Diagnostics

Herbaceous Ornamentals

Aster (Aster)

  • Alternaria leaf spot (Alternaria species)
    Causes numerous dark brown to black spots, which may develop in concentric rings or appear targetlike, on infected leaves. The plant may appear chlorotic and leaves may dry or drop prematurely. Stem lesions or cankers may develop, sometimes girdling and killing stems. Alternaria species persist in infected crops, seeds and plant debris. Spores are carried mainly by the wind, but can also be spread by watersplash to neighboring plants.
  • Cucumber mosaic (Cucumber mosaic virus)
    Viruses can only be definitively diagnosed in a lab under high magnification or with various serological test kits. Viruses can retard plant growth and change the appearance of foliage, flowers and fruits. Virus-infected leaves can become spotted, streaked or mottled; they may be distorted or stunted. Veins may lose their color or develop outgrowths. Flowers can be dwarfed, deformed, streaked, faded, or they can remain green and develop into leaf-like structures.
  • Cyclamen and Broad mites (Tarsonemidae family)
    Miniscule mites, often less than 1/80", are colorless or may have a pale brown tint. Can develop rapidly, with generation times completed in about 1 week. If temperature conditions are favorable, cyclamen mites can reproduce continually. Goes dormant in winter and reactivates in spring. Cyclamen and broad mites have different genera, but cause similar damage and are impossible to ID without high magnification. Broad mites are restricted to greenhouses in our area.
  • Damping off (Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia solani)
    Seedlings killed by damping-off initially are healthy, but shortly after emergence, become infected at or just below the soil line. Lower stems of seedlings collapse, seedlings fall over onto the soil surface and subsequently die. Seedlings with damping-off will die and cannot be saved.
  • Downy mildew (herbaceous) (Several)
    Early symptoms appear as irregular, light green or yellow angular patches on upper leaf surfaces. Lesions may also be purplish red to dark brown. Under high humidity, downy mildews form fluffy or fuzzy (downy) areas of spores on the undersides of leaves. Under magnification, the downy areas look like very small bunches of branched hairs. Older leaves toward the bottom of plants are usually infected first and wither and brown as the disease proceeds up the stem.
  • Gray mold (Botrytis blight) (Botrytis cinerea)
    Causes brown, water-soaked spots or decay on leaves or petals. Once diseased tissue encircles the stem, the shoot will wilt. Botrytis is easily diagnosed by the fluffy gray, tan or brown mold produced on blighted plant parts under moist conditions. It rapidly blights flowers. Infected petals that fall onto foliage or stems can cause additional blighting and dieback.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Inchworms (cankerworm, loopers, spanworms) (Geometridae family)
    Inchworms are a collective group of caterpillars including cankerworms, loopers and spanworms. These larvae move distinctively, contracting their bodies into a hump, then extending straight due to only 2-3 sets of prolegs. Colors vary widely depending on species. Female adults are usually wingless and lay egg masses on small twigs, under bark or in trunk crevices. Larvae descend from trees on silk strands when they're ready to pupate, landing on anything in their path.
  • Phytophthora rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Phytophthora species (H))
    May cause leaves to discolor, wilt and drop prematurely. Infected plants are stunted, stems die back and the entire plant may be killed. Thrives under wet conditions with similar symptoms on similar hosts often alongside Pythium species. Spreads via watersplash.
  • Powdery mildew (herbaceous) (Several)
    Symptoms appear as a white powdery coating on surfaces of leaves, buds, twigs, and stems. Fungi can overwinter as spores on leaf litter or in buds. Spores spread via air currents and rainsplash. Older leaves usually show symptoms first. The disease's impact varies depending on host. Infected leaves may distort, discolor, dry and drop prematurely.
  • Pythium rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Pythium species (H))
    First symptoms are yellow, stunted or wilted plants. Pythium infects young tissue, often root tips, and causes a dark brown to black wet rot that softens and disintegrates tissue. This disease commonly attacks below the soil surface from root tips to primary roots and sometimes to the base of the plant, and is favored by wet, poorly drained conditions.
  • Rhizoctonia rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Rhizoctonia species (H))
    Symptoms include wilting and death, especially of seedlings (damping off). Moist brown lesions commonly form at the base of infected petioles or on lower stems, usually at the soil line. Crown areas decay, and roots are also sometimes infected and become dark and decayed, especially in peat-containing mixes. Rhizoctonia root rot is favored by relatively high temperatures and intermediate moisture, neither too wet nor too dry. It persists in growing media and is common in many soils.
  • Rusts (herbaceous) (Several)
    Symptoms of infection usually first appear as light-colored spots on upper leaf surfaces followed by dry, brown, orange, purple, reddish or yellowish spore masses or pustules commonly on the lower leaf surfaces. Each rust species is specific to a certain host genus or species and cannot spread to unrelated plants. Moderate infections will not harm plants, but can make plants unattractive. Heavily infected leaves may curl, wither and drop prematurely. Severely infected plants may be stunted. Rusts spread primarily via windblown spores.
  • Septoria leaf spot (herbaceous) (Septoria species (H))
    Symptoms first appear at plant bases as small (approx. 1∕4" diameter) spots with whitish centers and dark borders on leaves and stems. Eventually multiple spots on a single leaf will merge, leading to extensive destruction of leaf tissue. Can lead to total defoliation of lower leaves and even death of an infected plant. Septoria persists mainly on crop debris, or on infected plant tissue or seeds and spreads via watersplash.
  • Soft scale (Coccidae family)
    Soft scales are usually broadly oval becoming larger and more humped as eggs mature underneath the protective cover. Look for adults on twigs or small branches and immature stages on leaves or needles.
  • Sooty molds (Several)
    Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on plant surfaces covered in honeydew excreted by insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts such as aphids, scale, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is generally harmless to plants, except when it is prolific, preventing light from reaching leaf surfaces, causing plants stress. This stress may make the plant more susceptible to other diseases or problems.
  • Thielaviopsis rot (herbaceous-root, stem or crown) (Thielaviopsis basicola (H))
    Aboveground symptoms include stunting, chlorosis and even plant death. Infected roots decay and thicken. They may be very black in color in mixes containing soil. Belowground stems may develop black, longitudinal cracks. Basal stem and root lesions are drier than those caused by Rhizoctonia.
  • Thrips (Order Thysanoptera)
    Minute insects usually identifiable only under high-powered magnification. Thrips have a modified, single mandible that they use to puncture plant tissue. They then feed on the sap that exudes from the resulting wound. Larvae drop to the soil to pupate. Adult insects like flowers with an open structures where the stamen and pistil are readily available.
  • White mold (Sclerotinia stem rot) (Sclerotinia species)
    Symptoms vary with the plant host and can lead to crown and stem cankers, root rots, wilts, damping-off of seedlings, and blossom and fruit rots. Plants can wilt rapidly as a result of stem-girdling cankers at or near the soil line. Brown spots can appear on flower petals and buds. Cottony masses of fungal threads (hyphae) may appear on stems or on nearby soil. Hard, irregularly-shaped masses (sclerotia) develop within or on the surface of infected plants. The sclerotia are white at first and then turn dark brown or black when mature. This disease favors cool wet springs and fall weather. Spores are dispersed primarily by wind, watersplash and insects.
  • Whitefly (Aleyrodidae family)
    Adult whiteflies are small (1-2mm), white, fly-like insects related to scales, aphids and mealybugs. Their color comes from wax they create to cover their bodies. All whitefly stages are usually found on the undersides of leaves. There can be several generations per year depending on the environment.

