This teeny, adorable hosta features a low clump of sturdy leaves with smooth, blue-green centers and wavy, corrugated yellow margins, so that a ruffled skirt surrounds each leaf. Lavender flowers on short scapes crown this quirky little mouse in summer.

Scientific Name: Hosta 'School Mouse' PP 29559

Common Name: School Mouse Hosta

Garden Size: 8 inches tall by 12 inches wide; scape height 14 inches

Growth Rate: Most hostas have a moderate to fast growth rate.

USDA Zone: 3-9

Exposure: Partial to full shade

Water & Soil: Moist, well-drained soil

Habit (Form): Mounding, Compact

Foliage: Small, wavy, heart-shaped leaves with blue-green centers and creamy yellow edges. The leaves' centers are smooth while the margins are wavy and corrugated, giving the leaves the appearance of a frilled, ruffled border.

Flowers: Lavender, tube-shaped flowers that grow on scapes above the foliage. Blooms mid summer.

Plant Origin: East Asia, primarily Japan and Korea. Most commercially available hostas are hybrids.

Wildlife Support: Hummingbirds and some bees enjoy the flowers. A favorite treat for our local deer.

Fertilizing: Apply compost in early spring before new growth emerges.

Pruning: Remove spent flower stalks to encourage new growth; trim back damaged or yellowing leaves as needed. Leave the leaves over the winter and wait until early spring to clean up.

ASPCA Toxicity flags (see their site for details): Toxic to dogs, cats, and horses

Uses: Ideal for shade gardens, woodland borders, and container plantings.

AHS Classification: Unregistered

Parentage: Sport of H. 'Church Mouse'