Point taken, Idiothe. Did more research after your last comments...info in your learned head for how many years now?? I found out that... Class 4 (Small) 6-25" Blue Mouse Ears is a small as you pointed out, as is my Holy Mouse Ears.....although yours and Bapka's (BME) easily surpass quoted dimensions of only 11" ...Grenfell & Shadrack Pocket Guide ...which is why I was so surprised by the size of both yours. Class 5 (Miniature) 2-6" Cameo, Cherish, Cracker Crumbs, Silver Threads and Golden Needles, Limey Lisa, Kifukurin Otome Ki are my true minis. (According to the AHS Cracker Crumbs is not listed under either Small or Mini, but I bought it as a mini from the 800+ owner so to me it shall remain a mini.) Idiothe, you are one of the experts here so I rely more on your information and others within the realm of your experience, than a book alone for getting up to speed on my hosta. Clearly one has to keep in mind that dimensions quoted seem, more often than not, a guideline and not a rigid set of numbers....as MOST hosta exceed their quoted size given optimum growing conditions...is that a fair statement to make? My mistake was referring to BME as a Mini, as clearly it is not. Had I not posted this thread, who knows how long I would have been in the dark about this particular one....and I hate offering incorrect information to others who happen to ask me about my "cuties". SOOOOOOO.....After weighing the information provided, it may interest everyone responding/adding to this thread that I have decided: 1. NOT to split my Blue Mouse Ears.....clearly it is still 'small', I counted 9 flower scrapes few hours ago....my three year old granddaughter almost nipped one of the buds because it was "gramma, look I want this pretty baby one". 2. POT up the BME maybe after the flowers are all done.....I just HAVE to try it to see if it grows better for me...or do it today even! Who knows? It just might take off for me and grow to a more decent size to consider splitting. THEN I will refer to my "idiothe manual" supplied in this thread and make my divisions. :) 3. HONE up on my education regarding smalls and minis. THANK YOU, one and all for taking the time away from your own gardens to assist me with this. Jo P.S. If you don't mind, I would like my BME to take a last curtain call when the flowers open/partially open....it is sooooo cute and I just have to show it to you. In a few sunny days, it'll be ready.

I am in zone 5, and my 5 GEs are doing wonderfully. I mix a small bucket of leaf mold into the hole, plant them high, give them water, fertilize annually and they grow. On the other hand, h.'Earth Angel' (3 of them) are doing poorly here. In respect to h. 'Blue Mouse Ears', they are growing nicely here. Bernd

I agree Windymess, that is its growth habit. Nicholsworth, once it develops more feeder roots, more of those lateral and surface roots there will be more dirt to adhere to and bind it more closely to its growing locale. This growing season should provide that. Another suggestion would be to grow it in water to develop more roots faster (which I have done) but not everyone is comfortable with this process (as per previous discussions on this topic). I think your tiny Mouse will be just fine once you replant it and grow into a fine little hosta for you. Due to its current size it also wouldn't hurt to grow it in a small/tiny pot not much bigger than itself for a couple of months where you can monitor it. It will grow faster and develop more roots in the medium as it is a softer, aerated mix than in garden dirt, in my opinion. You could then plant it back in the ground around the usual root-growing time in July/August. There are options...up to you. :-)

Actually you can name it whatever you want ....and register it too ...although if it is similar to another it's probably not a good idea to register....:-).....each sport is a new plant....this is according to some of the big wigs I was sitting and talking with at a convention a few years back.