Butterfly weed (Asclepias)

  • Alternaria leaf spot (Alternaria species)
    Causes numerous dark brown to black spots, which may develop in concentric rings or appear targetlike, on infected leaves. The plant may appear chlorotic and leaves may dry or drop prematurely. Stem lesions or cankers may develop, sometimes girdling and killing stems. Alternaria species persist in infected crops, seeds and plant debris. Spores are carried mainly by the wind, but can also be spread by watersplash to neighboring plants.
  • Damping off (Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia solani)
    Seedlings killed by damping-off initially are healthy, but shortly after emergence, become infected at or just below the soil line. Lower stems of seedlings collapse, seedlings fall over onto the soil surface and subsequently die. Seedlings with damping-off will die and cannot be saved.
  • Gray mold (Botrytis blight) (Botrytis cinerea)
    Causes brown, water-soaked spots or decay on leaves or petals. Once diseased tissue encircles the stem, the shoot will wilt. Botrytis is easily diagnosed by the fluffy gray, tan or brown mold produced on blighted plant parts under moist conditions. It rapidly blights flowers. Infected petals that fall onto foliage or stems can cause additional blighting and dieback.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Mealybug (Pseudococcidae family)
    Characteristically mealybugs are covered in white granular or cotton-like wax. Mealy bug bodies are always soft and the females are oval and flat with distinct segmentation often visible in the wax. Eggs are usually laid in a white cottony material underneath the female. Widespread in greenhouses and indoor plants; not an outdoor problem. Depending on temperature, one generation can develop every 1-3 months.
  • Phytophthora rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Phytophthora species (H))
    May cause leaves to discolor, wilt and drop prematurely. Infected plants are stunted, stems die back and the entire plant may be killed. Thrives under wet conditions with similar symptoms on similar hosts often alongside Pythium species. Spreads via watersplash.
  • Pythium rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Pythium species (H))
    First symptoms are yellow, stunted or wilted plants. Pythium infects young tissue, often root tips, and causes a dark brown to black wet rot that softens and disintegrates tissue. This disease commonly attacks below the soil surface from root tips to primary roots and sometimes to the base of the plant, and is favored by wet, poorly drained conditions.
  • Rhizoctonia rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Rhizoctonia species (H))
    Symptoms include wilting and death, especially of seedlings (damping off). Moist brown lesions commonly form at the base of infected petioles or on lower stems, usually at the soil line. Crown areas decay, and roots are also sometimes infected and become dark and decayed, especially in peat-containing mixes. Rhizoctonia root rot is favored by relatively high temperatures and intermediate moisture, neither too wet nor too dry. It persists in growing media and is common in many soils.
  • Septoria leaf spot (herbaceous) (Septoria species (H))
    Symptoms first appear at plant bases as small (approx. 1∕4" diameter) spots with whitish centers and dark borders on leaves and stems. Eventually multiple spots on a single leaf will merge, leading to extensive destruction of leaf tissue. Can lead to total defoliation of lower leaves and even death of an infected plant. Septoria persists mainly on crop debris, or on infected plant tissue or seeds and spreads via watersplash.
  • Soft scale (Coccidae family)
    Soft scales are usually broadly oval becoming larger and more humped as eggs mature underneath the protective cover. Look for adults on twigs or small branches and immature stages on leaves or needles.
  • Sooty molds (Several)
    Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on plant surfaces covered in honeydew excreted by insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts such as aphids, scale, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is generally harmless to plants, except when it is prolific, preventing light from reaching leaf surfaces, causing plants stress. This stress may make the plant more susceptible to other diseases or problems.
  • Thielaviopsis rot (herbaceous-root, stem or crown) (Thielaviopsis basicola (H))
    Aboveground symptoms include stunting, chlorosis and even plant death. Infected roots decay and thicken. They may be very black in color in mixes containing soil. Belowground stems may develop black, longitudinal cracks. Basal stem and root lesions are drier than those caused by Rhizoctonia.
  • Thrips (Order Thysanoptera)
    Minute insects usually identifiable only under high-powered magnification. Thrips have a modified, single mandible that they use to puncture plant tissue. They then feed on the sap that exudes from the resulting wound. Larvae drop to the soil to pupate. Adult insects like flowers with an open structures where the stamen and pistil are readily available.
  • White mold (Sclerotinia stem rot) (Sclerotinia species)
    Symptoms vary with the plant host and can lead to crown and stem cankers, root rots, wilts, damping-off of seedlings, and blossom and fruit rots. Plants can wilt rapidly as a result of stem-girdling cankers at or near the soil line. Brown spots can appear on flower petals and buds. Cottony masses of fungal threads (hyphae) may appear on stems or on nearby soil. Hard, irregularly-shaped masses (sclerotia) develop within or on the surface of infected plants. The sclerotia are white at first and then turn dark brown or black when mature. This disease favors cool wet springs and fall weather. Spores are dispersed primarily by wind, watersplash and insects.
  • Whitefly (Aleyrodidae family)
    Adult whiteflies are small (1-2mm), white, fly-like insects related to scales, aphids and mealybugs. Their color comes from wax they create to cover their bodies. All whitefly stages are usually found on the undersides of leaves. There can be several generations per year depending on the environment.

Canna lily (Canna)

  • Cold/Frost Damage ()
    Any part of a plant may be affected by cold damage. In spring, it's usually tender growth, which will appear watersoaked and may turn black. Flower buds can sustain damage during winter dormancy or during the blooming period. Plants will either have reduced numbers of blooms, and hence fruit set, or won't bloom at all. In fall, if plants aren't hardened off, they can sustain cold injury in temperatures well above those tolerated by acclimated plants. Root injury is rare unless plants are in raised beds or containers. Generally younger plants are more susceptible than mature plants. Cold injury on woody plants usually presents in the form of frost cracks in wood or bark. Mature leaves may turn red, purple, brown or black and may or may not fall off the tree or shrub.
  • Damping off (Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia solani)
    Seedlings killed by damping-off initially are healthy, but shortly after emergence, become infected at or just below the soil line. Lower stems of seedlings collapse, seedlings fall over onto the soil surface and subsequently die. Seedlings with damping-off will die and cannot be saved.
  • Gray mold (Botrytis blight) (Botrytis cinerea)
    Causes brown, water-soaked spots or decay on leaves or petals. Once diseased tissue encircles the stem, the shoot will wilt. Botrytis is easily diagnosed by the fluffy gray, tan or brown mold produced on blighted plant parts under moist conditions. It rapidly blights flowers. Infected petals that fall onto foliage or stems can cause additional blighting and dieback.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Mealybug (Pseudococcidae family)
    Characteristically mealybugs are covered in white granular or cotton-like wax. Mealy bug bodies are always soft and the females are oval and flat with distinct segmentation often visible in the wax. Eggs are usually laid in a white cottony material underneath the female. Widespread in greenhouses and indoor plants; not an outdoor problem. Depending on temperature, one generation can develop every 1-3 months.
  • Soft scale (Coccidae family)
    Soft scales are usually broadly oval becoming larger and more humped as eggs mature underneath the protective cover. Look for adults on twigs or small branches and immature stages on leaves or needles.
  • Sooty molds (Several)
    Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on plant surfaces covered in honeydew excreted by insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts such as aphids, scale, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is generally harmless to plants, except when it is prolific, preventing light from reaching leaf surfaces, causing plants stress. This stress may make the plant more susceptible to other diseases or problems.

