H. ‘Frosted Mini-muffins’

Overview

'Frosted Mini-muffins' (2000) is a very small sport of 'Banana Muffins'. Where the parent is plain, shading from light green to medium gold, this mutation adds a creamy white edge: the leaf is greenish yellow with a slightly rippled margin 0.5 in (1.3 cm) wide.

In the Garden

The registered plant is a mound with a moderate growth rate, 6 in (15.2 cm) across and 5 in (12.7 cm) high. Leaves are almost as wide as long, 2.5 in (6.4 cm) by 2.25 in (5.7 cm), with four to six vein pairs, a cordate base and a dull upper surface. Scapes are registered at 5 to 8 in (12.7 to 20.3 cm).

How it compares

'Banana Muffins' (1996), the parent, is registered at a different scale: a mound 24 in (61.0 cm) wide and 20 in (50.8 cm) high, with round 4.5 in (11.4 cm) leaves and scapes of 26 to 33 in (66.0 to 83.8 cm). It has no white margin.

'Blue Mouse Ears' (2000) is another tiny hosta from the same year. It is registered slightly wider at 9 in (22.9 cm), equally low at 5 in (12.7 cm), and medium blue-green with a glaucous underside. It was Hosta of the Year in 2008 and won the Benedict Garden Performance Award in 2011.

'Gus' (2008) is light green and as tall as it is wide, 11 in (27.9 cm) in both directions, with narrow lance-shaped leaves and scapes up to 25 in (63.5 cm). Pick it if a narrow green leaf matters more than variegation; 'Frosted Mini-muffins' has the rounder greenish yellow leaf with a creamy white edge.

Flowers and other notes

Moderate growth is all the registration says about culture; it lists medium lavender flowers but no bloom dates, and our care guide for hostas covers the rest.

Sources: AHS Registry records for 'Frosted Mini-muffins' (#1968), 'Banana Muffins' (#399), 'Blue Mouse Ears' (#646) and 'Gus' (#2405), hostaregistrar.org; AHS Hosta of the Year booklet; AHS Benedict Garden Performance Award list.