That doesn’t look good. Is the overall Hosta impressive enough to invest in Agdia strips to test it? I have a Gold Standard that looked heavily infested with HVX but has tested negative repeatedly. This year it is beautiful.

It certainly looks infected, but I've had a couple that looked just as bad and then were fine the next year. If she wants to give it a chance, she could plant it in a pot, then overwinter it by either popping it in the ground somewhere she never intends to put a hosta or by planting the pot. Check it in spring, and if it still looks ,virused, destroy it. Any tools that come in contact with it should be wiped down with 10% bleach solution.

I'd lean toward disposing of it unless it's already planted. It's not worth risking the other hostas and all the hassles of sterilizing tools, quarantine , .etc. The virus is least active in fall, so late fall is the best time to dig and dispose. That's how one of mine survived. I intended to get rid of it after the leaves died, left it too long, and the ground froze. The next year it looked normal, and has ever since. Hooray for procrastination!

i dont see any reason to waste money on strips ... get rid of it .. and sterilize anything that came in contact with it ... including the person who gifted it to your friend ... well ... that might be going a bridge to far ... lol ..

ken

ps: that thing in a bed of hosta and a hail storm could be a potential nightmare ...

Burn it with fire.

Thank you for the replies I appreciate the help, I have sent my friend the link so she can learn more about HVX. I've been keeping Hostas for 6 years or so and ever since finding out about HVX on this page, I've been extremely cautious - bypassing any that look suspicious. Thank you again for the opinions.