H. ‘Little Dancer’

Hosta 'Little Dancer'
Illustration: The Hosta Farm Editorial Team.

Hosta ‘Little Dancer’ is a registered cultivar () .

Year registered2013
Section classV-1 (Miniature)

Overview

Registered in 2013, *Hosta* 'Little Dancer' is a miniature cultivar resulting from a cross between *H.* 'Sky Dancer' (pod parent) and *H.* 'Red Tubes' (pollen parent). It is visually distinctive for its compact mound of small, ovate blue-green leaves with medium green, slightly rippled margins, a dull upper surface, and a glaucous bloom on the underside, reaching only 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) in height and 6.875 inches (17.5 cm) in diameter.

In the Garden

This miniature hosta is well-suited to partial to full shade, as typical for the genus, and its small size makes it an excellent candidate for troughs, containers, or the front edge of a shaded border. The mature plant forms a dense, fast-growing mound that pairs effectively with other small shade perennials such as *Heuchera* or *Tiarella*. Its diminutive stature also allows it to fit into rock gardens or crevice plantings where space is limited.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture and apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Slugs and deer may damage the foliage, so monitoring and protective measures are advisable in typical hosta-growing zones.

Size and leaf

Clump height2.5 in (6.4 cm)
Clump width6.875 in (17.5 cm)
Leaf length1.375 in (3.5 cm)
Leaf width875 in (2.2 cm)
Vein pairs5
Leafmedium green slightly rippled margins; dull on top; glaucous bloom underneath
Flower scape height3.25–3.875 in (8.3–9.8 cm)
Notable characteristicsmini hosta with unique appearance

From the American Hosta Society Registry record.

Parentage

Similar cultivars

Other registered hostas in the same AHS section class (V-1, miniature size):

Related guides

Registration data: AHS Registry #3435