L is a piece of carp hosta ... yours actually looks pretty good ... lol ..

melting out is the term ..

think of white tissue as white dead tissue.. it adds nothing to the vitality of the plant.. having no chlorophyll ... and it give off more water than the plant can pump to it.. in the heat of the day ... thereby leading to the melting out ....

you have two choices ...

first.. if you like experimenting.. see if you can grow it to perfection ... but dont fixate on it.. or have no expectation ...

second.. throw it out now .. and be done with it.. so you can use the pot for a worthy hosta. ..

multiple new pips.. means it got enough sunshine.. for the green edge to make the plant thrive.. in the light you had it in.. the catch 22 is that if you put it in too much shade.. with so little green.. is whether or not it will thrive ..

get rid of it ... when it puts you over the edge ...

ken

I had one that did that. It was Ann Kulpa. I gave it away. I'm sure that if I can't grow it, neither can the woman I gave it to, but maybe she's not as picky as I am.

It seems to do well for folks in zone 5, though. Moccasin says she has problems with white middles, too.

bk

It seems to do well for folks in zone 5

==>> no bkay.. both at POS .. period ... even in z5 ...

i am sure.. this will lead the two peeps who magically grow it.. to start bragging.. lol ....

ken

A great bit of info, Ken. I have no intention of giving up on it. It looked good for much of the season last year so I'll see what happens this year. In about a month I'll have an area that is 100% shade for the rest of the summer so I'll give it a go in that spot this year.

Well, I'll bite...because Ken expects someone to and I don't want to disappoint him! Lol. I have nothing to brag about - I don't own a Loyalist but......I did lose one :-(

Ken has answered the question re melt-out but I'll offer some more information re Loyalist then add a bit about Fire and Ice and Ann Kulpa.

Before I get to that, however, I've also experienced what you did, Santamiller with American Sweetheart this past summer. Without a doubt it was sun exposure here. Once I rescued her (as you did yours) and offered her more shade no additional melt out occurred.

I've learned that due to lack of chlorophyll white-centered hostas take special care to grow and but that it can be done with success. I've also read (Zilis) that the first three years of growing these particular cultivars are important - I read that as having patience, finding the right location is key, and to water, and pray! Lol

I believe you will be successful growing Loyalist because ..... of the excellent condition of your plant in August! You are darned right, Ken ... it is looking good! :-) I would have expected a much earlier melt out in your climate. Although...if it were me, in Texas, I would at least offer some sunlight early morning, before it gets too intense.

I'm here cheering you on!

I've heard from some Loyalist (2nd generation sport of Patriot) growers that it is more susceptible to melt out and that white-centred hostas such as Fire and Ice (also 2nd gen. of Patriot) and Ann Kulpa were stronger, their leaves thicker. I grow both and last year they were exemplary in terms of appearance - all season long. I attribute that to no special care other than finally finding their ideal location. Zilis recommends that proper moisture levels and adequate fertilization are essential for Loyalist.

Fire and Ice was amazing and unblemished. It grew in a pot in 2014 and was exposed to direct sunlight from sun-up until around 1:30 p.m. Ann Kulpa (a seedling of Pin Stripe Sister) also remained superb and was replanted in filtered sunlight...but with direct sunlight for a portion of the late afternoon where the sun's rays were less intense. She will be in her third year this season.

Jo

I've never had melt out on Fire and Ice, but then mine only gets morning sun, then filtered early afternoon, after that bright shade. Location, location, location.

-Babka

Ditto, ditto, ditto!!

Mine only got dappled sun, and most of that was shade, but of course in August that's 95-102 degree dappled sun and shade. In my hosta area dappled sun can be an hour of direct sun anywhere from 2-5pm or multiple periods of varying direct sunlight, which of course is really intense sun. I'll leave it on the patio under the overhang this year and it will be exposed only to bright indirect light. Come August I can compare the results. If that doesn't work then next year I'll put it in a wagon and walk it around the block each afternoon with my wife holding an umbrella over it or read it a story. Whatever it takes. :)

Don't forget to let us know how it fares this summer :-). Still giggling over the last sentence! Lol

Loyalist was my first ever hosta last year. I see no signs of it returning unfortunately. Doesn't seem like I lost much based on some of these comments, hah. (Still has several weeks before I give up hope entirely.)

Well if you started with Loyalist you pretty much don't have to go far to move up from that. lol

Jo.....I'll let you know.

Jo, I said zone 5. You go one better by being zone 4.

bk

I didn't miss what you said, BKay ;-) and I am in zone 5, 5b actually..(Canadian hardiness map)..and that doesn't preclude me from having similar meltout problems. I'm just very persistent is all in wanting to grow attractive hostas to the best of my ability. It's fun and challenging, isn't it?

Difficult or not, one thing you have to say about Loyalist is it's striking right out of the box.

Beautiful, Santa.

bk

It is beautiful. I believe spring will come, I believe spring will come, i believe...............