Cornflower, Knapweed (Centaurea)

  • Alternaria leaf spot (Alternaria species)
    Causes numerous dark brown to black spots, which may develop in concentric rings or appear targetlike, on infected leaves. The plant may appear chlorotic and leaves may dry or drop prematurely. Stem lesions or cankers may develop, sometimes girdling and killing stems. Alternaria species persist in infected crops, seeds and plant debris. Spores are carried mainly by the wind, but can also be spread by watersplash to neighboring plants.
  • Cold/Frost Damage ()
    Any part of a plant may be affected by cold damage. In spring, it's usually tender growth, which will appear watersoaked and may turn black. Flower buds can sustain damage during winter dormancy or during the blooming period. Plants will either have reduced numbers of blooms, and hence fruit set, or won't bloom at all. In fall, if plants aren't hardened off, they can sustain cold injury in temperatures well above those tolerated by acclimated plants. Root injury is rare unless plants are in raised beds or containers. Generally younger plants are more susceptible than mature plants. Cold injury on woody plants usually presents in the form of frost cracks in wood or bark. Mature leaves may turn red, purple, brown or black and may or may not fall off the tree or shrub.
  • Damping off (Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia solani)
    Seedlings killed by damping-off initially are healthy, but shortly after emergence, become infected at or just below the soil line. Lower stems of seedlings collapse, seedlings fall over onto the soil surface and subsequently die. Seedlings with damping-off will die and cannot be saved.
  • Downy mildew (herbaceous) (Several)
    Early symptoms appear as irregular, light green or yellow angular patches on upper leaf surfaces. Lesions may also be purplish red to dark brown. Under high humidity, downy mildews form fluffy or fuzzy (downy) areas of spores on the undersides of leaves. Under magnification, the downy areas look like very small bunches of branched hairs. Older leaves toward the bottom of plants are usually infected first and wither and brown as the disease proceeds up the stem.
  • Fusarium wilt (Fusarium species (H))
    Infected plants wilt and die. Foliage yellows, curls, wilts, then browns and dies. Lower foliage is usually affected first. In many hosts, symptoms may appear only on one side of the plant. If you take a cross-section of the basal stem, vascular tissues may be discolored and you may see brown rings or solid brown coloration, often from the soil line to shoots.
  • Gray mold (Botrytis blight) (Botrytis cinerea)
    Causes brown, water-soaked spots or decay on leaves or petals. Once diseased tissue encircles the stem, the shoot will wilt. Botrytis is easily diagnosed by the fluffy gray, tan or brown mold produced on blighted plant parts under moist conditions. It rapidly blights flowers. Infected petals that fall onto foliage or stems can cause additional blighting and dieback.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Overwatering ()
    Overwatering, whether acute or chronic, is usually a death sentence for plants, especially when accompanied with poor drainage. Waterlogged soils limit oxygen uptake by plant roots, which in turn affects the plant's metabolism, nutrient uptake, water absorption and photosynthesis. Symptoms vary from slow growth to plant death and can include: leaf necrosis, dieback, root discoloration, soil blackening, foul odors, slow growth, thinning canopy and chlorosis. Overwatered conifer symptoms are similar, except they can also exhibit needle drop. Overwatering is common in irrigated landscapes, plantings at the bottoms of slopes and in poorly drained containers.
  • Phytophthora rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Phytophthora species (H))
    May cause leaves to discolor, wilt and drop prematurely. Infected plants are stunted, stems die back and the entire plant may be killed. Thrives under wet conditions with similar symptoms on similar hosts often alongside Pythium species. Spreads via watersplash.
  • Powdery mildew (herbaceous) (Several)
    Symptoms appear as a white powdery coating on surfaces of leaves, buds, twigs, and stems. Fungi can overwinter as spores on leaf litter or in buds. Spores spread via air currents and rainsplash. Older leaves usually show symptoms first. The disease's impact varies depending on host. Infected leaves may distort, discolor, dry and drop prematurely.
  • Pythium rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Pythium species (H))
    First symptoms are yellow, stunted or wilted plants. Pythium infects young tissue, often root tips, and causes a dark brown to black wet rot that softens and disintegrates tissue. This disease commonly attacks below the soil surface from root tips to primary roots and sometimes to the base of the plant, and is favored by wet, poorly drained conditions.
  • Rhizoctonia rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Rhizoctonia species (H))
    Symptoms include wilting and death, especially of seedlings (damping off). Moist brown lesions commonly form at the base of infected petioles or on lower stems, usually at the soil line. Crown areas decay, and roots are also sometimes infected and become dark and decayed, especially in peat-containing mixes. Rhizoctonia root rot is favored by relatively high temperatures and intermediate moisture, neither too wet nor too dry. It persists in growing media and is common in many soils.
  • Rusts (herbaceous) (Several)
    Symptoms of infection usually first appear as light-colored spots on upper leaf surfaces followed by dry, brown, orange, purple, reddish or yellowish spore masses or pustules commonly on the lower leaf surfaces. Each rust species is specific to a certain host genus or species and cannot spread to unrelated plants. Moderate infections will not harm plants, but can make plants unattractive. Heavily infected leaves may curl, wither and drop prematurely. Severely infected plants may be stunted. Rusts spread primarily via windblown spores.
  • Soft scale (Coccidae family)
    Soft scales are usually broadly oval becoming larger and more humped as eggs mature underneath the protective cover. Look for adults on twigs or small branches and immature stages on leaves or needles.
  • Sooty molds (Several)
    Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on plant surfaces covered in honeydew excreted by insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts such as aphids, scale, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is generally harmless to plants, except when it is prolific, preventing light from reaching leaf surfaces, causing plants stress. This stress may make the plant more susceptible to other diseases or problems.
  • White mold (Sclerotinia stem rot) (Sclerotinia species)
    Symptoms vary with the plant host and can lead to crown and stem cankers, root rots, wilts, damping-off of seedlings, and blossom and fruit rots. Plants can wilt rapidly as a result of stem-girdling cankers at or near the soil line. Brown spots can appear on flower petals and buds. Cottony masses of fungal threads (hyphae) may appear on stems or on nearby soil. Hard, irregularly-shaped masses (sclerotia) develop within or on the surface of infected plants. The sclerotia are white at first and then turn dark brown or black when mature. This disease favors cool wet springs and fall weather. Spores are dispersed primarily by wind, watersplash and insects.
  • Whitefly (Aleyrodidae family)
    Adult whiteflies are small (1-2mm), white, fly-like insects related to scales, aphids and mealybugs. Their color comes from wax they create to cover their bodies. All whitefly stages are usually found on the undersides of leaves. There can be several generations per year depending on the environment.
  • Winter salt injury ()
    De-icing salts accumulate in the soil along streets/sidewalks or may be dispersed in an aerosol spray by fast-moving traffic and high winds along wet, salted roads. Salt spray can travel hundreds of feet from the roads where it originated. Symptoms can be similar to other abiotic plant problems, but there are tell-tale indicators including: Damage is more severe on sides of plants facing roads/sidewalks; severity of damage increases with volume/speed of traffic and amount of salt used; plants downwind from roads show more damage than those upwind; most damage occurs within 60' of road and decreases with distance; branches covered by snow or otherwise sheltered show no damage; branches growing above spray drift zone show no damage. Symptoms in deciduous plants include: delayed budbreak; reduced leaf size/stem growth; off-colored foliage; scorched leaves; no flowering; bud/twig death; and branch-tip dieback leading to 'witches' broom' growth below the dead area. Symptoms on conifers include: tips of mature needles turn brown or yellow, discoloration moves down needle eventually killing all of it, then needles fall off; twig dieback; and symptoms manifest only on sides of plants facing roads/sidewalks.

