Hosta Blue Mouse Ears

The Hosta 'Blue Mouse Ears', also known as Funkia 'Blue Mouse Ears', is an adorable miniature variety with thick blue-grey foliage, each curved and pointed leaf resembling a mouse ear in shape and texture. This compact plant proves to be very sturdy and forms a neat, dense mound that is covered in lavender flower spikes during the summer. Resistant to snails and slugs, this variety makes beautiful borders or can be used as a delightful ground cover when planted en masse in cool shade. It also thrives in pots.

The Hosta 'Blue Mouse Ears' is a deciduous perennial plant belonging to the hosta family, or lily family according to classical classification. From spring onwards, it forms small circular clumps that almost spread like a carpet, with symmetrical growth. This is one of the many hybrids created from the hybridization of the variety 'Blue Cadet', itself descended from species native to Japan and China. The plant reaches a height of 10 to 20 cm (4 to 8in) for the foliage and spreads over 30 to 50 cm (12 to 20in). It has heart-shaped leaves with smooth and very thick laminae, pruinose blue-grey in colour with a fine white border. The leaves have a curious appearance, resembling mouse ears with their curled edges and pointed tips. The plant retains its blue colouration well in slightly sunny positions. Pale green flower spikes rise above the foliage and display large bell-shaped flowers in July-August, relative to the size of the plant. The flowers are pale lavender and borne in fairly compact clusters. This perennial spreads by stolons, similar to strawberries.

The Hosta 'Blue Mouse Ears' pairs well with helxine, alchemilla, ferns, and eucomis in partial shade, creating an elegant and surprising effect that requires minimal maintenance. This dwarf hosta also thrives in borders, cool and shaded rockeries, alongside columbines and bleeding hearts, or even with small violets. All hostas grow well in pots and can remain in the same container for several years. Choose a special geranium potting mix to use during the growing season. As long as the foliage is not too dense, watering from the top of the pot is sufficient. Then place a saucer under the pot and pour water into it, keeping the level constant in summer.