Hosta School Mouse

Hosta 'School Mouse' resembles the miniature hosta 'Church Mouse', appreciated for its thick and undulating leaves, but these leaves are distinctly margined with yellow. Its small blue-green to green leaves with an irregular margin that quickly changes from lime green to golden yellow. They maintain this beautiful variegation until late summer. Together, they form a small dense mound with a unique and luminous appearance, on which well-proportioned lavender flower spikes bloom in summer. Not very appetising to gastropods, this variety will form graphic borders or even unique groundcover when planted en masse in damp shade. It also grows very well in pots.

Hosta 'School Mouse' is one of the latest additions to the 'Mouse' series, with the famous 'Blue Mouse Ears' as its leader. It is a deciduous perennial plant from the hosta family, or lily family according to classical classification. This variety appears from spring onwards, a growth habit in small almost carpet-like circular clumps with symmetrical vegetation. The plant reaches a height of about 15-20 cm (6-8in) for the foliage and spreads up to 30 cm (12in). Its longevity is excellent. It has small heart-shaped leaves with smooth and very thick lamina, slightly powdery and undulate at the edges. Some, due to intensely undulated margins, fold in half, resembling a rolled-up tongue. Well-proportioned flower stalks rise through the foliage in July-August and display campanulate flowers of considerable size compared to the plant. They are pale lavender, borne in fairly compact clusters. This perennial spreads through stolons, similar to strawberries.

Hosta 'School Mouse' pairs well with baby's tears, lady's mantle, ferns, pineapple lilies, creating an elegant and surprising effect while requiring minimal maintenance. This dwarf hosta will also thrive in a border, a damp and shaded rockery, alongside columbines and bleeding hearts or even small violets. All hostas grow well in pots and can remain in the same container for several years. As long as the foliage is not too dense, watering from the top of the pot can be done. Then place a saucer under the pot to keep the moisture level constant in summer.