Cyclamen (Cyclamen)

  • Cold/Frost Damage ()
    Any part of a plant may be affected by cold damage. In spring, it's usually tender growth, which will appear watersoaked and may turn black. Flower buds can sustain damage during winter dormancy or during the blooming period. Plants will either have reduced numbers of blooms, and hence fruit set, or won't bloom at all. In fall, if plants aren't hardened off, they can sustain cold injury in temperatures well above those tolerated by acclimated plants. Root injury is rare unless plants are in raised beds or containers. Generally younger plants are more susceptible than mature plants. Cold injury on woody plants usually presents in the form of frost cracks in wood or bark. Mature leaves may turn red, purple, brown or black and may or may not fall off the tree or shrub.
  • Cyclamen and Broad mites (Tarsonemidae family)
    Miniscule mites, often less than 1/80", are colorless or may have a pale brown tint. Can develop rapidly, with generation times completed in about 1 week. If temperature conditions are favorable, cyclamen mites can reproduce continually. Goes dormant in winter and reactivates in spring. Cyclamen and broad mites have different genera, but cause similar damage and are impossible to ID without high magnification. Broad mites are restricted to greenhouses in our area.
  • Gray mold (Botrytis blight) (Botrytis cinerea)
    Causes brown, water-soaked spots or decay on leaves or petals. Once diseased tissue encircles the stem, the shoot will wilt. Botrytis is easily diagnosed by the fluffy gray, tan or brown mold produced on blighted plant parts under moist conditions. It rapidly blights flowers. Infected petals that fall onto foliage or stems can cause additional blighting and dieback.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Impatiens necrotic spot (Impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV))
    Viruses can only be definitively diagnosed in a lab under high magnification or with various serological test kits. Symptoms can include necrotic streaks, spots, rings and lines on leaves and stems; vein necrosis; distorted flowers, stems and leaves; general stunting; and bud drop. Black, brown, reddish or yellowish concentric rings, although not always present, are also symptoms of viral infection. This virus is spread by thrips which feed on infected plants and spread the virus to healthy plants via their saliva.
  • Mealybug (Pseudococcidae family)
    Characteristically mealybugs are covered in white granular or cotton-like wax. Mealy bug bodies are always soft and the females are oval and flat with distinct segmentation often visible in the wax. Eggs are usually laid in a white cottony material underneath the female. Widespread in greenhouses and indoor plants; not an outdoor problem. Depending on temperature, one generation can develop every 1-3 months.
  • Overwatering ()
    Overwatering, whether acute or chronic, is usually a death sentence for plants, especially when accompanied with poor drainage. Waterlogged soils limit oxygen uptake by plant roots, which in turn affects the plant's metabolism, nutrient uptake, water absorption and photosynthesis. Symptoms vary from slow growth to plant death and can include: leaf necrosis, dieback, root discoloration, soil blackening, foul odors, slow growth, thinning canopy and chlorosis. Overwatered conifer symptoms are similar, except they can also exhibit needle drop. Overwatering is common in irrigated landscapes, plantings at the bottoms of slopes and in poorly drained containers.
  • Ralstonia wilt (Ralstonia solanacearum)
    Initially, lower leaves of infected plants yellow and wilt, then die. Yellowing and death of upper leaves follow. Symptoms may initially occur on only one side of the plant. Internally, the water-conducting tissue of the plant browns, and then the entire stem rots from the inside out. Finally, infected plants die. One race of this bacteria can cause a serious disease of potatoes, thus it is closely monitored by various government agencies.
  • Sooty molds (Several)
    Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on plant surfaces covered in honeydew excreted by insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts such as aphids, scale, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is generally harmless to plants, except when it is prolific, preventing light from reaching leaf surfaces, causing plants stress. This stress may make the plant more susceptible to other diseases or problems.
  • Thrips (Order Thysanoptera)
    Minute insects usually identifiable only under high-powered magnification. Thrips have a modified, single mandible that they use to puncture plant tissue. They then feed on the sap that exudes from the resulting wound. Larvae drop to the soil to pupate. Adult insects like flowers with an open structures where the stamen and pistil are readily available.
  • White mold (Sclerotinia stem rot) (Sclerotinia species)
    Symptoms vary with the plant host and can lead to crown and stem cankers, root rots, wilts, damping-off of seedlings, and blossom and fruit rots. Plants can wilt rapidly as a result of stem-girdling cankers at or near the soil line. Brown spots can appear on flower petals and buds. Cottony masses of fungal threads (hyphae) may appear on stems or on nearby soil. Hard, irregularly-shaped masses (sclerotia) develop within or on the surface of infected plants. The sclerotia are white at first and then turn dark brown or black when mature. This disease favors cool wet springs and fall weather. Spores are dispersed primarily by wind, watersplash and insects.

