Canadian Gardening: What's happening in your neighborhood today...pt3, 1 by ViolaAnn

ViolaAnn wrote:
Betty - do a Google search for "Hosta Virus X" and you'll get all sorts of links. There are very good pics on the Hosta Library site and some of the others as well. The most common symptom is a bit (or a lot) of "ink bleed" along the veins but there are others as well. And there are some varieties such as Halycon which have a very high rate of infection but don't show the symptoms.

The Hallson site has a whole forum dedicated to it as well - http://www.perennialnursery.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=63&si...

Learn which varieties have a very high rate of infection and don't buy them, or if you do, ensure that the nursery is testing for HVX. This is a leaf from my Gypsy Rose which I found infected last year and shows the "ink bleed". It came from Hosta Choice nursery in Ontario - unfortunately no longer in business because the owners both died last year, but it was a VERY knowledgeable place and it still got by.

Gold Standard is one which is highly infected. So is Striptease and Gypsy Rose is a sport of Striptease. I would be leary of any sports of highly infected varieties too.

Finally, once you know about HVX, keep an eye open for it and tell the sales people about it as most won't know a thing about it.
Ann