This hosta (pictured on the left) always get this rust color on it. Is it the normal coloration or does if have a virus or some other malady? The one on the right is a younger leaf from the same plant but does not have much discoloration. None of my other hostas look like this.

Sherri, how much sun does it receive, what direction does it face?

crawgarden said:Sherri, how much sun does it receive, what direction does it face?

Hi RJ......I have a few on the east side of my house and also on the west side. Both sides receive filtered light all day but very few hours of direct sun. They all are starts from one plant.

Hi Sherri,
If all of your hostas have came from the same plant, and this is the only one that has issues...I would probably dispose of it. Do not compost it, and sterilize your tools afterward with a 10-20% solution of bleach and water. Looks like it could be hosta virus x with the bleed through showing.
@ViolaAnn, @Rose1656 and @Hostamore may want to weigh in.

SherriRaye said:This hosta (pictured on the left) always get this rust color on it. Is it the normal coloration or does if have a virus or some other malady? The one on the right is a younger leaf from the same plant but does not have much discoloration. None of my other hostas look like this.

I have never had a hosta disease here in 20 years. So I looked it up. There is a disease called anthracnose that looks similar to your problem. It is a fungal condition best controlled to keeping the plants dry and giving them good air circulation, but there are some antifungal sprays that help.

An organic spray I found is 4 teaspoons of baking soda to a gallon of water sprayed on the leaves. It seems to work by changing the pH of the leaf surface.

I agree with Rj, I would be very surprised if this isn't a virus. You can see that the veins are pale and that the paleness is "bleeding" into the green, which is typical. Hostas are susceptible to a number of different viruses.

sooby said:I agree with Rj, I would be very surprised if this isn't a virus. You can see that the veins are pale and that the paleness is "bleeding" into the green, which is typical. Hostas are susceptible to a number of different viruses.

Have I been so lucky about not having Hosta viral problems for so many years? But ok...

I tend to agree. If I read correctly, it's just one of several all the same variety? If so, get rid of it because even the newer leaf has spots not looking healthy.

OTOH, if it's the only one of this variety, I might consider waiting until next year to see what it looks like. But the longer you keep it, the greater the risk of spreading the virus if it has a virus.

crawgarden said:Hi Sherri,
If all of your hostas have came from the same plant, and this is the only one that has issues...I would probably dispose of it. Do not compost it, and sterilize your tools afterward with a 10-20% solution of bleach and water. Looks like it could be hosta virus x with the bleed through showing.
@ViolaAnn, @Rose1656 and @Hostamore may want to weigh in.

All the hostas from this plant look the same. I meant to say all my other different hostas are fine. I'm going to dig up all the ones with the virus and destroy them.

Yardenman said:

I have never had a hosta disease here in 20 years. So I looked it up. There is a disease called anthracnose that looks similar to your problem. It is a fungal condition best controlled to keeping the plants dry and giving them good air circulation, but there are some antifungal sprays that help.

An organic spray I found is 4 teaspoons of baking soda to a gallon of water sprayed on the leaves. It seems to work by changing the pH of the leaf surface.

I don't want to risk my other types of hostas so I'm going to dig up and destroy these. Thanks for the recipe. I'm sure that I will be able to use it on some other plants. I always prefer to use the natural cures such as this one. Thank you.

crawgarden said:Hi Sherri,
If all of your hostas have came from the same plant, and this is the only one that has issues...I would probably dispose of it. Do not compost it, and sterilize your tools afterward with a 10-20% solution of bleach and water. Looks like it could be hosta virus x with the bleed through showing.
@ViolaAnn, @Rose1656 and @Hostamore may want to weigh in.

Thank you for your help. I'm going to replace this hosta with another one and destroy this one. Appreciate your tips on the bleach solution.

Sherri, here is some more info: http://www.americanhostasociet...

Some experts suggest that you don't plant any hosta in that spot for one year. I've also read that you shouldn't plant a hosta in that spot ever. I've had it in three plants in my gardens and I've never planted again in the same spot. Better safe than sorry!

Rose1656 said:Some experts suggest that you don't plant any hosta in that spot for one year. I've also read that you shouldn't plant a hosta in that spot ever. I've had it in three plants in my gardens and I've never planted again in the same spot. Better safe than sorry!

You're right "better safe than sorry". Do you think if I plant a coral bells there that they will be ok?

I've read that you can plant anything but hosta in that spot. I'm kind of a chicken, so I've always placed yard art in the spots!

A huechera or astilbe is a good choice for where the hosta was.

ViolaAnn said:A huechera or astilbe is a good choice for where the hosta was.

I went shopping yesterday and I have to show you what I purchased to replace my sick hosta noid. Instead of one hosta I ended up with - Hosta Powder Blue; two Heucheras - Lime Marmalade and Plum Pudding (Umm that makes me hungry); a Fatsia Japonica - Spider's Web; a Persian Shield Houseplant; and a Soft Shield Fern. My wallet just isn't safe when I go to the nursery. I haven't planted them yet but they sure look good grouped together. They're next to an astilbe, pulmonaria and monkshood.

That is a very nice grouping. You've done well!

My kind of shopping trip !
Best of luck !