Mission:

In March 2010, The American Hosta Society president, Tom Micheletti , formed an ad hoc committee to clarify the size of mini hostas in the society. This was necessary to create uniformity in mini size specification for AHS Hosta Show classification, AHS popularity poll, Mini Forum and other activities. Members were Judy Burns, Show Classification chair; Bob Olson, Journal editor; W. George Schmid, AHS Nomenclature chair; and Bob Solberg, American Hosta Growers liaison.

The committee standardized the mini size within the AHS as the size used in Show classification for the last several years: leaf blade area less than 6.0 square inches. (Area is leaf blade length multiplied by leaf blade wide.) This permits a larger selection of hostas to be classified as minis for the AHS Mini Poll, compared to a previous criterion of less than 4.0 sq. in.

The new Mission Statement is:

o To maintain a listing of Mini Hostas based on the new AHS Mini Size.

o To provide a forum for information exchange on growing mini hostas.

The new Mini Hosta Criteria is:

o Leaf blade area no greater than about 6.0 square inches (38.7 square cm.). [Change from previous]

o No restriction on clump spread. [No change from previous]

o Hosta size designations "tiny" and "dwarf" are discontinued. [No change from previous]

This forum will continue to develop two lists, with the intent of keeping them up to date. Donald A. Rawson, Comstock Park, Michigan, now will principally be responsible for this function. One list will comprise registered and species minis satisfying the new AHS size requirement. It can be used for the AHS Miniature Hosta Popularity Poll in The Hosta Journal. The other list will comprise unregistered minis meeting the new AHS size requirement. It also can be used by nurseries.

W. George Schmid, Chair, AHS Nomenclature Committee
Warren I. Pollock, Member, AHS Nomenclature Committee