Hosta Empress Wu

[JonK]

Mark - my plant was in a pot ready for the move but never came back after winter. This was winter 11/12, not this years. I may have to try again!

[David Blatchford]

Mine is in its second year and is pushing out what looks like a flower spike but so far no leaves!
It did not make much growth last year and I made no real effort to protect it during the winter.

Dave

[David Matzdorf]

Mine is in its second year and is pushing out what looks like a flower spike but so far no leaves!
It did not make much growth last year and I made no real effort to protect it during the winter.

Surely this is a hardy herbaceous perennial and needs zero winter protection. It should just be left to die down and then ideally be mulched in Spring after the soil has warmed up a bit.

If it isn't producing leaves, I'd have to assume that they're getting devoured by gastropods. Hostas usually produce leaves a couple of months before they flower.