Blue Mouse Ears hosta

Sun

Partial shade to full shade; gentle morning sun is usually suitable, but avoid hot afternoon sun.

Water

Keep evenly moist during active growth, without waterlogging. Containers need more frequent checking than plants in the ground.

Soil

Humus-rich, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil; tolerates acidic to mildly alkaline conditions.

Height

0.5-0.7 ft (0.15-0.2 m) in leaf; flower stems reach about 1 ft (0.3 m)

Spread

0.75-1 ft (0.23-0.3 m)

Flowers

Lavender, bell-shaped flowers on short stems in early to midsummer.

Foliage

Small, thick, rounded to heart-shaped leaves with a waxy blue-green surface; the blue colouring can fade towards green through the season.

Growth

Slow to moderate; forms a compact clump over several years.

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Cold hardy
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   0.6 ft (0.18 m)

   full size

About 4 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Growth rate

Slow

• Water at soil level during dry spells, especially in the first growing season.
• Apply a thin layer of compost in spring; avoid heavy feeding.
• Mulch around the clump to conserve moisture, keeping mulch clear of the crown.
• Use a container with drainage holes and do not leave it standing in water.
• Divide only when the clump is well established or you want more plants; frequent division slows its development.

Pruning. Cut spent flower stems back to the base after flowering. Remove leaves once they have yellowed and collapsed in autumn, or clear any remaining dead foliage before spring growth.

Early spring

Clear away dead foliage and check emerging shoots for slug and snail damage.

Spring

Plant or divide established clumps as new shoots appear; water thoroughly afterwards.

Mid-spring

Top-dress with compost and renew mulch without covering the crown.

Summer

Check soil moisture regularly and water during dry weather.

After summer flowering

Remove faded flower stems if you want a tidy foliage display.

Late autumn

Remove collapsed foliage and check that containers drain freely before winter.

• Edge a shaded path with small groups so the rounded foliage can be seen close up.
• Grow in a small container on a shaded terrace, where larger plants will not overwhelm it.
• Pair with fine-textured ferns and sedges for a contrast in leaf shape.
• Use at the front of a woodland border beneath deciduous shrubs, away from dense, dry root competition.

Garden styles it suits: Woodland, Japanese, Modern courtyard, Small-space, Blues and silvers and Low-maintenance.

Plant it with: Japanese painted fern, Japanese forest grass, Brunnera, Epimedium, Hellebores and Snowdrops.

Wildlife: Flowers provide nectar for bees and may attract hummingbirds in North America. Deer and rabbits may eat the foliage.

• Slugs and snails can damage emerging leaves despite their thick texture; inspect at dusk, remove hiding places and use labelled iron-phosphate bait if needed.
• Leaf scorch causes pale or brown patches in strong sun or dry soil; provide afternoon shade and maintain even moisture.
• Crown and root rot can develop in waterlogged soil; improve drainage and avoid burying the crown.
• Hosta virus X can cause unusual mottling, ink-like markings along veins and distorted leaves; remove infected plants, do not divide them, and disinfect cutting tools.

All parts contain saponins and are toxic to cats, dogs and horses if eaten, usually causing vomiting, diarrhoea or abdominal discomfort; larger amounts can cause more serious illness. Hostas are not generally considered poisonous to people, but ornamental plants should not be treated as food.

• Blue Cadet hosta (Hosta 'Blue Cadet')

  Makes a larger clump with more pointed, heart-shaped leaves rather than the small, rounded, thick leaves of Blue Mouse Ears.

• Mouse Trap hosta (Hosta 'Mouse Trap')

  Has similar small, rounded leaves but with creamy-white centres and green margins rather than solid blue-green foliage.

Hosta honours Austrian botanist Nicolaus Thomas Host, while 'Blue Mouse Ears' describes the small, rounded blue-green leaves.

Propagation. Divide an established clump in spring as shoots emerge, keeping roots and at least one healthy growing point on each division. Seedlings will not reliably retain the cultivar's characteristics.

Accepted botanical name

Hosta

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.