Name: The Plant Company
Address: 284 Meeanee Road, Meeanee, Napier, 4112, New Zealand
Telephone: 0800 843 752
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small blue hosta

If you’re looking to add a refined touch of blue foliage to your shaded garden corners, a small blue hosta is an excellent choice. Prized for their cool-toned leaves, tidy mounds, and easy-care nature, these compact hostas are perfect for New Zealand gardeners who want groundcover, edging, or eye-catching specimens for pots and borders. Ideal for low-light areas, a small blue hosta offers long-lasting colour with minimal fuss, even holding up beautifully through our wet winters. Whether you’re designing a woodland space or updating your patio planters, these little gems deliver lasting impact in a compact package.

Pimelea prostrata 'Blue Peter'

Pimelea prostrata 'Blue Peter', commonly known as Pinatoro or the NZ Daphne plant, is a mat-forming, NZ native, ground cover plant. It has small, blue foliage which becomes adorned with fragrant, white flowers in spring and results in white berries. This evergreen typically grows to 10 cm tall and 50 cm wide. Pimelea prostrata 'Blue Peter' is commonly used as a groundcover, added to coastal plantings, included in rock gardens, planted around outdoor living areas, grown on a bank, or positioned so it can spill out over a path or over a wall.

Buy Pimelea prostrata 'Blue Peter'

From $22.88

Suited to regions: All regions

Plant type: Groundcover Plants

Height: 10 cm

Spread: 50 cm

Flowering time: Spring

Tolerances: Coastal, Hardy, Wind

Garden uses: Borders, Ground covering, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Pool areas

Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Japanese, Mediterranean, Modern, Native, Rock

Isotoma fluviatilis

Isotoma fluviatilis features small, dark green leaves that give the appearance of a lush, green carpet. The foliage is adorned with masses of small, blue, star-shaped flowers from spring through autumn. It typically grows to just 10 cm tall and will spread to 40 cm. Isotoma fluviatilis is commonly grown as a ground cover, planted between paving stones and similar areas, included in cottage gardens, or used to trail over a wall or from a hanging basket.

Buy Isotoma fluviatilis

From $20.01

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate

Plant type: Groundcover Plants

Height: 10 cm

Spread: 40 cm

Flowering time: Spring, Autumn, Winter

Garden uses: Borders, Containers, Ground covering, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Pool areas

Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Formal, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern, Native

Why Choose a Small Blue Hosta?

Small blue hostas bring together unique colour and versatility in a manageable size. Their powdery blue foliage creates a serene, cooling effect, and their compact nature means they slot easily into smaller gardens or container displays. These plants thrive in shaded or semi-shaded sites, are highly tolerant of New Zealand’s conditions, and exhibit great resistance to slugs and snails compared to many larger-leaved hostas.

If you love blue-tinted foliage but have limited space, small blue hostas are a top pick. Varieties like Hosta Blue Mouse Ears stand just 10–15cm tall and form perfect miniature clumps. Their rounded leaves and neat habit work beautifully as border edgers, rock garden accents, or underplanting beneath larger shrubs.

Top Small Blue Hosta Varieties for New Zealand Gardens

Hosta Blue Mouse Ears

Arguably the most beloved of all mini hostas, Hosta Blue Mouse Ears is distinct for its thick, heart-shaped leaves and dense, mouse-ear-like clumping. In mid to late summer, short stems produce delicate lavender flowers, adding a charming pop over the blue foliage.

Hosta Halcyon

A classic small blue hosta, Hosta 'Halcyon' (Hosta halcyon) grows a touch larger than Blue Mouse Ears but remains comfortably compact. Its elongated blue-grey leaves hold their colour well, even through hot summers, making it a reliable choice for those seeking lasting impact in small spaces.

Caring for Your Small Blue Hosta

All small blue hostas share similar easy-care needs. For the best results, plant in rich, moisture-retentive soil with excellent drainage. Partial to full shade preserves their blue tones, as intense sun can cause blanching. Regular mulching helps maintain cool roots and consistent moisture during drier spells. In autumn, hostas die down naturally, re-emerging with fresh new growth in spring.

Hostas are famously low-maintenance and largely pest-resistant, but younger plants may need some slug protection when establishing.

Explore More Blue Hostas

If you’re inspired by small blue hosta varieties but have room for something grander, explore other beauties in our collection. Hosta Elegans, with its stately form and heavily textured blue leaves, is a fabulous choice for bigger beds. For true impact, try the aptly named Hosta Blue Mammoth or striking Hosta Hadspen Blue, both favourites for their reliable blue colouring and bold presence.

Whether you’re starting with a single Hosta Blue Mouse Ears or designing a shaded hosta border, small blue hostas are sure to delight with their charm, resilience, and year-round elegance. Browse our full range to find the perfect hosta for your landscape.

Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.

small blue hosta

Pimelea prostrata 'Blue Peter'

Isotoma fluviatilis

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Why Choose a Small Blue Hosta?