Knowledgebase
Hosta virus or not #876108
Asked July 06, 2024, 1:42 PM EDT
St. Louis County Minnesota
Expert Response
Hello Nicole, happy to help.
I cannot tell definitively from a photo though you may be correct to ask. I recommend sending a sample to the U of MN Extension Plant Disease Clinic (PDC) for a diagnosis. Note that some tests are very specific and may rule out Hosta Virus X (HVX) but there could be other viruses your hosta may have. Or none and the variegation of the leaves is normal for the variety. Here is the link to the PDC where you'll learn about their services, prices, and how to submit a sample.
Until you're sure that your plant is disease free, keep it away from other plants and clean your tools after using them on the suspected hosta and before using them on another hosta whether suspected or not.
Here is more information about Hosta Virus X that includes the types of solutions to use to clean your tools and how to correctly destroy diseased plants should you decide to take that route.
Good-luck!