Miniature Hostas

The American Hosta Society has adopted the following requirement for miniature hostas:

> Leaf blade area must be less than 6.0 square inches (38.7 sq cm).

There is no restriction on clump spread.

The following list aims to be as inclusive as possible, presenting all unregistered plants which may qualify as miniature hostas by field measurements according to the above criteria.

For the convenience of on-line viewing, this list is broken down into two sections: Registered Miniature Hostas and Unregistered Miniature Hostas.

AHS Miniature-leaved
Unregistered Sports and Seedlings 1, 2

Hosta Name Originator Leaf Size (length x width) 3
'American Super Mouse' V. Wade
'Asahi Star' Japan
'Atom Smasher' R. Livingston 5.0 x 0.8 in. 12.7 x 1.9 cm 5
'Atomic Needle' R. Livingston
'Baby Sunspot' D. Herzog
'Bashful' K. Sisson
'Beauty Little Blue' J. van den Top
'Beauty Little Blue Streaked' J. van den Top
'Bedspread' Japan
'Blauwichtel' F. Köhlein
'Cat Scratch Fever' M. Zilis
'Cat's Eye' Japan/ Dan Heims 2.0 x 1.0 in. 5.1 x 2.5 cm 5
'Chabo Unazuki' Japan
'Cherry Garcia' R. Herold 1.8 x 0.9 in. 4.4 x 2.2 cm 5
'Chickie Dix' S. Schulte
'Chishima Iwa' Japan 4.0 x 1.5 in. 10.2 x 3.8 cm 5 , 6
'Clusterfest' T. Avent
'Cool Mouse' D. Van Eechaute
'Crazy Mouse' T. Avent
'Cowlick' T. Avent 2.0 x 1.0 in. 5.8 x 2.5 cm
'Crater's Heart' Japan
'Crater's Rim' Japan
'Crazy Mouse Ears' J. Schwarz
'Crepe Soul' Naylor Creek Nursery 4.0 x 1.0 in. 10.2 x 2.5 cm 4
"Curley" (see venusta "Curley")
'Dancing Mouse' M. Fransen
'Danish Mouse' J. Hurup Hansen
'Desert Mouse' J. van den Top
'Early Sunrise' Japan
'Earth Star' B. Janssen
'Elfin Charm'
'Elizabeth' D. Heinz 4.0 x 0.9 in. 10.2 x 2.2 cm 5
'Ellie's Pigmy' E. Spingarn
'Fairest Maiden' J. Schwarz
'Fairy Ring' R. Benedict
'Fiddle-e-dee' D. Herzog
'Fingernails' T. Avent 1.0 x 0.5 in. 2.5 x 1.3 cm
'Fingertips' T. Avent
'Fireball' A. Malloy
'Forest Mouse' J. Van den Top
'Fuji Sunrise' Japan? 2.5 x ? in. 6.4 x ? cm 7
'Fukurin Hosoba Mizu' Japan
'Fukurin Tsugaru Komachi' Japan
'Funny Mouse' M. Fransen
'Ghost Dancer' V. Wade 3.5 x 1.3 in. 8.9 x 3.2cm 5
'Giantland Iron Mouse' J. Miller
'Ginger'
'Gold Petite'
'Golden Child'
'Golden Fantasma' T. Avent
'Golden Pixie' T. Avent
'Goodman's Short Folks'
'Gosan Golden Dwarf' W. Schmid 3.5 x 1.0 in. 8.9 x 2.5 cm 5
'Grass' G. Goodwin
'Green Guppy' RHS Garden Rosemoor
'Green Ice' T. Avent 2.5 x 0.5 in. 6.4 x 1.3 cm
'Green Thumb' T. Avent 1.5 x 1.5 in. 3.8 x 3.8 cm
'Hacksaw' R. Livingston
'Half Pint' R. Benedict
'Hanjas Crazy Mouse' J. Hansen
'Happy Mouse' J. van den Top
'Harold's Thumb'
'Hime Yakushima'
'Himekomachi' T. Ichie
'Hydon Sunrise' R. Benedict 1.5 x 1.0 in. 3.8 x 2.5 cm 8
'Iszat U Emmerson' R. Benedict
'Japangirl' F. Köhlein
'Jimmy' V. Wade 3.5 x 1.5 in. 8.9 x 3.8 cm
