Trudy, when they say "shipped in spring" --which spring? NEXT year? Before I bid on any more hosta I have to know when the shipping period will be, since I am still waiting on one I bid and won in February. True there are still places where it is cold on occasion, but for the most part, plants are well on their way, the temps in many parts of the country are as warm as in the deep south where I live, and I think they should be flexible to deal with changing circumstances. However, if those are the rules and they cannot be modified or moderated or exceptions considered, then I must pass on bidding. Except seeds. No problem with shipping seeds in a timely manner, is there?

I've long been interested in Hosta that change their characteristics through the season (see my rant on blue Hosta planted in lotsa sun). This particular one is on my faves list with regard to this, along with 'Cynthia', 'Rascal, 'Gold Regal', 'Janet', et. al. Just another wonderful variation of the interest of Genus Hosta! hh

Babka, thank you so much for the information!! I was going to email him if the folks here didn't recognize it. I've looked at probably billions of hosta pics and I knew I'd never seen anything like that one before! It. Is. Stunning. Bragu, perfect name! Found this one too, at the library. Here is a link that might be useful: Watermelon Rind

Pieter, Nematodes do travel through wet soil and hibernate in soil. They do need plant tissue to live. This is why I suggest that when hostas are determined to have a virus that "nematacides" be used in conjuction with killing the plant (removing the required source of food). Perhaps a better way to approach the problem would be to perform the nematode testing to determine whether they are evident first. In many cases Nematode damage is readily determined by characteristic elongated brown streaks. If there is no nematode infection then using an insecticide would still be a good idea as it would be difficult to determine the thrip or other insect population and spraying would be "cheap insurance" to prevent transmission to other plants. In any event a combination of a non-HVX virus with nematode or thrip infection would be a difficult situation. I think these are the only practical ways to approach the problem. Extensive and expensive laboratory testing may or may not determine the virus or other disease involved, but that still leaves the problem of treating it when the plant is in a bed which you are trying to preserve. I don't know of any other prudent next step other than killing the plant, in situ, and ensuring it is completely dead. Killing it before taking steps to address nematode or thrips first or concurrently will speed up the spread as we know that nematodes or thrips live on tissue and killing / removing the plant alone will simply cause them to go elsewhere. If the action where taken with ground freezing immenent, then your suggested scenario of hybernating nematodes infecting new plantings may be possible. I think this would be a very unusual and improbable situation as hostas would be dying off before any real ground freezing. There are no over-the counter approved nematacides, however cholinesterase, the ingredient in Bayer Systemic is listed as a nematacide and might work as well as anything available to the homeowner. Of course bleach and ammonia will kill them undiluted, but the problem of how much to use and preventing damage to neighboring plants is a big problem. Spraying with a 10% solution of ammonia is done for slug control, so this might be an option to help. I simply don't know of any sure-fire nematode control other than professional treatment. Jon