Help with an ID?

15 years ago

Hi, I'm new to posting here, so I hope this works. :)

I have a few hostas in my collection that I no longer remember the variety, so I'm hoping someone will recognize them...

The first is one that I think MIGHT be Halcyon or Blue Cadet, possibly? It's quite blue & very waxy, with a good defined clump.

The next one also has a good defined shape:

This one is so similar in shape, size, and color to the last one, but the darker coloring threads down through the leaf, not just the margin? (I don't know if there's a term for this.) I think this one must be a vigorous grower, b/c I seem to have a good many of them, and I never buy more than 2 of a variety.

Last, but not least, this one is a bit fragile, very susceptible to slug damage... it doesn't have a defined shape, very much a "wild child." If I remember correctly, even the root systems of each eye seem to be separate, so it is difficult to dig up as well. I only have the traumatized-looking one shown here and the double-eye that fell off during a recent move. I'm hoping they recuperate to their former selves.

Thanks in advance for any point in the right direction! :)

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Comments (9)

alyciaadamo
15 years ago
I am no expert but I would say the 4th picture down is a Gold Standard with HVX.
Babka NorCal 9b
15 years ago
Halcyon, Gold Standard. For sure the 4th photo down is Gold Standard with HVX, and #6 looks virused too, to me. So Sorry.

-Babka
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Elvee13
Original Author
15 years ago
Being new to HVX, what do I need to do? These have been in the bed with all my other hostas for years! Yikes! Wouldn't it have spread to others? Or are only some varieties susceptible? Do I need to dig them up? Sad...
paul_in_mn
15 years ago
Welcome Elvee, glad you found the forum. You did a great job posting your pics

First two pics I'm guessing Halcyon

Third and Fourth pics - agree with alycia on Gold Standard HVX. (Link on HVX Below - give it a read - good article that covers it well) Unfortunately a hosta with HVX will not get better and there is no treatment other than to toss plant in garbage, clean your tools and get educated so that you can protect your other hosta from infection.

Fifth and Sixth pics - don't know name - also suspect HVX, tried to blowup distorted/stressed leaves but too blurry to tell. A new closeup pic of distorted and mottled leaves would help.

Paul

p.s. noticed a couple of comments before I finished so some of this may duplicate

Here is a link that might be useful: Hosta Virus X
Steve Massachusetts
15 years ago
You should remove the plants getting all the roots you can and put it in the trash. Then plant another perennial in its spot. No hostas in that spot for 3 years. HVX spreads by the plant sap. Even small pieces of root in the soil remain capable of spreading the virus for some time. Make sure you are washing your tools (shovels, pruners, etc) with a bleach solution or bleach wipes after using them with each hosta plant until you are sure you have no more virus.

Steve
Elvee13
Original Author
15 years ago
Well, I went outside & looked, and I was relieved to note that only one infected Gold Standard was actually IN the ground... I can easily plant an astilbe or a fern in its place, as it's toward the back. The other 4 or so are in pots! The scraggly one (pic 5) I was going to try to rehab has only been in the ground about a week and is very small, so it will be a small loss.

Overall, I think it's a minimal loss. Unfortunately, now I'm paranoid about the edges of the margins on my UNinfected Gold Standards... I guess I'll just watch them closely.

As for the potted HVX Gold Standards, should I toss those as well? I honestly think they are so interesting, but I'm worried that a hailstorm will pop up, as it does often here in the spring, and knock leaves from them into the beds. So, out they go, and I will bleach or Lysol out the fiberglass pots.

Thanks for all the help!
mary52zn8tx
15 years ago
Sorry you had some with HVX. We have all been there. Welcome to the forum.
Steve Massachusetts
15 years ago
Elvee,

The potted ones should go too. The risks of spreading are too great. If the pots are expensive, then let them soak in a 10% bleach solution or plant something else in them (or both). If they aren't expensive throw them out too. Don't divide or share any divisions from your hostas until you are sure your garden is completely disease free.

Steve
thisismelissa
15 years ago
Steve said 3 years for re-planting in the hole...
In reality, research has not yet told us how long HVX can live in a given hole. So, the current thinking is to be cautious and to never replant a hosta in the hole.