H. ‘Soft Focus’

Overview

Registered in 2009, *Hosta* 'Soft Focus' is a medium-sized cultivar of unknown parentage distinguished by its heavily rippled golden-yellow leaf margins that persist throughout the growing season. The broadly ovate, lightly cupped leaves feature green centers with gold margins, 12 vein pairs, and a moderately corrugated surface with slight shine on both sides.

In the Garden

'Soft Focus' forms a symmetrical mound 20 inches (50.8 cm) tall and 36 inches (91.4 cm) in diameter, with a moderate growth rate. It performs best in partial to full shade, where the gold margins maintain their color without scorching. The near-white flowers on 33-inch (83.8 cm) golden-yellow scapes in midsummer provide contrast against the foliage. This cultivar works well as a specimen in shaded borders or as a groundcover in mass plantings.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture, particularly during dry periods, and apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Standard slug and deer precautions are recommended for hosta-growing zones.