Knowledgebase
Hosta damage #759968
Asked July 04, 2021, 5:58 PM EDT
Frederick County Maryland
Expert Response
This does not look like an insect or disease issue. This looks environmental, a type of sunscald or heat damage on the foliage. Hostas perform best in a moist, well draining soil in full or partial shade. They prefer high-filtered shade with one-quarter to one-half of the day in morning sun. Hot afternoon sun will scorch most hostas. Drought conditions can also cause leaf scorching along the margins or leaf tips.
Most shade-loving plants will tolerate morning sun, as long as adequate moisture levels are maintained. We notice that the hostas in the left of the photo do not seem to be affected. There may be varietal differences. The hosta on the left may have more of a waxy surface on the leaves. You can prune out affected foliage and water during dry periods. Here is our page on sunburn https://extension.umd.edu/resource/sunburn-damage-flowers
Marian
