Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Inspect the undersides of the leaves for slugs or snails.
- Look for slimy trails on the soil surface.
- Examine the leaves for brown streaks between the veins.
Likely causes
Slugs and snails
Most likelyHow to tell: You will see irregular holes or ragged edges on the leaves. Often, you can spot slimy trails left behind on the foliage or nearby soil.
What to do: Handpick these pests in the early morning or evening when they are active. Apply a pet safe iron phosphate bait around the base of the plant to deter them. Keep the area around the crown clear of debris where they like to hide.
Foliar nematodes
Most likelyHow to tell: These microscopic worms create distinct brown streaks or wedges between the leaf veins. The damage often looks like a series of parallel lines as the tissue dies.
What to do: Remove and destroy any infected leaves immediately to stop the spread. Avoid overhead watering, as splashing water helps these pests move from the soil to the leaves. Keep the foliage dry by watering only at the base of the plant.
Find out what's wrong with your blue plantain lily
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
When to worry
If the damage covers more than half the leaf surface, the plant will struggle to photosynthesize. Minor holes are mostly a cosmetic issue.
Stopping it coming back
Clear away mulch or dead leaves near the base to remove hiding spots for pests. Water at the soil level to keep foliage dry.
Blue plantain lily: spots? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your blue plantain lily and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free
Questions people ask
- Will these spots kill my Hosta?
- Usually no, but heavy damage weakens the plant over time. Keeping the area clean and dry helps the plant stay healthy.
- Can I use pesticides for these spots?
- It is better to use physical barriers or baits for slugs. Nematodes are difficult to treat with chemicals, so sanitation is your best defense.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Blue plantain lily
- Why does my Blue plantain lily have holes in its leaves?
- Why are the tips of my Blue plantain lily turning brown?
- Why are my Blue plantain lily leaves turning yellow?
- Why is my Hosta ventricosa drooping?
- Why is my Hosta ventricosa not flowering?
- Why is my Hosta ventricosa rotting at the base?
- Why is my Hosta ventricosa growing so tall and thin?
Back to the Blue plantain lily guide
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.