Daisy (Argyranthemum)

  • Alternaria leaf spot (Alternaria species)
    Causes numerous dark brown to black spots, which may develop in concentric rings or appear targetlike, on infected leaves. The plant may appear chlorotic and leaves may dry or drop prematurely. Stem lesions or cankers may develop, sometimes girdling and killing stems. Alternaria species persist in infected crops, seeds and plant debris. Spores are carried mainly by the wind, but can also be spread by watersplash to neighboring plants.
  • Cold/Frost Damage ()
    Any part of a plant may be affected by cold damage. In spring, it's usually tender growth, which will appear watersoaked and may turn black. Flower buds can sustain damage during winter dormancy or during the blooming period. Plants will either have reduced numbers of blooms, and hence fruit set, or won't bloom at all. In fall, if plants aren't hardened off, they can sustain cold injury in temperatures well above those tolerated by acclimated plants. Root injury is rare unless plants are in raised beds or containers. Generally younger plants are more susceptible than mature plants. Cold injury on woody plants usually presents in the form of frost cracks in wood or bark. Mature leaves may turn red, purple, brown or black and may or may not fall off the tree or shrub.
  • Cyclamen and Broad mites (Tarsonemidae family)
    Miniscule mites, often less than 1/80", are colorless or may have a pale brown tint. Can develop rapidly, with generation times completed in about 1 week. If temperature conditions are favorable, cyclamen mites can reproduce continually. Goes dormant in winter and reactivates in spring. Cyclamen and broad mites have different genera, but cause similar damage and are impossible to ID without high magnification. Broad mites are restricted to greenhouses in our area.
  • Damping off (Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia solani)
    Seedlings killed by damping-off initially are healthy, but shortly after emergence, become infected at or just below the soil line. Lower stems of seedlings collapse, seedlings fall over onto the soil surface and subsequently die. Seedlings with damping-off will die and cannot be saved.
  • Gray mold (Botrytis blight) (Botrytis cinerea)
    Causes brown, water-soaked spots or decay on leaves or petals. Once diseased tissue encircles the stem, the shoot will wilt. Botrytis is easily diagnosed by the fluffy gray, tan or brown mold produced on blighted plant parts under moist conditions. It rapidly blights flowers. Infected petals that fall onto foliage or stems can cause additional blighting and dieback.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Inchworms (cankerworm, loopers, spanworms) (Geometridae family)
    Inchworms are a collective group of caterpillars including cankerworms, loopers and spanworms. These larvae move distinctively, contracting their bodies into a hump, then extending straight due to only 2-3 sets of prolegs. Colors vary widely depending on species. Female adults are usually wingless and lay egg masses on small twigs, under bark or in trunk crevices. Larvae descend from trees on silk strands when they're ready to pupate, landing on anything in their path.
  • Mealybug (Pseudococcidae family)
    Characteristically mealybugs are covered in white granular or cotton-like wax. Mealy bug bodies are always soft and the females are oval and flat with distinct segmentation often visible in the wax. Eggs are usually laid in a white cottony material underneath the female. Widespread in greenhouses and indoor plants; not an outdoor problem. Depending on temperature, one generation can develop every 1-3 months.
  • Overwatering ()
    Overwatering, whether acute or chronic, is usually a death sentence for plants, especially when accompanied with poor drainage. Waterlogged soils limit oxygen uptake by plant roots, which in turn affects the plant's metabolism, nutrient uptake, water absorption and photosynthesis. Symptoms vary from slow growth to plant death and can include: leaf necrosis, dieback, root discoloration, soil blackening, foul odors, slow growth, thinning canopy and chlorosis. Overwatered conifer symptoms are similar, except they can also exhibit needle drop. Overwatering is common in irrigated landscapes, plantings at the bottoms of slopes and in poorly drained containers.
  • Phytophthora rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Phytophthora species (H))
    May cause leaves to discolor, wilt and drop prematurely. Infected plants are stunted, stems die back and the entire plant may be killed. Thrives under wet conditions with similar symptoms on similar hosts often alongside Pythium species. Spreads via watersplash.
  • Pythium rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Pythium species (H))
    First symptoms are yellow, stunted or wilted plants. Pythium infects young tissue, often root tips, and causes a dark brown to black wet rot that softens and disintegrates tissue. This disease commonly attacks below the soil surface from root tips to primary roots and sometimes to the base of the plant, and is favored by wet, poorly drained conditions.
  • Rhizoctonia rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Rhizoctonia species (H))
    Symptoms include wilting and death, especially of seedlings (damping off). Moist brown lesions commonly form at the base of infected petioles or on lower stems, usually at the soil line. Crown areas decay, and roots are also sometimes infected and become dark and decayed, especially in peat-containing mixes. Rhizoctonia root rot is favored by relatively high temperatures and intermediate moisture, neither too wet nor too dry. It persists in growing media and is common in many soils.
  • Septoria leaf spot (herbaceous) (Septoria species (H))
    Symptoms first appear at plant bases as small (approx. 1∕4" diameter) spots with whitish centers and dark borders on leaves and stems. Eventually multiple spots on a single leaf will merge, leading to extensive destruction of leaf tissue. Can lead to total defoliation of lower leaves and even death of an infected plant. Septoria persists mainly on crop debris, or on infected plant tissue or seeds and spreads via watersplash.
  • Soft scale (Coccidae family)
    Soft scales are usually broadly oval becoming larger and more humped as eggs mature underneath the protective cover. Look for adults on twigs or small branches and immature stages on leaves or needles.
  • Sooty molds (Several)
    Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on plant surfaces covered in honeydew excreted by insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts such as aphids, scale, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is generally harmless to plants, except when it is prolific, preventing light from reaching leaf surfaces, causing plants stress. This stress may make the plant more susceptible to other diseases or problems.
  • Thrips (Order Thysanoptera)
    Minute insects usually identifiable only under high-powered magnification. Thrips have a modified, single mandible that they use to puncture plant tissue. They then feed on the sap that exudes from the resulting wound. Larvae drop to the soil to pupate. Adult insects like flowers with an open structures where the stamen and pistil are readily available.
  • Two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae)
    This most common spider mite is miniscule (0.5mm) and prefers to colonize and lay eggs on leaf undersides of most host plants. When populations are high, these mites can be found on all leaf surfaces and stems.
  • White mold (Sclerotinia stem rot) (Sclerotinia species)
    Symptoms vary with the plant host and can lead to crown and stem cankers, root rots, wilts, damping-off of seedlings, and blossom and fruit rots. Plants can wilt rapidly as a result of stem-girdling cankers at or near the soil line. Brown spots can appear on flower petals and buds. Cottony masses of fungal threads (hyphae) may appear on stems or on nearby soil. Hard, irregularly-shaped masses (sclerotia) develop within or on the surface of infected plants. The sclerotia are white at first and then turn dark brown or black when mature. This disease favors cool wet springs and fall weather. Spores are dispersed primarily by wind, watersplash and insects.
  • Whitefly (Aleyrodidae family)
    Adult whiteflies are small (1-2mm), white, fly-like insects related to scales, aphids and mealybugs. Their color comes from wax they create to cover their bodies. All whitefly stages are usually found on the undersides of leaves. There can be several generations per year depending on the environment.

