Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Sun Mouse Hosta: A Tiny Golden Button for Shady Troughs
Save
Sun Mouse hosta brings the small, rounded, thick leaves of the mouse-ears hostas in brilliant yellow. The slightly cupped leaves overlap in a low, tight rosette about 6 inches tall and 12 inches wide, a little shorter and wider than its blue cousin.
In midsummer, slender 18-inch scapes lift lavender bell flowers above the foliage. A small golden button with lavender flowers floating overhead: it is hard not to like.
Sun Mouse at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Hosta 'Sun Mouse' |
| Foliage | Brilliant yellow, small, round and thick |
| Flowers | Lavender bells on scapes about 18 inches tall |
| Size | About 6 inches tall, 12 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts early July, peaks mid-July |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 9 |
| Light | Morning sun or filtered shade |
| Deer | Susceptible |
Where it fits in a lavender garden
Honestly, not next to the lavender. Hostas want shade and steady moisture; lavender wants hot sun and dry roots. Put them together and one of them loses.
Instead, give Sun Mouse the shady side of the same garden plan: under a tree, along the north side of the house, or in a trough on a shaded porch, with ferns and astilbe for company. Its lavender-colored flowers make a nice wink back to the sunny beds. The Companion Plant Planner helps you sort sun and shade spots before you order.
Small-space ideas
- Troughs and miniature gardens: its size makes it a natural for hosta troughs and fairy gardens.
- Small containers: a single plant fills a small pot on a shady step.
- Edging: a row of yellow buttons brightens the front of a shade bed.
- Rock gardens: tuck it into a shaded pocket between stones.
Care through the year
- Color: the yellow is brightest with morning light and holds well into summer.
- Soil: rich, well drained and evenly moist.
- Slugs: the thick, rounded leaves resist slugs.
- After bloom: trim spent scapes.
- Winter in the ground: fully hardy in Michigan, but small crowns can heave in freeze-thaw cycles. Mulch lightly after the ground freezes.
- Winter in pots: move troughs and pots to a sheltered, unheated spot so roots do not freeze and thaw repeatedly or sit wet. Crown rot in wet containers is the main risk.
As with all hostas, watch for Hosta Virus X, which shows as mottled leaves; discard affected plants.
Plug tray
Sun Mouse is offered as a 72-cell plug tray, a good way to fill several troughs or edge a long shade path. See the product page for current availability, or the Wholesale Hub for tray orders.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe around pets?
Hosta foliage is listed as toxic to dogs and cats, so keep it out of reach of pets that nibble.
Will full sun make it brighter?
Morning sun brightens the yellow, but hot afternoon sun is too much. Filtered shade is the safe choice.
Share how it went in your field