29 inches (73.7 cm) in height and 31 inches (78.7 cm) in diameter, with an upright growth habit and moderate growth rate. It performs best in partial to full shade, typical for blue-leaved hostas, and its substantial size makes it suitable as a specimen or background plant in shaded borders. The deeply corrugated, broadly ovate leaves with cordate bases and light cupping provide textural contrast when paired with fine-leaved perennials such as ferns or *Heuchera*.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture during dry periods; apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. The glaucous bloom on the leaf undersides may be susceptible to slug damage, and the unstable variegation may require monitoring for reversion to solid green.