It just seems like it is too much of an effort to grow Francis Williams to me, Jerry.

Some would definitely agree with you, Donna.

Jerry, I believe you! Last year I actually predicted (to a friend) when FW was going to have marks...and it did two days later but it was after a heat wave in this case, not cold.

Yours almost looks like the top layer is melting off in the picture. That is so sad for it is a beauty with such lovely colour. :(.

Mine is still unfurling but it has been cold last couple of nights, and windy. I will look at it in the morning.

Thanks for posting that physiological theory. I can never get enough information on FW as I am experimenting with placement and age of FWs.

Sounds similar to sun scald that occurs on tree bark from freezing temps and then being hit by the sun on one side.

I potted mine for now and it's in indirect bright light on the front porch. It seems happy there for now.

Beautiful plant there bernd, I'm envious. I've had FW for 10 years in every light condition imaginable except direct sun all day (maybe I'll try that someday) and never had a year without the desiccation.

I guess it is what it is. I can accept it or throw it out, but I'll probably keep fooling with it...lol...

Direct sun won't work, mine burnt to a crisp in any amount of direct sun. One is now in full shade, the other one in almost full shade. They look better there than anywhere else I've tried. Down side is the cupped leaves now catch all the pine needles.

I noticed that the competition of look-alikes also burned to a crisp in direct sun.

spf 5000 for protection

Always a practical solution bragu.

No complaints about them here.

Jon

I'd try that bragu if I thought it would help...lol

Looks good Jon, I swear mine looked like that the day before the OP was made.

The 37 degrees warned about here last night turned out to be 48. Let's hope we are done with it.

I have 8 FW and 7 of them are showing damage that seemed to appear practically overnight this week. It is certainly not frost damage as it didn't get below 40 here this week. Nor are any of my FW's in direct sunlight so they are not getting burned. Thanks to this thread at least I can stop worrying about the bomb (HVX). Maybe it did get cold enough here???

Thank you to all in this thread for the information concerning FW. I was thinking it was just me!

This time last year my FW already had necrosis...late emerging this year, she is still unfurling and looking great.

Mine looks good so far... but it has been a cloudy, wet spring.

Yes, Jerry - it happened here too. I just knew it was too good to be true!!! Yesterday, unblemished, still unfurling. Today - still looked ok in the morning, then all in a matter of 5 hours...(as I cringed with dread while checking temps. 84 with 51% humidity). That's it! I am moving her to where the other division is doing well, knowing full well I am setting her glorious self back. :(

I've been outside for a couple of hours...I spied the light colour while taking a pic on my way back up the stairs, as is my habit.

Calmer now, disappointment accepted. Should I move her? Shouldn't I? She has the biggest leaves I've ever seen on this Hosta yet. Help me decide? Glorious maturity versus some necrosis?

Bump

I would not move it - enjoy them while they are the beauty they are!

It all depends on how much the desiccation bothers you. I'm reading that it does so you'll always be frustrated with this FW in it's current place. I wouldn't blame you because it seems awfully early to be showing signs of it already as it just unfurled. If it didn't happen until July/Aug. that would seem more acceptable. You sound reluctant to move it, but that you know it can eventually look better if you do.

Very disheartening when you discover this, sorry. I've moved mine around several times and have never eliminated the desiccation, but it does seem to be better in some locations than others.

84 degrees you say, probably didn't have frost or real cold the night before? That would dispel the physiological theory I originally posted.

Yours looks like it is maturing quite nicely and the damage doesn't look to severe. I say leave it for another year and compare the two next year, but my past with FW hasn't been anything successful.

I'm with Bruce and Jerry...

Actually, Jerry..we did have a pretty good frost two nights (?) before...(I covered everything). Then the heat wave two days straight right after...I've been finding some damage on two more hostas since...and it occurred within 48 hours of frost. It could be frost damage instead? I'm not that familiar with frost damage...cold damage yes, but that is different.

Sandy, it always happens in May (a lightbulb went off in my head re your unfurling comment) and coincides with heat waves during the day. Last year it occurred around the same time or earlier as I have pics dated May 29/14 that show damage that is somewhat aged already...but the exception this year was that it wasn't fully leafed out yet.

Bruce, Sandy, Jerry and Don - I asked for advice because I was waffling, sitting on the fence, ... thank you for giving me the nudge I needed. I really appreciate it and will leave her alone as recommended. . . and yes, I shall enjoy the beauty, Bruce. :-)

I just noticed today that mine in full shade, no direct sun
at all, had a touch of the same as Josephine’s last 2 photos. Like a pale part
on the edge. The second one that gets a touch of sun had more. I swear there
was nothing there a few days ago, I have been really watching since this thread
started. Regardless, in the lat few years there has been much less then when
they got more sun. Temps here have fluctuated between 40’s and 80 in the last 2
weeks.

A wind can leave dessication burns just as sun will. Happens to my neighbor's FW, who has his in no direct sunlight. Couldn't escape the burn, though.

Thanks. Good to know. We did have an extremely windy day last week. Actually uprooted a tall annual in a pot. Regardless of these marks, they are still majestic and impressive.

you are probably spot on with your theory. I have these in my backyard in a well protected space.. Boy are these things prolific. I have them growing everywhere and from just one plant I have half a dozen now.