Miniature hostas
Hostas have always been popular, but now it’s the miniature forms that gardeners are thirsting for. At no more than 20cm (8in) high, there are around 500 varieties, just as enchanting and as easy to grow as their larger cousins, as long as they don’t get soggy in winter.
Grow in a general purpose compost, with added grit for drainage to avoid winter wet. Their appeal stems from their size, as many can be grown in pots or tucked into shady nooks in the smallest spaces. Thicker-leaved varieties are also proving more slug and snail resistant. People also collect those with quirky names, such as ‘Teenyweeny Bikini’, ‘Tiny Tears’ and upright ‘Hands Up’.
The first variety ‘Blue Mouse Ears’ appeared in the USA in 2008 as a sport of ‘Blue Cadet’. Although the USA still leads breeding and selection, most UK stock comes from Holland, although UK and Dutch growers are now raising new varieties. Most new sports come from plants grown in tissue culture, such as creamy-rimmed ‘Mighty Mouse’, gold-rimmed ‘School Mouse’ and wavy, blue/greenleaved ‘Church Mouse’.
Some enthusiasts ‘bonsai’ their varieties, making plants smaller by pruning roots and growing them in smaller pots, but this is only advisable for a maximum of three years. l Miniature and small hostas can be bought from www.small-hostas.com and www.newforesthostasandhemerocallis.com.