This
open-pollinated seedling of H. 'Kabitan' is part of the "Sea
Series" of hostas from
Mildred Seaver of Massachusetts. It was registered in 1978 as growing
into a small size hosta about 8 inches in height with a spread of around 20 inches. The
gold foliage which has a dark green marginal variegation is
smooth-textured and of average substance. Deep lavender flowers
are borne from late August into September.
An article by Warren I. Pollock in
The
Hosta Journal (2002 Vol. 33 No. 1) states that, "Mildred
R. Seaver, has introduced many excellent hostas,...An early one was Hosta 'Sea
Sprite' registered in 1978...Soon after its introduction, yellow spots and
splotches were noticed on H. 'Sea Sprite' leaves thought to be due to
virus infection...Almost everyone trashed their H. 'Sea Sprite' plants..."
The article goes on to cite
Hank Zumach of Stoddard, Wisconsin who sent a
sample of a splotched leaf to Dr Ben Lockhart of the University of Minnesota who
is a specialist in plant viruses. The September 17, 2001 lab report says, "Using
a variety of testing procedures, I have been unable to detect any virus in your
H. 'Sea Sprite' plant. My belief is that this type of spotting is not caused by
a virus or any other pathogenic agent, but is a genetic effect..."
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