'Mini Skirt' hosta has been named "Hosta of the Year" for 2024 by the American Hosta Growers Association (AHGA). This miniature hosta is a cute and eye-catching variety with variegated foliage and purple summer flowers. Thick leaves give it good resistance to slugs. Fans of 'Mighty Mouse', 'Blue Mouse Ears' and the other "mouse" hostas will love the related 'Mini Skirt'.
The American Hosta Growers Association regularly identifies a "Hosta of the Year" to help nursery owners and gardeners find the best options among the multitude of hosta cultivars on the market. To receive this distinction, the hosta must be in good supply and adaptable to all regions of the United States.
Common name: 'Mini Skirt' hosta
Botanical name: Hosta 'Mini Skirt'
Exposure: Part shade to full shade
Flowers: Purple tubular flowers appear on upright stems in early to midsummer, blooming just a few inches above the foliage, in a nice proportion to this mini hosta.
Related: Read about 'Diana Remembered', a beautiful hosta with notably large, fragrant flowers.
Foliage: The leaves are broad, with a wavy margin that's creamy yellow in spring. The center of each leaf is bluish green to start. In summer, the leaf turns a deeper green with a nearly white edge.
Related: Read about some previous AHGA Hosta of the Year winners: 'Neptune' (2023); 'Island Breeze' (2022); 'Rainbow's End' (2021); 'Lakeside Paisley Print' (2019); 'Brother Stefan' (2017), 'Victory' (2015)
Habit: 'Mini Skirt' hosta is a mounding perennial that grows to about five inches tall and thirteen inches wide.
Origin: 'Mini Skirt' arose as a sport (genetic mutation) of the hosta 'Mighty Mouse'. It was introduced by hosta breeder Hans Hansen and Walters Gardens.
How to grow it: Provide 'Mini Skirt' hosta with part shade or all-day shade, fertile soil and even moisture. Its small size earns it a spot in containers or at the front of the garden bed. USDA Zones 3–9.
Image courtesy of Walters Gardens
