Originated by Emile and Jane Deckert of Maryland, this cultivar was the American Hosta Growers Association 2008 "Hosta of the Year" and was winner of the Benedict Garden Performance Medal for 2011.

A slow growing, small size (8 inches high by 19 inches wide) hosta, it is a tissue culture sport of H. 'Blue Cadet' that was registered in the year 2000. The leaves begin the year blue-green and then change to dark green as the summer progresses. They are slightly cupped and nearly round in shape. In July, it bears clusters of pale purple flowers but is sterile so does not produce seeds.

According to The Hostapedia by Mark Zilis (2009), "The name of this cultivar wins my award for "Best Hosta Name", conjuring up the idea of tiny, cupped, blue leaves."

From the Field Guide to Hostas by Mark Zilis (2014), "...initiated the mini-hosta craze that continues to this day."

The Book of Little Hostas by Kathy and Michael Shadrack (2010) says: "The flower buds are attractively balloon-like. This tough blue will look good in a container or trough."

The New Encyclopedia of Hostas by Diana Grenfell (2009) states: "An excellent specimen for a rock garden, gravel bed, or a container...Has recently spawned a number of exciting sports...Racemes are striking especially when in bud. Buds are held horizontally and swell up like mini-balloons before partially opening."

In his presentation at the 2019 Dixie Regional Hosta Meeting in Delaware, Bob stated that Warren Pollock had said that this is "the most unusual genetic hosta." When it "reverts", 'Blue Mouse Ears' does not seem to go back to its 'Blue Cadet' heritage which is very unusual. Mr PGC wonders if this might be a case where rather than one or two traits changing as in most sports, a large number of recessive traits in 'Blue Cadet' suddenly expressed themselves in this plant we call 'Blue Mouse Ears' making it so unique...just a guess.

This hosta has been the mother plant for many new hostas. Through 2017, there have been around 24 named sports (see below) of 'Blue Mouse Ears' introduced. Also another 28 cultivars have been sported from those hostas.

An article by Warren I. Pollock in The Hosta Journal  (2014 Vol. 45 No. 1) states that, "I'm in agreement with what Bob Solberg...expressed at the 2013 Winter Scientific Meeting in the Chicago area: "'Sum and Substance' is the second best name ever for a hosta. Only H. 'Blue Mouse Ears' is better - but just slightly."

5 21.8 2006 #24 2007 #12 2009 #22 2010 #19 2011 #25   10 1.5 2003 #4 2008 #2 2009 #1 2010 #2 2011 #1 2012 #1 2013 #1 2014 #1 2015 #1 2016 #1

1. H. 'Bill Dress's Blue'
2. H. 'Popo'

1. H. 'American Super Mouse'
2. H. 'Blue Mouse Ears Supreme'
3. H. 'Cat and Mouse'
4. H. 'Church Mouse'
5. H. 'Crazy Mouse Ears'
6. H. 'Dancing Mouse'
7. H. 'Flamenco Mouse'
8. H. 'Green Mouse Ears'
9. H. 'Hanjas Crazy Mouse'
10. H. 'Jumbo Mouse Ears'
11. H. 'Knockout Mouse'
12. H. 'Mighty Mouse'

13. H. 'Mouse Party'
14. H. 'Mouse Tracks'
15. H. 'Mouse Trap'
16. H. 'Mrs Mouse Ears'
17. H. 'My Friend Bertha'
18. H. 'Mystic Mouse'
19. H. 'Niki Mouse'
20. H. 'One Iota'
21. H. 'Pure Heart'
22. H. 'Royal Mouse Ears'
23. H. 'Ruffled Mouse Ears'
24. H. 'Snow Mouse'

1. H. 'Giantland Mouse Cheese'
2. H. 'Giantland Sunny Mouse Ears'

The Hosta Journal (2012 Vol. 43 No 2) in an article by Warren I. Pollock (pg. 16) listed the following:

Mouse Ears Series of Hostas

• H. 'Bue Mouse Ears' - Emile and Jane Deckert - 2000
• H. 'Green Mouse Ears' - Emile and Jane Deckert - 2004
• H. 'Ruffled Mouse Ears' - Mark Zilis - 2011

• H. 'Frosted Mouse Ears' - Mark Zilis and Emile and Jane Deckert - 2006
• H. 'One Iota' - Jim Anderson - NR
• H. 'Lucky Mouse' - Jan van den Top - NR
• H. 'Mighty Mouse' - Walters Gardens - 2006

• H. 'Funny Mouse' - Marco Fransen - NR

• H. 'Holy Mouse Ears' - Mark Zilis and Emile and Jane Deckert - 2006
• H. 'Mighty Moe' - Bill Silvers - 2009
• H. 'Pure Heart' - Walters Gardens - 2009
• H. 'Desert Mouse' - Jan van den Top - NR

• H. 'Mouse Trap' - Hans Hansen - NR
• H. 'Snow Mouse' - Marco Fransen - NR

• H. 'Royal Mouse Ears' - Emile and Jane Deckert - 2004
• H. 'One Iota Supreme' - Jim Anderson - NR
• H. 'Blue Mouse Ears Supreme' - Bill Silvers - 2007
• H. 'Mouse Tracks' - Walters Gardens - 2009
• H. 'Calico Mouse Ears' - Mark Zilis - NR

• H. 'Cat and Mouse' - Hans Hansen - 2007 - (chartreuse leaves with blue-green margins)
• H. 'Dancing Mouse' - Marco Fransen - NR - (has blue-green leaves with wavy yellowish-green margins)
• H. 'Mystic Mouse' - Danny Van Eechaute - 2010 - (slightly blue-green leaves with medium blue-green margins)
• H. 'Jumbo Mouse Ears' - Hugo Philips - 2011 - (larger growing than BME; leave have an embroidered edge)