Shaped like the ears of a little garden mouse, this miniature hosta forms a small mound of smooth, sturdy leaves in elegant blue-green. Add a spot of cool, oceany color to your garden's understory. Accented in summer with clusters of lavender flowers.

Scientific Name: Hosta 'Blue Mouse Ears'

Common Name: Blue Mouse Ears Hosta

Garden Size: 6-7 inches tall by 9-12 inches wide; scape height 6-7.5 inches

Growth Rate: Moderate

USDA Zone: 3-9

Exposure: Partial to full shade

Water & Soil: Moist, well-drained soil

Habit (Form): Mounding

Foliage: Small, heart-shaped, lightly cupped leaves with a frosty blue-grey color that may turn more pure green in the southern United States.

Flowers: Pale lavender, bell-shaped flowers that grow on scapes above the foliage. Compared with more standard sized hostas, the flowers on Blue Mouse Ears are large in proportion to 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: V-2 (Miniature Leaved, Blue)

Parentage: Sport of H. 'Blue Cadet'

Notes: Several other "mouse" hostas are sports of Blue Mouse Ears.