'Judy Blue Eyes' Bridgewood Gardens 3.0 x 1.5 in. 7.6 x 3.8 cm
'Kafka Mouse' D. Van Eechaute
'Kanzi' D. Van Eechaute 3.8 x 1.0 in. 9.5 x 2.5 cm
'Kifukurin Otome' Japan
'Kii Hime' Japan 2.0 x 1.0 in. 5.1 x 2.5 cm 5
'Kinakafu Nagaba Mizu' Japan 1.0 x 0.5 in. 2.5 x 1.3cm
'Kitty Cat' V. Wade & W. Zumbar 2.3 x 1.3 in. 5.7 x 3.2 cm 5
'Kiwi Golden Thimble' B. Sligh 2.8 x 1.3 in. 7.0 x 3.2 cm 5
'Knockout Mouse' M. & J. Fransen
'Ko Iwa'
'Kyokkō' Japan
'Lakeside Misty' M. Chastain 1.6 x 1.5 in. 4.1 x 3.8 cm
'Lakeside So Ho Baby' M. Chastain
'Lakeside Wing Ding' M. Chastain 3.0 x 1.0 in. 7.6 x 2.5 cm 5
'Lakeside Zing Zang' M. Chastain
'Lakeside Zinger Supreme' M. Chastain
'Lavender Dwarf' Honey Hill Hostas
'Lil Miss Muffet' D. Beilstein & A. Malloy
'Little Devil' H. Gowen
'Little Ice Mouse' J. van den Top
'Little Jack Horner' R. Benedict
'Little Miss Muffet' W. Zumbar
'Little One' M. Zilis
'Little Pan' U. Fischer 2.8 x 2.3 in. 7.0 x 5.7 cm
'Little Stiffy' R. Benedict
'Long Beard' 4.0 x 1.4 in. 10.2 x 3.5 cm5
'Loyal Vassal' B. Zumbar
'Lucky Mouse' J. van den Top
'Mandrake the Magician' A. Malloy
'Manzō' Japan 4.0 x 1.0 in. 10.2 x 2.5 cm 5
'Microchip' R. Benedict
'Mimosa Mouse Ears' N. Price & W.Silvers
'Minerva Mouse Ears' N. Price & W. Silvers
'Mini Face' J. Anderson
'Mini Man' J. Anderson
'Minima' Japan/Gowen/Benedict
minor "Goldbrook Form" S. Bond 3.4 x 1.5 in. 8.6 x 3.8 cm
'Minuta' Japan
'Miss Petite' P. Aden
'Moegi Fukurin Otome' Japan 3.1 x 1.8 in. 7.9 x 4.4 cm
'Moonshine Mouse Ears' N. Price & W.Silvers
'Mountain Fog' Japan 3.5 x 1.4 in. 8.9 x 3.5 cm 5
'Mouse Metamorphosis' D. Van Eechaute
'Mouse on Mars' D. Van Eechaute
'Mouse on the Moon' D. Van Eechaute
'Mouse Party' D. Van Eechaute
'Mouse Trap' Shady Oaks Nursery
'Mrs. Beasley' J. Schwarz
'Mrs. Mouse Ears' M. Testart
'Munchkin Madness' V. Wade 4.0 x 1.6 in. 10.2 x 4.1 cm 5
'My Friend Bertha' Walters Gardens, Inc.
'National Arboretum'
'Nike' R. Herold 2.3 x 0.7 in. 5.7 x 1.7 cm5
'Nikkō' Japan
'Nishikagawa' Y. Hirose
'Og, Son of Fire' D. Beilstein & A. Malloy
'Ogon Otome' Japan
'Oh Baby Mine'
'One Iota' J. Anderson
'One Iota Supreme' J. Schwarz
'Orphan Annie' Japan 2.0 x 1.0 in. 5.1 x 2.5 cm 4
'Osiris Petit Prince' Les Jardins Osiris
'Otome-no-mai' K. Tanaka
'Oze' Japan 2.5 x 1.6 in. 6.4 x 4.1 cm 5
'Papoose' R. Benedict
'Paradise Puppet' M. Fransen
'Paradise Sunset' M. Fransen 2.5 x 1.5 in. 6.4 x 3.8 cm 4
'Piedmont's Gold Miniature' D. Stone 3.0 x 1.5 in. 7.6 x 3.8 cm 5
'Pirate's Cove' P. Cross
'Pointed Leaf' R. Benedict
'Porter' Walden West
'Quarter Back' T. Avent
'Red Dwarf' D. Grenfell
'Red Tubes' Japan
'Rosedale Lightning' J. Hadrava 3.4 x 1.5 in. 8.6 x 3.8 cm 5
'Rosedale Tick Tock'
'Ruffled Green Mouse Ears' J. van den Top
'Ruffled Pole Mouse' J. van den Top
'Rushin Ruffles' 3.0 x 1.0 in. 7.7 x 2.5 cm5
