Hosta 'Mini Skirt' Plantain Lily

American Hosta Growers Association 2024 Hosta of the Year

A Proven Winners® Proven Selections® variety, Hosta 'Mini Skirt' epitomizes the beauty and versatility of compact ornamental foliage, making it a garden essential across three seasons. This herbaceous perennial is prized for its dramatic variegated leaves, which are thick, curvy, and beautifully framed by creamy yellow margins that transition to a creamy white in the summer months. The center of each leaf deepens to a vibrant green, creating a stunning contrast that is as visually appealing as a piece of art.

The 'Mini Skirt' Hosta is not just about its attractive foliage; it also boasts funnel-shaped, pale lavender flowers that emerge on proportionately sized scapes in early to midsummer. These delicate blooms are magnets for butterflies and hummingbirds, adding a lively dimension to your garden space. The flowers of the Hosta 'Mini Skirt' also make exquisite additions to any floral arrangement, bringing a touch of garden beauty indoors.

With its short, compact, and rounded mounded habit, the 'Mini Skirt' Hostas are ideal for gardeners looking to maximize the impact of limited spaces. Whether planted in small city gardens, as part of a border, or in containers, the Hosta 'Mini Skirt' adapts beautifully, providing a lush, green focal point that draws the eye. Its medium growth rate allows easy integration into various garden designs, from formal to cottage-style settings.

Caring for the 'Mini Skirt' Hostas is straightforward, making it a perfect choice for novice and experienced gardeners. These plants thrive in full shade to highly filtered or dappled morning sun, preferring organic, moist, well-draining soil. While they are adaptable to a range of soil type, from acidic to neutral pH levels (5.5 to 7.5), they show a particular fondness for sandy loams, which provide the necessary aeration for optimal root health. The Hosta 'Mini Skirt' is also noted for its cold hardiness and low maintenance requirements, requiring minimal upkeep beyond ensuring the soil remains moist and not allowed to dry out.

Incorporating the Hosta 'Mini Skirt' into your garden not only adds a layer of textural beauty with its unique foliage and attractive blooms but also invites the calming presence of nature's pollinators. This Proven Winners variety is a testament to the joy and satisfaction that gardening can bring, offering a blend of aesthetic appeal and environmental benefits that enrich any outdoor space.

Shade garden stunners, hostas are low-maintenance perennials. Known for their variety of leaf colors and sizes, you can plant an entire shade garden using only hostas. Find tips for planting and maintenance in our Hosta Care Guide.