H. ‘Calico Mouse Ears’

Overview

A sport of Hosta 'Frosted Mouse Ears' registered in 2012, 'Calico Mouse Ears' is a miniature cultivar distinguished by its blue-green leaf centers streaked with creamy white and bordered by wide, creamy white, flat margins. The nearly round leaves, measuring 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) long and 2.25 inches (5.7 cm) wide, bear a glaucous bloom on both surfaces and exhibit slight waviness.

In the Garden

This slow-growing miniature forms a compact, mound-like clump reaching 6 inches (15.2 cm) in diameter and 16 inches (40.6 cm) in height, making it well suited for rock gardens, troughs, and container culture. It performs best in partial to dappled shade, where its variegated foliage remains stable, and pairs effectively with other small-scale perennials such as miniature ferns or Heuchera cultivars. Its diminutive stature also suits front-of-border positions in shaded beds.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture during the growing season, applying a balanced slow-release fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. As with most hostas, slug and deer damage may occur; monitor regularly and apply controls as needed in typical hosta-growing zones.