Pic of hosta that has always looked strange

14 years ago

Good morning,

I would like to know about this hosta. I don't know the name of it, as it was a gift. Every year it comes up looking a bit strange. It grows beautifully, but does not look like any other hosta that I have. The leaves are, for lack of a better term, spottled.(is that even a word?? hehe!) It is heavily textured, with the lighter spots being raised. Any clue as to what this is? I get more comments on it, because of this oddity.

Thanks for any input.

MonaRae

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Comments (12)

nchostaqueen
14 years ago
This looks like the plant is infected with Hosta virus X (HVX).

If so, I would dig it out and toss it in a plastic bag for the trash.

Wash all the tools with bleach too.

HVX is bad stuff and there is no know cure.

Deb
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caliloo
14 years ago
THat is the poster child hosta for Hosta Virus X.

Dig it, dump it and disinfect everything that may have touched it.

Alexa
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LOL ... I should have included a few pics of the total meltdowns ... just for Karma balance. There's a few of them here. Thinderbolt went from pristine to gone in about a week. Right in front of the ADG is an Island Charm with leaves like netting and if you look closely you'll see that the Lungwort has a few leaf holes. (Not all from slugs) I've used one bottle of Sluggo in two years ... but plenty of ammonia spray. Regal Splendor & a baby Francee are actually the two best preserved still but they're in a spot that the Honeysuckle vine thats overhead makes it difficult to get a good pic. The birds with nests under the overhang have 'fertilized' everything underneath them this summer. That area needs a makeover badly. One of the downsides to hybridizing is the messy look of the scapes not being trimmed back. Hopefully there will be a good bout of Indian Summer before frost and I can make a little extra garden time. Move a few and freshen things. And like you said .... whatever doesn't get done will have to hold til next spring. Curtis/m2wm
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hosta_freak
14 years ago
I know very well,what it is. It is a virus called Hosta virus X,or simply HVX. You can spread it to other hostas,if you divide,and don't clean off your tools when you plant another hosta. It will not kill the plant,but folks here on the forum will tell you to get rid of it. I have several like that,and people who know me here on the forum,know that I am keeping them,but that's just me. You can do as you please,since it's your hosta. Just MHO Phil
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Babka NorCal 9b
14 years ago
I'm very sorry to tell you that it sure looks like the hosta virus HVX to me. I'd destroy it.

-Babka
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monarae_gw
Original Author
14 years ago
Really! Wow! I didn't know that it looked like that! I have had it out in my garden for several years, and the others do not have it. I will not take any chances though.
Thanks for your advice. Dang it.....now I will have to find something else to plant there. Hate it when I have to go shopping.

Thanks again!

MonaRae
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lisasmall
14 years ago
MonaRae, you're not alone in thinking that this was some new kind of hosta. Before garden folks got familiar with HVX, a couple of "new" hosta varieties were actually named and registered as new cultivars.

HVX is a sad thing for us all. Most of us are scared most of the time we bring home a new plant, especially from Lowe's and Home Depot and Wal-Mart, where the inexperienced staff routinely put infected plants out for sale.

If you really like the look of your infected plant, maybe you could put it in a pot in a shady area far from your other hostas, and never use your regular set of garden tools on it. Maybe I'll get yelled at for suggesting this, but you seem to be fond of it, so maybe you could keep it this way, in isolation.

Here is a link that might be useful: Hosta Library: HVX photos and explanation
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monarae_gw
Original Author
14 years ago
Thank you for the suggestion Lisa, but I have already dug it out, and disposed of it. I don't want to take any chances.
Can I plant in the same spot now? Or do I have to plan on putting in something else. I will make sure that I bleach water my spade before I use it again.

Thanks for all the information. You all are GREAT!

MonaRae
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shade_tolerant
14 years ago
MonaRae sorry HVX reared its ugly head in your garden! So glad you did the right thing and removed it. I'm still trying in vain to convince a neighbor to get rid of her virused Sum and Substance hostas, she has two that are seriously infected!

In regards to your question about planting in that area, the general rule is not to plant another hosta in the same spot for at least a year.
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Joan Habel
14 years ago
Monarae,

You don't happen to live in Urbandale do you?
There is a house about a block away from mine that has an infected hosta (similar to yours) in the back yard near the bike trail.
I always think that I should say something to the owners, but they have never been outside when I am walking by.

Joan
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botanybabe
14 years ago
MonaRae don't plant another hosta there. Plant another shade tolerant plant. HVx can still be in the soil and you might just contaminate another nice hosta. Sorry.

Lainey
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monarae_gw
Original Author
14 years ago
Nope Joan, I am up here in Northern Iowa.
I pulled another hosta that was close to that one, that looked to be infected also. sigh.......
Hubby had to help getting that one out. I am so glad that I came here and learned about this. I would hate to lose anymore, since I have been working so hard. The really infected one came from a friend. I might just talk to her about it, just so she knows about it, and can do something about it in her own garden.
Since coming here I have done more research on this virus. I appreciate you all, with your advice. I will have to share some pics of some of my healthy hostas some time. I just came home with 3 more today. Thunderbolt, dancing in the rain, and silver threads and golden needles. These are going into a totally separate garden, that is definatley not infected. Picked them up with a gift cert. that I got for Mom's day! YEAH!

Thanks again!

MonaRae
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jbranch
14 years ago
Caliloo said, THat is the poster child hosta for Hosta Virus X.

She is right. Monarae, you should save this photo and that way you can have it ready when you want to show someone what an extremely infected hosta looks like :-o.
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Pic of hosta that has always looked strange

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Pic of hosta that has always looked strange

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