Indianpolis Hosta Society, Indianapolis, Indiana

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As a foliage plant, hostas should have attractive leaves. Holes, tears, crispy edges, and collapsed leaf stems are not desirable! If you have damage on a hosta and wonder what has caused it, the pictures below may help you to identify the problem. Once you have an identification, we invite you to search the internet for solutions that might be better suited to your gardening parameters. The American Hosta Society website at pests and diseases has a large section devoted to hosta pests and diseases which includes more detailed information. Below are photos and descriptions of some of the more common diseases and pests which affect hosta plants.

Deer Damage

Vole Damage - Roots are eaten away causing the plant to get smaller or die.

Slugs leave little holes on hosta leaves. They especially love white-centered leaves!

Foliar Nematodes eat tissue between veins on hosta leaves. Damage usually appears in late summer or fall. This is a serious problem and requires special response.

Hosta Virus X - Hosta Virus X is appearing in many hostas purchased at large multipurpose stores in the United States. Virus X manifests itself as a mottled, blotchy coloring pattern on hosta leaves. There is no treatment, but there are things that you can do to protect your other plants from the virus. Below are three websites with excellent information about diagnosis and response to Hosta Virus X:

The American Hosta Society
www.americanhostasociety.org/HostaVirusX.html
The Hosta Library
www.hostalibrary.org/firstlook/HVX.htm

www.northerngardening.com
www.northerngardening.com/HVX.htm

Hail freezes the tissue or rips and tears the leaves.

Sun scald causes bleached-out areas on the leaves

Healthy hosta entering dormancy. Stress from drought can cause early dormancy in hostas.

Petiole Rot caused by Sclerotium rolfsii fungus.

Anthracnose (fungi) has a tell-tale eye. Appears after periods of wetness and warm temperatures.

Iowa State University, Extension Distribution Ctr, 119 Printing & Pub. Bldg., Ames, IA 50011-3171. Phone:515-294-5247. Cost $1.50 + shipping.

Iowa State University, Extension Distribution Ctr, 119 Printing & Pub. Bldg.,
Ames, IA 50011-3171. Phone:515-294-5247.
Cost $1.50 + shipping.