'Saishu Jima Gold' Japan/Soules 3.5 1.0 in. 8.9 x 2.5 cm 5
'Saishu Jima Variegated' P. Aden
'School Mouse' Walters Gardens, Inc.
'Schrödinger's Cat'
'Shirobana Fuiri Koba'
'Shirobana Hime Iwa'
'Shirofukurin Hosoba Mizu' Japan
'Shirofukurin Koba' Japan
'Shirofukurin Otome'
'Shironakafu Otome'
'Short Folks' (see 'Goodman's Short Folks')
'Silver Heart' 3.0 x 1.0 in. 7.6 x 2.5 cm 5
'Silver Spring' A. Malloy
'Silver Twist' B. Yinger/ Japan
'Sizzle' J. King
'Skinny Mouse' D. Van Eechaute
'Smiling Mouse' J. van den Top
'Snow Drop' 4.5 x 1.3 in. 11.4 x 3.3 cm 5
'Snow Mouse' M. Fransen N/A
'Spooky Mouse Ears' J. van den Top
'Stormy Dance' F. Smith N/A
'Sun Mouse' T. Avent 3.0 x 2.0 in. 7.6 x 5.1 cm 6
'Suzuki Toenail'
'Tattle Tails' M. Fransen
'Ted's Friend' Ch. Tompkins
'Teddy Bear' C. Falstad 2.3 x 1.6 in. 5.7 x 4.1 cm 5
'Tiny Dancer' R. Benedict
'Tiny Gems' T. Avent
'Tiny Temple Chimes' Japan
'Tiny Tot'
'Tiny Twister' T. Avent 3.0 x 1.5 in. 7.6 x 3.8 cm
'Tom Thumb' M. Fransen
'Tongue Lashing' T. Avent
'Traveler' R. Lydell
'Tsugaru Komachi' Gotemba Nursery
'Tsugaru Otome' Japan
'Twice as Mice' T. Avent
'Un Poco' J. Mullins/ M. Vanous/ Q & Z Nursery
'Urajiro Ko Iwa' Japan
'Uzu-no-mai Fukurin' Japan
'Valley's Liquid Green' J. Linneman
'Valley's Small Skipper' J. Linneman
'Vanilla Bean' T. Avent
venusta "Benedict Strain" Japan
venusta "Curley"
venusta "Maekawa Form" 2.5 x 1.8 in. 6.4 x 4.4 cm 8
venusta "Mini"
venusta "Onoda" Japan
venusta "Shikoku" Japan
'Wanda Dove' F. Nyikos 3.3 x 1.1 in. 8.3 x 2.9 cm5
'Wizard of Ahhhs' T. Van Wyk/ R. Mortko
'Xanadu Mighty Mite' V. & B. Skaggs
'Yakushima' Japan
'Yakushima Mizu' Japan 3.0 x 1.0 in. 7.6 x 2.5 cm 5
'Yellow Kid' A. Malloy
'Yellow Sapphire' T. Avent
'Zing a Little Zong' M. Fransen
'Zoomie' W. Zumbar 2.8 x 1.1 in. 7.0 x 2.9 cm5

1 Compiled and revised by Donald A. Rawson. According to the AHS Judges Handbook, Section X: Miniature-leaved Unregistered Sports and Seedlings have a leaf size of <6.0 sq. in. (38.7 sq. cm.).

2 Many hostas do not have dimensions listed because their leaf lengths and widths are not reliably reported in the literature. Even so, their leaf blade areas are believed to be <6.0 sq. in. As reliable dimensions become available, they will be listed.

3 Leaf size, rounded to the nearest 0.1 inch (or the nearest 0.1 cm).

4 Diana Grenfell and Michael Shadrack, The New Encyclopedia of Hostas (Portland, OR: Timber Press, 2009).

5 Mark R. Zillis The Hostapedia: An Encyclopedia of Hostas (Rochelle, IL: Q & Z Nursery, Inc. 2009)

6 May exceed AHS size criteria of <6.0 sq. in. for miniature-leaved hostas.

7 Hugo Philips, MyHostas Database

8 Van Wade, 2002 American Hosta Guide (Bellville, OH: Wade & Gatton Nurseries, 2002).

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