Hosta Fasciation ... and Possible Causes
- John Plant
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
This year we have noticed some Hosta concerns that have featured on the internet and social media, and we have received photographs, asking what is going on with my Hosta?
We thought we share with you and hopefully put some minds at rest.
Lots of Hostas this spring have been seen with a strange flowering stem that appears to have leaves on them. It’s not the normal flowering stem but nevertheless looks a bit like it.
This is called ‘Fascitaion’. The word “Fasciated” means bundled. One source describes it as “scapes fused into a broccoli-like formation” with the flowers and buds “congested” at the top. It is not unique to Hostas. It also effects many other species.
Flowers may exhibit distorted growth, with petals growing in an irregular pattern. The abnormal arrangement of floral parts can make the flowers appear larger or unusually shaped. Sometimes the foliage on the fascinated stem exhibits a different foliage colour, to the main plant.
Fasciation usually becomes more prevalent when the Spring weather can’t make up its mind what to do. We have had unseasonably cold weather, followed by a prolonged period of extremely warm weather. Followed by heavy overnight frosts. It’s no wonder the Hostas are confused. It is felt that these rapid shifts in temperatures shock the plants biological clock as it tries to emerge.
Scientists aren't sure what causes the deformity, but they believe it is probably caused by a hormonal imbalance. This imbalance may be the result of a random mutation or sometimes it can be caused by insects or physical injury to the plant.
Once it’s been through its Winter dormancy, it will probably come up as normal next year.
Think of it as a random occurrence. The good news is that it is not contagious. It doesn't spread to other plants or other parts of the same plant.
Not all fasciation in Hostas makes them undesirable. Sometimes they can look quite unusual.
A Fasciated Hosta can be a monstrosity or an interesting variation, and the difference is often in the eye of the beholder. Some gardeners will want to immediately replace the plant, while others will want to keep it as a curiosity
Enjoy the beautiful scapes while you can. Hostas are amazing plants and continually surprise us!
At Rewela Hostas, we are delighted to provide a diverse selection of Hostas suitable for collectors, experienced growers, and beginners alike. As a small family-run Hosta business we are more than happy to share our expert advice on everything related to Hostas. Shop now on our on-line shop for a wide range of Hostas, from new varieties to classics.
Shop for Hostas HERE
John Plant
Rewela Hostas
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