Sorry, Melrose... I know hope springs eternal, but this plant is a dud.

I have grown perhaps 100 striptease... and dozens each of Kiwi Full Monty, Gypsy Rose, Risky Business, Hanky Panky, etc.

I have never seen one go all green, then get color "back." Striptease is colored. The colors change during the season, but the markings are always obvious. If your plant is all green, it will stay all green. It has absolutely nothing to do with it being in a pot.

Occasionally the plants coming out of dormancy in the spring may appear green and then show their markings shortly after, but those emerging with poor markings will always have poor markings.

$2 is certainly a good price for starters of that list of very good hostas. I'd keep them all labeled well, and perhaps isolated for a while... when a nursery person is as ignorant or dishonest as the lady you spoke with, I'd want to keep an eye on anything coming from her.

A reputable nursery... maybe... but the information you got was not correct.

I was told, when I first set out to get that plant, that when looking for a 'good' 'Striptease' (the plant--of course)
that if it does not already have the lightening bolt of white, prominently, it won't get any better! So, in this case, it
should look good from the gate! I know--I hate it when I put down any amount of cash for something
I hope will 'get better' and I'm told, "Nope--it ain't gonna happen"! ;o(

Also, 'Striptease' is one of the hosta that more often, seem to eventually show evidence of HVX!
So, use good garden-hygiene when planting and removing this one, as we should with any hosta
these days! But, you probably already knew that! :o)

BTW--'Melrose', your handle is a name that goes way back in our family, to 'land' and 'estate' (ahem)
owned outside of Columbia, S.C.!

Is your 'handle' a family name--or maybe I shouldn't ask, huh--internet anonymity and all! LOL

Thanks for the input - I think I will put them in a separate area for the winter. The plants actually look super healthy and of course I had to pick the one I thought looked the best. I guess if they stay all green that's OK because I'm seldom attracted to all green - I like the varigation. I bought these at different nurseries (not a big box store) but I found that even at the nurseries you get alot of workers who don't really know the plants - they go look it up in a book or just give an answer that will sell the product.

How long would it take for HVX to become apparent? Knock on wood, I've not had a problem with that so far but I've seen some plants that look like it could be the problem.

Melrose is a family name from way back that I like and I named my daughter Melissa Rose.

I have gathered from other threads that it can be several years at least before HVX shows.
gramma jan

Striptease is a big HVX carrier, so is Gold Standard, amongst others. There's tons of informative reading out there for those inclined to search a bit for it.

First things first.....learn what HVX looks like, and then take into consideration that some Hostas look like carp sometimes, and seasonal (natural) changes sometimes occur that may mimic HVX to an untrained eye.
Either way, if you bought green divisions of whatever, they will be green next year, because green always wins!

Hi Melrose,
To answer your question on how long it can take for HVX to show up, well it can stay dormant for many years.

Example: I had a Striptease that was 7 years old a few years back. It was 4ft across and a lovely specimen. But the 7th year I started to see the signs on a few leaves by the 8th year I new it was apparent. I was warned by the grower the year after I purchased it that possibly it could have it. That was way back when HVX was just starting to show it's evil leaves and not much was known.
The plant came out last year. Nothing else in our collection has shown signs. At that time it was no ones fault. It just happened to even the best growers.

When you see it just remove it...no need to panic. It's just a plant...you can get another one.

If you leave it in, don't plant or move or touch it (HVX infected plant) would you be 'ok' or is there not enough known at this point?

There is now much known about this subject than 10 years ago. Hosta Library is a great source of knowledge.

There are people on the forum who have left their hostas alone and surrounding plants are fine. Then there are other members who have to remove them for their own sanity. Yes it can be transfered to other hostas...but to be honest before all the hoopla about using sterile tecniques when cutting and transplanting...well I just didn't do it. I did bleach my shovel after taking the lovely plant out and cleaned up roots. But nothing else has ever showed its wicked leaves.

I believe the important issue is to get plants from a reputable grower. And just become aware of what it looks like and if you can prevent it than do so. And sometimes you can find good buys in box stores or other sources. What is that saying "Consumer Beware". Just pack yourself with knowledge.

I will say I have been in a yard that there was a hosta variety that the owner was spliting very regularly(over 50) and all of them had HVX...but none of her other varieties of hostas did. Did she use sterile methods on her others...I don't think so. Does she know she has HVX, I don't think so.... Go figure.

I would rather dispose of a young plant with HVX than to dig out a mature plant of 8 years...it's just sad.

Thanks for all the feedback. I guess I'll just wait and see. No signs right now of HVX. I did buy a Gold Standard about 3 yrs ago at a big box store and it shows no signs at all - in fact it looks great right now. Sounds like it's best to remove them as soon as you see any signs.

Thanks again - today's a nice day so I'm going out to plant all my late summer sale purchases!!!