Hollyhock (Alcea)

  • Alternaria leaf spot (Alternaria species)
    Causes numerous dark brown to black spots, which may develop in concentric rings or appear targetlike, on infected leaves. The plant may appear chlorotic and leaves may dry or drop prematurely. Stem lesions or cankers may develop, sometimes girdling and killing stems. Alternaria species persist in infected crops, seeds and plant debris. Spores are carried mainly by the wind, but can also be spread by watersplash to neighboring plants.
  • Cold/Frost Damage ()
    Any part of a plant may be affected by cold damage. In spring, it's usually tender growth, which will appear watersoaked and may turn black. Flower buds can sustain damage during winter dormancy or during the blooming period. Plants will either have reduced numbers of blooms, and hence fruit set, or won't bloom at all. In fall, if plants aren't hardened off, they can sustain cold injury in temperatures well above those tolerated by acclimated plants. Root injury is rare unless plants are in raised beds or containers. Generally younger plants are more susceptible than mature plants. Cold injury on woody plants usually presents in the form of frost cracks in wood or bark. Mature leaves may turn red, purple, brown or black and may or may not fall off the tree or shrub.
  • Damping off (Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia solani)
    Seedlings killed by damping-off initially are healthy, but shortly after emergence, become infected at or just below the soil line. Lower stems of seedlings collapse, seedlings fall over onto the soil surface and subsequently die. Seedlings with damping-off will die and cannot be saved.
  • Gray mold (Botrytis blight) (Botrytis cinerea)
    Causes brown, water-soaked spots or decay on leaves or petals. Once diseased tissue encircles the stem, the shoot will wilt. Botrytis is easily diagnosed by the fluffy gray, tan or brown mold produced on blighted plant parts under moist conditions. It rapidly blights flowers. Infected petals that fall onto foliage or stems can cause additional blighting and dieback.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Inchworms (cankerworm, loopers, spanworms) (Geometridae family)
    Inchworms are a collective group of caterpillars including cankerworms, loopers and spanworms. These larvae move distinctively, contracting their bodies into a hump, then extending straight due to only 2-3 sets of prolegs. Colors vary widely depending on species. Female adults are usually wingless and lay egg masses on small twigs, under bark or in trunk crevices. Larvae descend from trees on silk strands when they're ready to pupate, landing on anything in their path.
  • Mealybug (Pseudococcidae family)
    Characteristically mealybugs are covered in white granular or cotton-like wax. Mealy bug bodies are always soft and the females are oval and flat with distinct segmentation often visible in the wax. Eggs are usually laid in a white cottony material underneath the female. Widespread in greenhouses and indoor plants; not an outdoor problem. Depending on temperature, one generation can develop every 1-3 months.
  • Overwatering ()
    Overwatering, whether acute or chronic, is usually a death sentence for plants, especially when accompanied with poor drainage. Waterlogged soils limit oxygen uptake by plant roots, which in turn affects the plant's metabolism, nutrient uptake, water absorption and photosynthesis. Symptoms vary from slow growth to plant death and can include: leaf necrosis, dieback, root discoloration, soil blackening, foul odors, slow growth, thinning canopy and chlorosis. Overwatered conifer symptoms are similar, except they can also exhibit needle drop. Overwatering is common in irrigated landscapes, plantings at the bottoms of slopes and in poorly drained containers.
  • Phytophthora rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Phytophthora species (H))
    May cause leaves to discolor, wilt and drop prematurely. Infected plants are stunted, stems die back and the entire plant may be killed. Thrives under wet conditions with similar symptoms on similar hosts often alongside Pythium species. Spreads via watersplash.
  • Pythium rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Pythium species (H))
    First symptoms are yellow, stunted or wilted plants. Pythium infects young tissue, often root tips, and causes a dark brown to black wet rot that softens and disintegrates tissue. This disease commonly attacks below the soil surface from root tips to primary roots and sometimes to the base of the plant, and is favored by wet, poorly drained conditions.
  • Rhizoctonia rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Rhizoctonia species (H))
    Symptoms include wilting and death, especially of seedlings (damping off). Moist brown lesions commonly form at the base of infected petioles or on lower stems, usually at the soil line. Crown areas decay, and roots are also sometimes infected and become dark and decayed, especially in peat-containing mixes. Rhizoctonia root rot is favored by relatively high temperatures and intermediate moisture, neither too wet nor too dry. It persists in growing media and is common in many soils.
  • Rusts (herbaceous) (Several)
    Symptoms of infection usually first appear as light-colored spots on upper leaf surfaces followed by dry, brown, orange, purple, reddish or yellowish spore masses or pustules commonly on the lower leaf surfaces. Each rust species is specific to a certain host genus or species and cannot spread to unrelated plants. Moderate infections will not harm plants, but can make plants unattractive. Heavily infected leaves may curl, wither and drop prematurely. Severely infected plants may be stunted. Rusts spread primarily via windblown spores.
  • Septoria leaf spot (herbaceous) (Septoria species (H))
    Symptoms first appear at plant bases as small (approx. 1∕4" diameter) spots with whitish centers and dark borders on leaves and stems. Eventually multiple spots on a single leaf will merge, leading to extensive destruction of leaf tissue. Can lead to total defoliation of lower leaves and even death of an infected plant. Septoria persists mainly on crop debris, or on infected plant tissue or seeds and spreads via watersplash.
  • Soft scale (Coccidae family)
    Soft scales are usually broadly oval becoming larger and more humped as eggs mature underneath the protective cover. Look for adults on twigs or small branches and immature stages on leaves or needles.
  • Sooty molds (Several)
    Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on plant surfaces covered in honeydew excreted by insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts such as aphids, scale, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is generally harmless to plants, except when it is prolific, preventing light from reaching leaf surfaces, causing plants stress. This stress may make the plant more susceptible to other diseases or problems.
  • Thielaviopsis rot (herbaceous-root, stem or crown) (Thielaviopsis basicola (H))
    Aboveground symptoms include stunting, chlorosis and even plant death. Infected roots decay and thicken. They may be very black in color in mixes containing soil. Belowground stems may develop black, longitudinal cracks. Basal stem and root lesions are drier than those caused by Rhizoctonia.
  • Thrips (Order Thysanoptera)
    Minute insects usually identifiable only under high-powered magnification. Thrips have a modified, single mandible that they use to puncture plant tissue. They then feed on the sap that exudes from the resulting wound. Larvae drop to the soil to pupate. Adult insects like flowers with an open structures where the stamen and pistil are readily available.
  • Two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae)
    This most common spider mite is miniscule (0.5mm) and prefers to colonize and lay eggs on leaf undersides of most host plants. When populations are high, these mites can be found on all leaf surfaces and stems.
  • White mold (Sclerotinia stem rot) (Sclerotinia species)
    Symptoms vary with the plant host and can lead to crown and stem cankers, root rots, wilts, damping-off of seedlings, and blossom and fruit rots. Plants can wilt rapidly as a result of stem-girdling cankers at or near the soil line. Brown spots can appear on flower petals and buds. Cottony masses of fungal threads (hyphae) may appear on stems or on nearby soil. Hard, irregularly-shaped masses (sclerotia) develop within or on the surface of infected plants. The sclerotia are white at first and then turn dark brown or black when mature. This disease favors cool wet springs and fall weather. Spores are dispersed primarily by wind, watersplash and insects.

Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus)

  • Alternaria leaf spot (Alternaria species)
    Causes numerous dark brown to black spots, which may develop in concentric rings or appear targetlike, on infected leaves. The plant may appear chlorotic and leaves may dry or drop prematurely. Stem lesions or cankers may develop, sometimes girdling and killing stems. Alternaria species persist in infected crops, seeds and plant debris. Spores are carried mainly by the wind, but can also be spread by watersplash to neighboring plants.
  • Cold/Frost Damage ()
    Any part of a plant may be affected by cold damage. In spring, it's usually tender growth, which will appear watersoaked and may turn black. Flower buds can sustain damage during winter dormancy or during the blooming period. Plants will either have reduced numbers of blooms, and hence fruit set, or won't bloom at all. In fall, if plants aren't hardened off, they can sustain cold injury in temperatures well above those tolerated by acclimated plants. Root injury is rare unless plants are in raised beds or containers. Generally younger plants are more susceptible than mature plants. Cold injury on woody plants usually presents in the form of frost cracks in wood or bark. Mature leaves may turn red, purple, brown or black and may or may not fall off the tree or shrub.
  • Damping off (Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia solani)
    Seedlings killed by damping-off initially are healthy, but shortly after emergence, become infected at or just below the soil line. Lower stems of seedlings collapse, seedlings fall over onto the soil surface and subsequently die. Seedlings with damping-off will die and cannot be saved.
  • Gray mold (Botrytis blight) (Botrytis cinerea)
    Causes brown, water-soaked spots or decay on leaves or petals. Once diseased tissue encircles the stem, the shoot will wilt. Botrytis is easily diagnosed by the fluffy gray, tan or brown mold produced on blighted plant parts under moist conditions. It rapidly blights flowers. Infected petals that fall onto foliage or stems can cause additional blighting and dieback.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Overwatering ()
    Overwatering, whether acute or chronic, is usually a death sentence for plants, especially when accompanied with poor drainage. Waterlogged soils limit oxygen uptake by plant roots, which in turn affects the plant's metabolism, nutrient uptake, water absorption and photosynthesis. Symptoms vary from slow growth to plant death and can include: leaf necrosis, dieback, root discoloration, soil blackening, foul odors, slow growth, thinning canopy and chlorosis. Overwatered conifer symptoms are similar, except they can also exhibit needle drop. Overwatering is common in irrigated landscapes, plantings at the bottoms of slopes and in poorly drained containers.
  • Phytophthora rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Phytophthora species (H))
    May cause leaves to discolor, wilt and drop prematurely. Infected plants are stunted, stems die back and the entire plant may be killed. Thrives under wet conditions with similar symptoms on similar hosts often alongside Pythium species. Spreads via watersplash.
  • White mold (Sclerotinia stem rot) (Sclerotinia species)
    Symptoms vary with the plant host and can lead to crown and stem cankers, root rots, wilts, damping-off of seedlings, and blossom and fruit rots. Plants can wilt rapidly as a result of stem-girdling cankers at or near the soil line. Brown spots can appear on flower petals and buds. Cottony masses of fungal threads (hyphae) may appear on stems or on nearby soil. Hard, irregularly-shaped masses (sclerotia) develop within or on the surface of infected plants. The sclerotia are white at first and then turn dark brown or black when mature. This disease favors cool wet springs and fall weather. Spores are dispersed primarily by wind, watersplash and insects.

Herbaceous Ornamentals-Annuals

Begonia (Begonia)

