I was visiting a display garden and saw this.
It was not named so I was wondering if it was that hosta disease I had herd something about ...or just unusual coloring?

Yes. Look at the tissue breaking down on the unhealthy leaf compared to the healthier looking leaf. The ugly mottling or bleeding in the veins is another sign. This is a seriously infected plant and should be destroyed. Seems like there is a lot of hvx infected plants in gardens and garden centers. Hope the owner is careful destroying that plant or they could infect more of their collection.

I'm certainly not a hosta expert, but it does look a lot like hosta virus X, commonly shortened as hvx.

So how does one go about telling a greenhouse owner with out sounding like a know -it -all or crazy alarmist?

Maybe I could print out some information and give it to them?

Www.hostalibrary.org has some very good information on this virus. I've pointed it out at two different retailers and I got the "deer in the headlights" look. I'm sure they didn't remove the plants, and that's how this virus keeps spreading. Retailers need to be informed and take action. I'm very choosy about who I buy from, but I'm also seeing pictures of infected plants that are several years old.

Definitely infected with HVX. Is there a local agriculture branch to which you can report the business if they don't take it seriously? Definitely print out the AHS brochure and present it to them as a start and see what happens.

I would think taking a test strip and showing them how to use it would be more convincing than about anything else you could do! Not that I have ever bought or used any, but I do think that would make an impression on them, knowing it could be tested for.

Sad that somebody that has a display garden wouldn't be aware of this virus...

Thanks for the good advice and I will print out some info and bring the infected plant to their attention.

Also in defense of the greenhouse they may not have access to a lot of new technology or information , the owners and workers appear to be Amish/Mennonite. They do not have a web sight or any presence online.


Thanks
Cinda

In that case, they might appreciate the fact that you're trying to help them learn more about hvx.