Dogwood Anthracnose Fact Sheet

The native flowering dogwood cornus florida is a popular ornamental tree that thrives well in the warmer areas of new hampshire.

Dogwood anthracnose fact sheet.

Anthracnose diseases are caused by fungi that are capable of infecting stems branches leaves and fruits of a wide variety of deciduous trees and shrubs. Dogwood anthracnose infects flowering cornus florida and pacific dogwoods c. A few cases have been reported at lower elevations where dogwoods are grown in very cool moist shady locations. Dogwood anthracnose is most severe only in areas of the state that are higher than 2000 feet.

Kousa is also susceptible to infection but is highly resistant to the disease and typically suffers only minor leaf spotting. Other common landscape dogwoods such as. Plant pathology fact sheet flowering dogwood diseases figures 1 2. Nuttallii dogwood species in the united states.

Dogwood anthracnose is a disease caused by the fungus discula destructiva. Sycamore ash maple oak and privet are especially susceptible. The causal agent is the fungus discula destructiva and as the name suggests this pathogen is highly. It is a serious disease capable of killing large numbers of trees and most cornus species can become infected.

Spot anthracnose appears as reddish purple spots on bracts of flowering dogwood. These diseases can be found throughout the eastern united states. The fungus discula destructiva causes dogwood anthracnose leaf blight and canker. University of kentucky college of agriculture food environment extension plant pathology ppfs or w 06 college of agriculture food and environment.

If daily temperatures average above 60 f at bud break anthracnose is usually not severe. For trees diagnosed with dogwood anthracnose carefully prune out all dying and dead twigs and limbs to prevent the disease from spreading to the main trunk. Dogwood anthracnose discula destructiva is often described as the most serious disease that affects dogwood species specifically flowering cornus florida and mountain c. For this reason it can be beneficial to plant your dogwood in late spring when warm temperatures will kill the fungus which thrives in cooler wet weather.

Dogwood powdery mildew has also become a recent major threat to dogwoods. Discula dogwood anthracnose fact sheet january 1 2003. Anthracnose than late blooming cultivars. Dogwood anthracnose dogwood anthracnose is considered the most serious disease of flowering dogwood cornus florida in connecticut and the eastern seaboard.

The southern part of the state is included in the northern transitional zone where patches of. Although wet weather tends to favor this disease temperature is the most important factor. The mildew which often causes a. Cool weather 50 to 55 f average daily temperature during leaf bud break and emergence greatly favors disease development whether it is wet or dry.

Remove all pruned wood to reduce any.