Here are some better photos of the Blue Angel that I took before I turned it over for testing.

It looks infected to me. When you see that spotting and ink bleed along the veins, I think that’s a key indicator. On the front page of the Hosta Library there is a very good video by Chris Larson. It’s worth watching.

debra

Everyone has been so helpful, I really appreciate it! I'll post an update of the viral test results, should have them in about 5-10 days.

Tested for 10 viruses - all negative. They suspect an abiotic cause, such as a pre-emergent herbicide like Preen - and we just so happen to have this. I believe my husband had our landscaper apply this some time ago, so I suspect they may have spread it too close the hosta garden. But I do think it's odd that only one hosta was affected and so dramatically.

In any case, I'm glad it wasn't HVX and the rest of my hostas are safe!

I just reread your results…..are you saying the Blue Angel is NOT infected? I’m not an expert in fertilizers, but I

think the results could be wrong. Your first leaf picture shows classic signs of the virus. Even if you don’t watch the

Chris Hansen video, there are pictures of HVX on the home page of the HL. It’s worth it check to it out. Your other hostas

Should be fine, the virus lives in the soil. That’s why you can’t plant another hosta there for 3-5 years. I’ve removed 2 hostas

This year already. I didn’t need I test because I’ve watched the Hansen video, I believe I know it when I see it. My

biggest and older hosta, Sum &Subtance had the virus and just yesterday I found an infected Lancifolia. I have 2

Posts just recently that you may want to look at. BTW, I do always check with forum members, but sometimes after

I have started digging

debra

D

Yes they told me it's negative for HVX, they believed a pre-emergent weed killer got on to the leaves. Is it possible for a hosta showing leaf changes like mine to test negative? I was surprised it was negative too, but I feel like it would be even more surprising if this was a false negative test. I gave them the entire plant for testing so they had plenty of specimen to work with.

Nowhere in your original posting did you indicate the use of a pre-emergent weed killer. I've been doing a quick on-line search for picture of damage caused by PE weedkiller and have not been able to find any. Based on that my feeling is that they're taking a stab in the dark. I'll stick with my original assessment that the pictures shown very clearly show signs of typical HVX ink bleed.

On a slightly different note, I had an incident earlier this year where I noticed clear evidence of fairly extensive tissue collapse on a 'First Blush' I received as a bare root by mail-order last year. I sent the supplier several pictures and it was the considered opinion of the grower in the Netherlands that the damage was due to nematodes. Well, I don't know what he/she was smoking that day bu as it happens I do have experience with foliar nematodes and it wasn't even close. My feeling is they simply provided a quick answer to get me off their back... hoping I wouldn't know any better...

Pieter

I must say once again and also agree with Pieter, that regardless of the test, I am sure it’s

infected. Perhaps the PE fertilizer threw their results off.

debra

Correct, I personally never used any weed killer around these plants. BUT we do have it in our garage, and a few days after posting I found out from my husband that our landscaper had used it in the garden where my hostas are. I regret not having any more of the plant to test again, but it is what it is. I'll keep the spot where it was bare for a few years. Thank you all!

This does not present as HVX on Blue Angel. I think you can breathe easy.