Hello all. This is new to me as Ive only taking care of grass before. This year I wanted to take care of my landscaped areas that Ive neglected in the past. I found some fertilizer and water really made everything come alive. I have things blooming that I didnt know could bloom! I found an old post here on hostas, and decided I needed one! Actually I have some bare shaded areas that Id like to fill with them!

So a couple months ago I headed to a local nursery in search of one. I had looked online at all the different hostas available. The nursery had one, lol. Luckily it was beautiful! So I bought it.

Fast forward. A few weeks ago I started seeing damage on it. Im guessing some kind of bug is eating it while Im sleeping because Ive never seen a but on it.



So how do I prevent this from happening (would like to stay organic)? What do I do about the damaged leaves? Cut them off? This pic is about two weeks old and it has gotten worse.

Im new to things in the yard other than grass so thanks for your patients

Josh, I'm really glad that you like Hosta. I've probably got a couple hundred of them, and like every one I've got.

A few things:

(1) First things first. The picture isn't a Hosta. Hosta don't have real stems or branches. The leaves all generate from the center of the plant. It's pretty, but that's not a Hosta. Although I'm by no means certain, San Antonio is farther south than I'm used to hearing about Hosta. Maybe David knows if they can succeed in San Antonio.

(2) I was expecting to see slug damage on a Hosta. Slugs love Hosta. But that isn't exactly slug damage and that's not exactly a Hosta.

(3) Keep at it. Its fun and you're doing well.

+1 Andy. It's cute, whatever it is, but that's not a hosta. Click here for more information Those are some photos of hosta, showing the center generation of leaves.

The damage seems pretty minor, though--I get worse than that and still ignore it. Keep an eye on it. If they start lacing the leaves, it's time to do something.

LOL, see there I learned something already. I didnt know all leaves generated from the center of the hosta. Maybe since I only found this one similar plant that means it is too hot here for them.

So I wonder what it is I have here.

I checked, and Texas A & M says that they will grow "in all but the southernmost parts of Texas". Do your research, and if they will grow in San Antonio, I'll be happy to send you your first true Hosta when I split mine this Fall. Don't just say "sure, send it" though - my Hosta are special to me and I'd hate to send one to a death sentence. Let me know around October 1st.

Oh no Josh, that doesn't look like a hosta. That looks like a Snow On the Mountain(Bishop's Weed). I think it is really Snow On The mountain. Be very careful with this plants since it is VERY invasive!!!

I've been to Plant Swaps in Garden Web in Skokie and I have seen how the Snow on the Mountain chokes her other plants.

Click here for more information

Some more info from people's experience about its invasiveness.

Click here for more information

s1mpl3k1d wrote:Oh no Josh, that doesn't look like a hosta. That looks like a Snow On the Mountain(Bishop's Weed). I think it is really Snow On The mountain. Be very careful with this plants since it is VERY invasive!!!

I've been to Plant Swaps in Garden Web in Skokie and I have seen how the Snow on the Mountain chokes her other plants.

Click here for more information

Wow I think thats it. Its exactly like some of those pics. I would actually be thrilled if it spread and filled that whole area. I have more space in other places that I need to fill. Ive actually been looking around for shade tolerant plants with color.

Wait 2 years and see how quickly it spreads. I hope I can find the pictures of our 2009 Plant Swaps. I remember taking a picture of those Bishop's Weeds. They are so beautiful though!

Perhaps yellow archangel? Click here for more information

As long as that's not considered noxious or invasive where you are.

That far south, I don't think my beloved bleeding hearts and impatiens are going to do it--it's not the heat, it's the (lack) of rainfall sufficient to overcome it. Hopefully other Southern gardeners will chime in.

MorpheusPA, it's really Snow on the Mountain(Bishop's Weed).

s1mpl3k1d wrote:Some more info from people's experience about its invasiveness.

Click here for more information

LOL

Growing the "green" version of "Snow-On-The-Mountain" makes a bold statement about your personality - it's like shaving with a straight razor, when there are easier alternatives available.

One of only a handful of true "set it and forget it" plants out there.

Sadly, you'll have a hard time finding it, unless you are part of the small yet elite society of invasive plant lovers, known only as the "I.P.L."

I just reno'd my back yard and planted bermuda. I guess I could join the "IPL"

andy10917 wrote:I checked, and Texas A & M says that they will grow "in all but the southernmost parts of Texas". Do your research, and if they will grow in San Antonio, I'll be happy to send you your first true Hosta when I split mine this Fall. Don't just say "sure, send it" though - my Hosta are special to me and I'd hate to send one to a death sentence. Let me know around October 1st.

Thanks Andy! Im definatly going to check into this. It was one of your old posts that made me want to grow Hostas. They looked beautuful in your pictures!

A very nice pic of snow on the mountain

Josh wrote:

andy10917 wrote:I checked, and Texas A & M says that they will grow "in all but the southernmost parts of Texas". Do your research, and if they will grow in San Antonio, I'll be happy to send you your first true Hosta when I split mine this Fall. Don't just say "sure, send it" though - my Hosta are special to me and I'd hate to send one to a death sentence. Let me know around October 1st.

Thanks Andy! Im definatly going to check into this. It was one of your old posts that made me want to grow Hostas. They looked beautuful in your pictures!

Andy is correct! It is true that hostas are beautiful! I want more. I have 7 different varieties of them. The more shade they get, the larger leaves the produce! How lovely!!! They are drought tolerant and can withstand sun. If it's in the sun, the leaves are smaller.

s1mpl3k1d wrote:MorpheusPA, it's really Snow on the Mountain(Bishop's Weed).

Yeah, that was a suggestion for an additional thing, not what it was...yellow archangel never gets that tall, or looks like that.