The unusually formed stems and flowers are “Fasciated scapes”. 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 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.
So! What is Fasciation?
Hostas will often produce a flower scape with leafy bracts, rather than the usual ones. It can be that their biological clock has been disrupted and is trying to bloom early. It needs to produce a lot more leaves to create enough food to support its flower growth. Once it has acclimatised to it new home it is unlikely to do the same the following year.
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 it can be caused by insects, diseases, or physical injury to the plant.
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. In most cases, fasciation is just a random oddity.
Enjoy the beautiful scapes while you can. Hostas are amazing plants and continually surprise us!
Can Fasciation Be Treated?
Can fasciation be treated once you spot it? In short, no. Once the damage is done, you can't correct Fasciation on that particular stem. In some cases, you may be able to prune out the affected stems without damaging the plant. The good news is that Hostas that exhibit fasciation may be perfectly normal next year, so there is no need to destroy the 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 with one that looks more like its neighbours, while others will want to keep it as a curiosity.
Removing the Fasciated growth may encourage the plant to revert to its typical growth pattern.
This is a rare and unusual phenomenon that you will either embrace or not. Whatever your opinion of this unusual happening, think about it before removing. It will be down to a personal choice as to whether you leave it or not, but next year, it should be fine.
To learn more about Hostas, you may interested in reading : AI Generated Hosta Photographs, Watering and Feeding Your Hostas, What Are the Common Mistakes to Avoid When Growing Hostas?, Ways to Protect Your Hostas from Slugs and Snails and "Uncovering the Advantages of Bare Root Hostas:
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John Plant
Rewela Hostas
Hi,John hope your well and enjoying the weather,How interesting is this article . I've never come across fasciation in a Hosta before, The fact that its strange looking the more fascinated I become.Without unusual occurrences how dull the plant would be.Your knowledge of Hostas is always a pleasure to read.Thank you for posting.