Hosta 'Blue Mouse Ears'

Questions about hosta 'Blue Mouse Ears'

Does hosta 'Blue Mouse Ears' need sun or shade?

Hosta 'Blue Mouse Ears' grows in part shade (2 to 4 hours of sun, mostly in the morning) and shade (less than 2 hours of direct sun, or bright dappled light).

It wants soil that stays evenly moist, rich in organic matter, and a good soak in dry spells.

What zones does hosta 'Blue Mouse Ears' grow in?

USDA zones 3 to 8. It is hardy to zone 3, which means it survives winter nights down to about −30 °F (−34 °C).

Above zone 8 it struggles: the zones measure winter cold, but a plant's top zone usually means the summers are too hot or the winters too mild for it to rest.

Gardening in Canada? Use the USDA zone for your town: Canada's own zone map uses different numbers.

How far apart should hosta 'Blue Mouse Ears' be planted?

12 in (30 cm) apart, from the middle of one plant to the middle of the next. That is about its full width, so each plant keeps its own outline.

It grows 8 in (20 cm) tall. Give it the full distance from anything taller, or it will lean out towards the light.

How many hosta 'Blue Mouse Ears' plants do I need?

At 12 in apart, set out in staggered rows:

• 12 to fill 10 square feet (about 1 m²)
• 11 for a single row 10 ft (3 m) long
• 38 to fill a 4 × 8 ft bed on its own

In a mixed border, plant it as runs of three or five along the front (or one even row, in a formal bed).

In the bed above, the planner used eight in two groups.

Is hosta 'Blue Mouse Ears' poisonous to dogs and cats?

Yes: mild toxicity to dogs, cats and horses. Can cause vomiting and diarrhoea in pets if eaten.

Rated from NC State Extension and the ASPCA. Where references disagree, the more cautious rating is used.

Is there a pet-safe plant like hosta 'Blue Mouse Ears'?

These come closest to doing what hosta 'Blue Mouse Ears' does, and no toxicity is recorded for them:

• White barrenwort 'Niveum': the same job in a bed and the same size; flowers late April to mid May.
• Black mondo grass: the same job in a bed; 4 in narrower, fine leaves, not medium.
• Sedge 'Bunny Blue': the same job in a bed and the same size; keeps its leaves in winter.

Matched the way the planner's Swap button matches plants: the same job in a bed, then size, then flowering time.

What does hosta 'Blue Mouse Ears' look like in winter?

Hosta 'Blue Mouse Ears' dies down to the ground and there is nothing to see until spring. The old stems can be cut in autumn, or left until spring as shelter for overwintering insects.