Strange hosta "rot" - Ask Extension
My hostas are coming up but they are twisted and look like they are rotting. Like celery that got frozen in the refrigerator. They are over 35 year ol...
Knowledgebase
Strange hosta "rot" #931727
Asked May 14, 2026, 4:24 PM EDT
My hostas are coming up but they are twisted and look like they are rotting. Like celery that got frozen in the refrigerator. They are over 35 year old hostas and this is the first year they are not beautiful and healthy.
Washington County Minnesota
Expert Response
I'm not sure what is going on with your hosta, but I'll offer a few suggestions.
First is rabbits. For certain, there is rabbit damage. I see the definitive 45 degree severing of stems in your second photo. I don't know if that is the whole story, though:
https://extension.umn.edu/news/keeping-animals-out-your-garden
Second is herbicide drift, especially if you used a broadleaf herbicide on the nearby lawn:
https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/encyclopedia/herbicide-injury-garden-plants
Third is hosta virus x:
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/hosta-virus-x/
If you think HVX is the issue, send a sample to the plant disease clinic:
https://pdc.umn.edu/submit-sample
First is rabbits. For certain, there is rabbit damage. I see the definitive 45 degree severing of stems in your second photo. I don't know if that is the whole story, though:
https://extension.umn.edu/news/keeping-animals-out-your-garden
Second is herbicide drift, especially if you used a broadleaf herbicide on the nearby lawn:
https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/encyclopedia/herbicide-injury-garden-plants
Third is hosta virus x:
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/hosta-virus-x/
If you think HVX is the issue, send a sample to the plant disease clinic:
https://pdc.umn.edu/submit-sample
Thank you for your response. We did not use any herbicide in our yard. We have many rabbits so I will check the website to see what I can do about that. I will send a sample in just to confirm if it is a hosta virus. If it is a virus are my hostas salvageable? Is the soil contaminated there? I have two other beds with hostas nearby and they don't look infected but I'm worried about the virus spreading. Thanks for your help!
Sent from my iPad
Robin
Sent from my iPad
On May 15, 2026, at 2:08 PM, Ask Extension wrote:
Even if you did not use herbicides, drift from a neighbors' is possible. For certain, there is rabbit damage, but I'm not sure it is everything.
HVX is a bad diagnosis. You will have to remove and dispose of all the infected hostas and be very careful about transporting it to other hosta beds - that means sterilize (10 percent bleach solution) shovels, trowels and any other equipment before using in another hosta bed. Don't plant hosta in the same place for at least 3 years. Here is some more information:
https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/insects-pests-and-problems/diseases/viruses/hosta-virus-x
https://americanhostasociety.org/blog/hosta-virus-hvx/
HVX is a bad diagnosis. You will have to remove and dispose of all the infected hostas and be very careful about transporting it to other hosta beds - that means sterilize (10 percent bleach solution) shovels, trowels and any other equipment before using in another hosta bed. Don't plant hosta in the same place for at least 3 years. Here is some more information:
https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/insects-pests-and-problems/diseases/viruses/hosta-virus-x
https://americanhostasociety.org/blog/hosta-virus-hvx/
