Hosta 'Blue Mouse Ears' is a charming miniature hosta prized for its thick round blue green leaves and tidy symmetrical mound. Its slug resistant foliage emerges early in spring and maintains color well into summer. Lavender bell shaped flowers appear in midsummer attracting pollinators while rising just above the foliage.
Height & Spread: 6 - 8 in x 12 - 18 in
Bloom Time: Midsummer
Light Requirements: Part shade to full shade
Soil Preference: Moist, well drained soil enriched with organic matter
Watering Needs: Moderate; prefers consistent moisture
Deer Resistance: Frequently browsed by deer, protection recommended
Native Status
This cultivar originates from hybrids of species native to Japan and is not considered native to North America, though it performs well in shade gardens across many regions.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Bees
- Lavender blooms attract bumblebees and other native bees searching for summer nectar sources in shaded areas.
Butterflies
- Visited occasionally by shade tolerant butterflies like Red Admirals and Spring Azures.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations:
- Space 12 - 18 in apart for a dense mounding effect or plant closer together as groundcover in small areas.
Landscape Placement:
- Excellent for edging shaded paths, tucking into rock gardens, or massing in containers where its compact form can be appreciated up close.
Companion Plants
- Polygonatum humile (Dwarf Solomons Seal) - Elegant, arching stems with white dangling flowers contrast with the rounded mound of 'Blue Mouse Ears'.
- Tiarella cordifolia (Foamflower) - Creamy spring blooms and lobed foliage weave naturally with miniature hostas in moist shady sites.
- Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost' - Silver veined leaves provide brilliant texture and brighten the shade garden floor.
- Epimedium grandiflorum 'Lilafee' - Delicate purple blooms and heart shaped foliage harmonize with the hosta’s soft leaf form.
- Ferns (Various) - Textured green fronds of compact ferns add vertical contrast and echo the woodland setting.