Pictures of HVX on Katherine Lewis

[Chris_W]

As with other gold centered plants HVX shows up in Katherine Lewis as the darker color filling in along the veins. This is the early symptoms of the virus and I'm sure it will become more pronounced in time.

[Liselotte]

Chris, I wonder if the new leaves will show the virus. We had a nasty hail storm and Hostas are badly cut up. The damage is not as severe as it has been at other times but with 2 days of heavy rains, the leaves will probably look bad enough that it would be hard to tell if the virus was present.

[Chris_W]

Hi Lisolette,

Usually the new leaves will show the virus too. In my plant the newer leaves are contorted and twisted, and are looking pretty much solid blue right now. If they grow I would expect them to show it too.

This is one plant out of a batch of 25 and none of the others are showing symptoms yet. If they are infected, which I suspect they are, they should show it next year for sure.

These came from Van Bloem Gardens this spring. Surprisingly nice sized, multiple eyed plants actually, so in the past these would have been for sale by now.

[Kas]

Chris, thanks for posting these pics. Happily, my KL doesn't look anything like this. I bought mine two years ago. It was in a two gallon pot and was so root bound it was crazy. It was so big that I was able to split it into thirds and then I split one of the chunks in half last year for trades. I just love this plant!

Kas

[Liselotte]

Thank you Chris! For now I can do nothing but wait and see. I received a batch of ten, just one eye per plant. Two of these have already reverted to all blue. They will be watched carefully.
This HVX is really starting to rule my life, I need a way out

[wingnut]

Thanks Chris , Ill check my KL tomorrow. I also bought one multi eyed and big and pretty, so I need to keep an eye on it.