Create Your Garden

Miniature and Very Small Hostas for Gardens and Containers

Miniature Hostas, Miniatures Plantain Lilies, Small Hostas, Small Plantain Lilies, Dwarf Hostas, Dwarf Plantain Lilies,

Primarily grown for their beautiful foliage, hostas are long-lived, shade-loving perennials highly esteemed by gardeners. Easy and adaptable garden plants, there are hundreds of cultivars to choose from, ranging from incredibly tiny plants to giants.

According to the American Hosta Society, the dimensions of a miniature hosta are as follows:
Leaf blade area no greater than about 4 sq. in. (26 sq. cm).
Leaf blade length no greater than about 4.5 in. (11 cm).

A very small hosta has a leaf blade area between about 4 -10 sq. in. (26-65 sq. cm)

There is no restriction on clump spread.

Highly popular and very cute, mini and very small hostas are a good choice if space is tight or for containers. They are great candidates for rock gardenscontainers and troughs. Some can even be grown in spaces in dry stone walls as long as there is enough moisture.

Growing and Caring for Miniature and Very Small Hostas

  • Hostas perform best in part shade in fertile, moist, well-drained soils. However, some hostas are tolerant of sunny conditions.
  • Mini and very small hostas require excellent drainage. This is particularly necessary if these hostas are grown outside in containers. To improve drainage, you can amend your soil with grit or bark chippings.
  • Mulching around the plants with a layer of gravel or bark will prevent the soil from splashing up and spoiling the leaves.
  • Plants in containers need regular watering in summer as they dry out quickly. An easy way to ruin hostas is to let them dry out, even for a little while.
  • Plants in containers are susceptible to waterlogging, which can cause the roots to rot. Protect your containers from winter rain by standing them at the base of a wall or fence as this is naturally drier.
  • Hostas are not suitable for exposed, windy areas of the garden. Shelter them from cold, dry winds.
  • Plants in containers welcome liquid feeding once a month when they are in growth. Use a general-purpose liquid fertilizer.
  • Before planting your mini hostas, make sure that all weeds are removed so that they do not disturb the growth of these tiny plants.
  • Do not divide until your plants have less than 6 crowns as small divisions usually fail.
  • Keep an eye out for slugs and snails which could damage the attractive foliage. To prevent pest damage, pots and containers should be raised about 1 in. (2.5 cm) above the ground level, if possible standing on mats infused with copper wire which protrude about 1 in. (2.5 cm) outside the base of the container.
  • Place a fine wire mesh over the drainage hole to prevent slug or snail attacks from below.
  • Hostas are toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, toxic to horses.

Guide Information

Hardiness 3 - 9
Heat Zones 1 - 8
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
Plant Type Perennials
Genus Hosta
Exposure Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Spring (Mid, Late)
Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Fall
Maintenance Low
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Landscaping Ideas Patio And Containers, Small Gardens

Cute Miniature and Very Small Hostas for Gardens and Containers

Hosta ‘Blue Mouse Ears’ (Plantain Lily)
Hosta ‘Cameo’ (Plantain Lily)
Hosta ‘Curly Fries’ (Plantain Lily)
Hosta ‘Funny Mouse’ (Plantain Lily)
Hosta ‘Mighty Mouse’ (Plantain Lily)
Hosta ‘Mini Skirt’ (Plantain Lily)
Hosta ‘Munchkin Fire’ (Plantain Lily)
Hosta ‘Pandora’s Box’ (Plantain Lily)
Hosta ‘School Mouse’ (Plantain Lily)
Hosta ‘Stiletto’ (Plantain Lily)
Hosta ‘Sun Mouse’ (Plantain Lily)
Hosta gracillima (Plantain Lily)

Discover useful guides on Hostas

Award-Winning Hostas
Companion Plants for your Hostas
Pretty Hostas Tolerant of Sun
Prevent Slugs and Snails from Feasting on your Hostas
Striking Blue Hostas for Gardens and Containers
Hosta (Plantain Lily)
Compare All Hosta
Compare Now
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Hosta
Guides with
Hosta
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.

Guide Information

Hardiness 3 - 9
Heat Zones 1 - 8
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
Plant Type Perennials
Genus Hosta
Exposure Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Spring (Mid, Late)
Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Fall
Maintenance Low
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Landscaping Ideas Patio And Containers, Small Gardens
Compare All Hosta
Compare Now
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Hosta
Guides with
Hosta

Related Items

Please Login to Proceed

You Have Reached The Free Limit, Please Subscribe to Proceed

Subscribe to Gardenia

To create additional collections, you must be a paid member of Gardenia
  • Add as many plants as you wish
  • Create and save up to 25 garden collections
Become a Member

Plant Added Successfully

You have Reached Your Limit

To add more plants, you must be a paid member of our site Become a Member

Update Your Credit
Card Information

Cancel

Create a New Collection

Sign Up to Our Newsletter

    You have been subscribed successfully

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Find your Hardiness Zone

    Find your Heat Zone

    Find your Climate Zone