Could you add a couple more photos? The mottling is very charateristic of HVX. I am going to check out photos in the HL to be sure.

I took a look and I am going to say yes it’s the virus. Others may disagree, but since it’s not a beloved hosta, I would dispose of it by burning if that’s allowed or dig it up, contain the leaves in plastic and dispose of it. Make sure you sterilize your tools afterward or you will spread the virus to your other hostas. Don’t plant another hosta there for a few years to make sure any roots left behind are dead.

debra

Either water stress (from drought and heat) or HVX. Try not to handle over plants after touching this one (with hands or instruments). At this time of year, I think water stress more than HVX.

If it's HVX, it will look like that next spring. Hosta sometimes get the uglies in the summer from stress, lack of water, etc. It's been said (i think it was ken) not to make an HVX diagnosis late in the season without a test strip (I added the test strip part).

Leave it alone and be careful not to use tools, etc. around it, in case it's HVX. My guess would be no, but I'm not an expert.

Below is my only case of HVX. It showed no signs at time of purchase the previous summer. This was taken in the spring. The hosta is Royal Standard.

bkay

i agree.. maybe with myself.. lol ...

there are so many things to ask about... that we shouldnt jump to the dread so fast..

where are you.. big city name.. whats the weather been.. extreme high heat.. drought .. how do you water ...

can we see a pic of the whole plant.. not just part of one leaf.. can you get a better pic w/o the blue cast ... but not in full blinding sun ...

etc ... you havent given us much to work with ...

ken

I live east of Seattle, and yes this year we did have some brutal heat, but we have an irrigation well and I water regularly. This area is quite shady and even in the heat stays fairly moist.

Here are hopefully some better pics.

The whole plant.

The affected leaves.

What look like unaffected leaves.

Took these before seeing Ken's response and can see there is too much glare. Will try again later.

Test strips used late in the season will always be negative. HVX goes dormant when the hosta goes dormant. Testing should be done in the spring and early summer before hot weather takes over.

HVX does not need pieces of root to survive, it can exist in the soil without the presence of any hosta material.

It is not known how long the virus remains viable, research was defunded at the end of 2 years. At that time virus was found in infected soil. It is probable that HVX will remain viable in the soil for many years. I suggest planting something other than a hosta in the infected area.

This is not a special Hosta. I was glad that it survived the beaver attack, but I would/will be fine tossing it and planting something else.

to be safe.. you would need to clean your shovel after digging up the plant ...

i agree.. its a rogue seedling ... its not worth the price of a test strip ...

ken

Sounds like a good plan. As ken mentioned the test strips are not cheap.

debra

Yeah, it looks sick.

The Hosta or the pond? :o)

I had never heard of a mountain beaver so I looked it up. I learned another something new today. We have enough pesky critters in north Georgia so I am glad they live way far far away.

I looked it up too…..they are living fossils living in the Miocene era, 5-25 million years about the time apes were evolving to walk upright in Africa. Go figure. There’s a pic of a baby one online…..too cute!

debra

You won't think it's cute after it destroys every hosta in your garden. Argh!

I gotcha juniorballoon, they aren’t in my area, thank God. Sorry, I did not mean to make light of your siuation. I was just surprised becaue I had never heard of one. I hope your garden is not visited any time soon.

debra

No problem, I didn't think you were making light of it. We all deal with garden pests. I mostly have a live and let live attitude, but some are more damaging than others. It was heartbreaking and bank breaking to watch them, and other plants disappear down it's hole.

thankfully it;s gone.