Dogwood Anthracnose Fact Sheet

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 anthracnose fact sheet. Several stellar hybrid crosses between c. Chinese dogwood cornus kousa is tolerant of discula anthracnose and is recommended for nursery stock and replacement of dogwoods that have been killed by the fungus. Either tree or shrub form depending on species. The fungus has caused extensive mortality of dogwoods in portions along the east coast into the southeastern united states since it was first discovered in the early 1970s.

Dogwood anthracnose discula destructiva is often described as the most serious disease that affects dogwood species specifically flowering cornus florida and mountain c. This disease occurs only if weather conditions are very wet and humid in the spring. Dogwood anthracnose can be prevalent in native dogwood populations in kentucky forests as well as in landscapes where dogwoods grow in shaded locations. Early spring blossoms from bright yellow to creamy white.

Early spring blossoms from bright yellow to creamy white. Dogwood anthracnose dogwood anthracnose is considered the most serious disease of flowering dogwood cornus florida in connecticut and the eastern seaboard. Nuttallii dogwood species in the united states. Kousa are quite resistant to the disease.

Irregular brown wrinkled patches form on flower bracts and leaves in the spring. Outstanding features small to medium size allows for many landscape applications. It is also an important disease of pacific dogwood cornus nuttallii in the west. Warm dry weather will curtail the disease.

Patches of gray mold grow on the patches if the weather remains very humid. Dogwood anthracnose is considered the most serious disease of flowering dogwood cornus florida in connecticut and the eastern seaboard. The causal agent is the fungus discula destructiva and as the name suggests this pathogen is highly destructive. The causal agent is the fungus discula destructiva and as the name suggests this pathogen is highly.

It is also an important disease of pacific dogwood cornus nuttallii in the west. Dogwood anthracnose is not to be confused with dogwood spot anthracnose discussed previously or shade tree anthracnose affects other shade trees but not dogwood. Dogwood anthracnose infects flowering cornus florida and pacific dogwoods c. Dogwood anthracnose is a disease caused by the fungus discula destructiva.

Burgundy red fall foliage on most species. Bright red or bluish black fruit. Kousa is also susceptible to infection but is highly resistant to the disease and typically suffers only minor leaf spotting. Unlike spot anthracnose dogwood anthracnose can lead to tree death under certain environmen tal conditions.

The fungus discula destructiva causes dogwood anthracnose leaf blight and canker.