Is this leaf burn or something else?

9 years ago

I bought this Hosta Loyalist a couple of months ago. It has grown well and has looked great until I noticed this on several of the leaves. It was only getting dappled sun in a thick area of trees but I when I saw the damaged leaves I realized the sun had shifted just enough that it was getting a couple of hours of nonstop and pretty intense Texas afternoon sun. I moved it to where it gets no direct sun for now and have seen no new damage but the old damage seems to be slightly increasing in size. It really seemed to enjoy the bursts of sun it was getting and is the only hosta in my fairly small collection in which the leaves really seemed to be "reaching" for the sun.

Comments (4)

hosta_freak
9 years ago
That is called'melt out',and is common among center variegated hostas. It needs more shade. Phil
bkay2000
9 years ago
I didn't have much luck with my one white centered hosta, Ann Kulpa. My neighbor has had Night Before Christmas for quite some time and it doesn't burn. I bought one this year.

It's not unusual for the center of white hosta to melt out and I think that is what yours is doing. Maybe Mocc and Ilovetogrow will chime in. They both have large collections. Babka is in zone 9, but she doesn't get the heat/sun combination we do.

bk

This is the first of May on Ann Kulpa, it just went downhill from there. It also shows some cut worm damage.
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santamiller
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks very much. Melt outÃ¢ÂÂ¦.OK, first time I've run across that term. I have it in indirect light now, zero direct sun. Should the damaged leaves be removed?
hosta_freak
9 years ago
Leave them,as they still provide food for the plant. The burned place will eventually develop a hole,but the plant will be OK,and newer leaves may even cover the damage. Phil