Blue Mouse Ears Hosta

Blue Mouse Ears Hosta (Hosta 'Blue Mouse Ears') is a miniature foliage perennial just 15cm tall and 25cm wide, forming a neat clump of blue-green leaves. Lilac flower spikes rise in summer, and the plant stays short even in flower. It is the hosta for pots, baskets and the front of a shady border, where a full-size hosta would swamp its neighbours.

Why you'll love it

• Truly small. At 15cm by 25cm it fits where other hostas cannot, from pots and hanging baskets to the edge of a shady path.
• Blue-green foliage. The cool-toned leaves add colour to shade without needing flowers.
• Summer flower spikes. Lilac flowers appear in summer on short stems, so even in flower the plant stays low and compact.
• Cold hardy. It is frost hardy, so it suits gardens that get hard winters, where it dies back and returns in spring.
• A recognised performer. It holds the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit and was named Hosta of the Year for 2008.

Where it works best

Front of a shady border. Plant 25cm apart for a dwarf shade edging. The clumps touch at that spacing and make a neat, continuous band of blue-green.

Under trees. Plant it in the dappled shade beneath trees, where the leaves are shielded from direct afternoon sun.

Pots and hanging baskets. Small enough for hanging baskets and patio pots, which are also easier to protect from snails.

Growing Blue Mouse Ears Hosta in Australia

Position and climate. Dappled shade is ideal. Plant in a sheltered position and avoid direct afternoon sun, which scorches the leaves. It is frost hardy and happiest in cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens, and it needs to be kept moist in hot spells. Hostas are deciduous, so the leaves die back in winter and return in spring.

Soil. Sand, clay and loam all suit it, provided the soil is acid to neutral. Enrich the soil with plenty of organic matter before planting.

Water and feed. Mulch and water regularly until established, usually around 12 weeks, and keep watering through the growing season. Apply a slow-release fertiliser in spring and a liquid fertiliser monthly during flowering to maintain plant health.

Pruning. No pruning is needed. Cut off the spent flower stems, and tidy away the dead leaves when they die back in winter.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Blue Mouse Ears Hosta as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. A tube is all you need for a pot or a basket, and a few will edge a shady bed. Expect a small plant on arrival that bulks up gradually over the seasons.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Plants for partial shade
• Plants for pots
• Shade gardening: what to plant where
• More frost hardy plants

Common questions

Is Blue Mouse Ears safe for pets?

No. Hostas are toxic to dogs and cats if eaten and can cause vomiting and diarrhoea. Grow it where pets cannot chew it, such as in a hanging basket.

Will snails eat it?

They usually do. Check the new growth in spring, hand pick snails and slugs or use a pet-safe snail bait, and consider growing it in a pot or basket.

Can it take any sun?

Gentle morning sun is fine, but avoid direct afternoon sun, which scorches the leaves. Dappled shade suits it best, and it needs to stay moist in hot spells.