Dogwood Tree Diseases Anthracnose

The origin is unknown and in 1991 the fungal disease was identified as discula destructiva.
Dogwood tree diseases anthracnose. The dogwood tree is commonly grown for ornamental purposes often as a standalone tree. In the past anthracnose was the most serious disease of dogwoods in the landscape and our forests but it is now less common. Generally a tree infected with dogwood anthracnose will develop dark spots with a tar like appearance on. Despite the ease with which they grow there are a number of dogwood tree diseases and troubles that need to be taken care of.
Dogwood anthracnose is a problematic disease that all dogwood owners must take seriously. And then later again in 1978 it was found in the northeast of the usa. It is popular for its exotic bright colored flowers. The early symptoms begin in mid to late may as leaf spots.
Early detection and disease management can help you to save your dogwoods from many deadly. Some dogwood varieties grow red berries during the early winter season. It was first detected in the northwest of the usa in 1976. This infection is caused by the fungus elsinoe corni.
Dogwoods are low maintenance trees but they are susceptible to some garden diseases. Kousa is also susceptible to infection but is highly resistant to the disease and typically suffers only minor leaf spotting. The first parts of the tree to be affected are the flower bracts petals. This aggressive disease can result in tree death.
Other common landscape dogwoods such as. Dogwood anthracnose dogwood anthracnose can be prevalent in native dogwood populations in kentucky forests as well as in landscapes where dogwoods grow in shaded locations. This fungal disease also has spread to dogwood trees in canada. Dogwood anthracnose is not to be confused with dogwood spot anthracnose discussed previously or shade tree anthracnose affects other shade trees but not dogwood.
From there they spread to the leaves young shoots and then the fruits. Dogwood tree diseases flower and leaf diseases spot anthracnose. The fungus discula destructiva causes dogwood anthracnose leaf blight and canker. Dogwood anthracnose discula trees the early symptoms of discula anthracnose begin in mid to late may as leaf spots with tan or purple borders.
Dogwood anthracnose infects flowering cornus florida and pacific dogwoods c. The flowering dogwood cornus florida is a small deciduous ornamental tree that is native throughout the eastern united states although dogwoods are well adapted to south carolina they can be affected by many pests and diseases. Remove all pruned wood to reduce any inoculum from the area. Maintaining healthy dogwood trees by following the recommended cultural practices is the first line of defense in reducing any of these problems.
If your tree is already infected the tips below are still recommended because they can help your tree fight the fungal disease and lower the chance of reinfection but are most effective in conjunction with fungicide treatments. You can prevent dogwood anthracnose and make your tree stronger by getting preventative fungicide applications and following proper tree care maintenance. It causes dieback or even death of infected trees.