  • Alternaria leaf spot (Alternaria species)
    Causes numerous dark brown to black spots, which may develop in concentric rings or appear targetlike, on infected leaves. The plant may appear chlorotic and leaves may dry or drop prematurely. Stem lesions or cankers may develop, sometimes girdling and killing stems. Alternaria species persist in infected crops, seeds and plant debris. Spores are carried mainly by the wind, but can also be spread by watersplash to neighboring plants.
  • Cold/Frost Damage ()
    Any part of a plant may be affected by cold damage. In spring, it's usually tender growth, which will appear watersoaked and may turn black. Flower buds can sustain damage during winter dormancy or during the blooming period. Plants will either have reduced numbers of blooms, and hence fruit set, or won't bloom at all. In fall, if plants aren't hardened off, they can sustain cold injury in temperatures well above those tolerated by acclimated plants. Root injury is rare unless plants are in raised beds or containers. Generally younger plants are more susceptible than mature plants. Cold injury on woody plants usually presents in the form of frost cracks in wood or bark. Mature leaves may turn red, purple, brown or black and may or may not fall off the tree or shrub.
  • Cucumber mosaic (Cucumber mosaic virus)
    Viruses can only be definitively diagnosed in a lab under high magnification or with various serological test kits. Viruses can retard plant growth and change the appearance of foliage, flowers and fruits. Virus-infected leaves can become spotted, streaked or mottled; they may be distorted or stunted. Veins may lose their color or develop outgrowths. Flowers can be dwarfed, deformed, streaked, faded, or they can remain green and develop into leaf-like structures.
  • Cyclamen and Broad mites (Tarsonemidae family)
    Miniscule mites, often less than 1/80", are colorless or may have a pale brown tint. Can develop rapidly, with generation times completed in about 1 week. If temperature conditions are favorable, cyclamen mites can reproduce continually. Goes dormant in winter and reactivates in spring. Cyclamen and broad mites have different genera, but cause similar damage and are impossible to ID without high magnification. Broad mites are restricted to greenhouses in our area.
  • Damping off (Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia solani)
    Seedlings killed by damping-off initially are healthy, but shortly after emergence, become infected at or just below the soil line. Lower stems of seedlings collapse, seedlings fall over onto the soil surface and subsequently die. Seedlings with damping-off will die and cannot be saved.
  • Gray mold (Botrytis blight) (Botrytis cinerea)
    Causes brown, water-soaked spots or decay on leaves or petals. Once diseased tissue encircles the stem, the shoot will wilt. Botrytis is easily diagnosed by the fluffy gray, tan or brown mold produced on blighted plant parts under moist conditions. It rapidly blights flowers. Infected petals that fall onto foliage or stems can cause additional blighting and dieback.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Impatiens necrotic spot (Impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV))
    Viruses can only be definitively diagnosed in a lab under high magnification or with various serological test kits. Symptoms can include necrotic streaks, spots, rings and lines on leaves and stems; vein necrosis; distorted flowers, stems and leaves; general stunting; and bud drop. Black, brown, reddish or yellowish concentric rings, although not always present, are also symptoms of viral infection. This virus is spread by thrips which feed on infected plants and spread the virus to healthy plants via their saliva.
  • Inchworms (cankerworm, loopers, spanworms) (Geometridae family)
    Inchworms are a collective group of caterpillars including cankerworms, loopers and spanworms. These larvae move distinctively, contracting their bodies into a hump, then extending straight due to only 2-3 sets of prolegs. Colors vary widely depending on species. Female adults are usually wingless and lay egg masses on small twigs, under bark or in trunk crevices. Larvae descend from trees on silk strands when they're ready to pupate, landing on anything in their path.
  • Mealybug (Pseudococcidae family)
    Characteristically mealybugs are covered in white granular or cotton-like wax. Mealy bug bodies are always soft and the females are oval and flat with distinct segmentation often visible in the wax. Eggs are usually laid in a white cottony material underneath the female. Widespread in greenhouses and indoor plants; not an outdoor problem. Depending on temperature, one generation can develop every 1-3 months.
  • Overwatering ()
    Overwatering, whether acute or chronic, is usually a death sentence for plants, especially when accompanied with poor drainage. Waterlogged soils limit oxygen uptake by plant roots, which in turn affects the plant's metabolism, nutrient uptake, water absorption and photosynthesis. Symptoms vary from slow growth to plant death and can include: leaf necrosis, dieback, root discoloration, soil blackening, foul odors, slow growth, thinning canopy and chlorosis. Overwatered conifer symptoms are similar, except they can also exhibit needle drop. Overwatering is common in irrigated landscapes, plantings at the bottoms of slopes and in poorly drained containers.
  • Phytophthora rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Phytophthora species (H))
    May cause leaves to discolor, wilt and drop prematurely. Infected plants are stunted, stems die back and the entire plant may be killed. Thrives under wet conditions with similar symptoms on similar hosts often alongside Pythium species. Spreads via watersplash.
  • Powdery mildew (herbaceous) (Several)
    Symptoms appear as a white powdery coating on surfaces of leaves, buds, twigs, and stems. Fungi can overwinter as spores on leaf litter or in buds. Spores spread via air currents and rainsplash. Older leaves usually show symptoms first. The disease's impact varies depending on host. Infected leaves may distort, discolor, dry and drop prematurely.
  • Pythium rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Pythium species (H))
    First symptoms are yellow, stunted or wilted plants. Pythium infects young tissue, often root tips, and causes a dark brown to black wet rot that softens and disintegrates tissue. This disease commonly attacks below the soil surface from root tips to primary roots and sometimes to the base of the plant, and is favored by wet, poorly drained conditions.
  • Rhizoctonia rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Rhizoctonia species (H))
    Symptoms include wilting and death, especially of seedlings (damping off). Moist brown lesions commonly form at the base of infected petioles or on lower stems, usually at the soil line. Crown areas decay, and roots are also sometimes infected and become dark and decayed, especially in peat-containing mixes. Rhizoctonia root rot is favored by relatively high temperatures and intermediate moisture, neither too wet nor too dry. It persists in growing media and is common in many soils.
  • Rhizoctonia web blight (Rhizoctonia species (H))
    This disease is favored by high temperatures and high humidity, especially in the greenhouse setting. Symptoms appear as irregular, brown spots which can form anywhere on foliage or stems. In high humidity, web-like brown mycelium can cover infected portions of the plant host. Rhizoctonia is a soil-borne pathogen.
  • Septoria leaf spot (herbaceous) (Septoria species (H))
    Symptoms first appear at plant bases as small (approx. 1∕4" diameter) spots with whitish centers and dark borders on leaves and stems. Eventually multiple spots on a single leaf will merge, leading to extensive destruction of leaf tissue. Can lead to total defoliation of lower leaves and even death of an infected plant. Septoria persists mainly on crop debris, or on infected plant tissue or seeds and spreads via watersplash.
  • Soft scale (Coccidae family)
    Soft scales are usually broadly oval becoming larger and more humped as eggs mature underneath the protective cover. Look for adults on twigs or small branches and immature stages on leaves or needles.
  • Sooty molds (Several)
    Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on plant surfaces covered in honeydew excreted by insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts such as aphids, scale, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is generally harmless to plants, except when it is prolific, preventing light from reaching leaf surfaces, causing plants stress. This stress may make the plant more susceptible to other diseases or problems.
  • Thielaviopsis rot (herbaceous-root, stem or crown) (Thielaviopsis basicola (H))
    Aboveground symptoms include stunting, chlorosis and even plant death. Infected roots decay and thicken. They may be very black in color in mixes containing soil. Belowground stems may develop black, longitudinal cracks. Basal stem and root lesions are drier than those caused by Rhizoctonia.
  • Thrips (Order Thysanoptera)
    Minute insects usually identifiable only under high-powered magnification. Thrips have a modified, single mandible that they use to puncture plant tissue. They then feed on the sap that exudes from the resulting wound. Larvae drop to the soil to pupate. Adult insects like flowers with an open structures where the stamen and pistil are readily available.
  • Two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae)
    This most common spider mite is miniscule (0.5mm) and prefers to colonize and lay eggs on leaf undersides of most host plants. When populations are high, these mites can be found on all leaf surfaces and stems.
  • White mold (Sclerotinia stem rot) (Sclerotinia species)
    Symptoms vary with the plant host and can lead to crown and stem cankers, root rots, wilts, damping-off of seedlings, and blossom and fruit rots. Plants can wilt rapidly as a result of stem-girdling cankers at or near the soil line. Brown spots can appear on flower petals and buds. Cottony masses of fungal threads (hyphae) may appear on stems or on nearby soil. Hard, irregularly-shaped masses (sclerotia) develop within or on the surface of infected plants. The sclerotia are white at first and then turn dark brown or black when mature. This disease favors cool wet springs and fall weather. Spores are dispersed primarily by wind, watersplash and insects.
  • Whitefly (Aleyrodidae family)
    Adult whiteflies are small (1-2mm), white, fly-like insects related to scales, aphids and mealybugs. Their color comes from wax they create to cover their bodies. All whitefly stages are usually found on the undersides of leaves. There can be several generations per year depending on the environment.

Cockscomb (Celosia)

  • Alternaria leaf spot (Alternaria species)
    Causes numerous dark brown to black spots, which may develop in concentric rings or appear targetlike, on infected leaves. The plant may appear chlorotic and leaves may dry or drop prematurely. Stem lesions or cankers may develop, sometimes girdling and killing stems. Alternaria species persist in infected crops, seeds and plant debris. Spores are carried mainly by the wind, but can also be spread by watersplash to neighboring plants.
  • Cold/Frost Damage ()
    Any part of a plant may be affected by cold damage. In spring, it's usually tender growth, which will appear watersoaked and may turn black. Flower buds can sustain damage during winter dormancy or during the blooming period. Plants will either have reduced numbers of blooms, and hence fruit set, or won't bloom at all. In fall, if plants aren't hardened off, they can sustain cold injury in temperatures well above those tolerated by acclimated plants. Root injury is rare unless plants are in raised beds or containers. Generally younger plants are more susceptible than mature plants. Cold injury on woody plants usually presents in the form of frost cracks in wood or bark. Mature leaves may turn red, purple, brown or black and may or may not fall off the tree or shrub.
  • Damping off (Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia solani)
    Seedlings killed by damping-off initially are healthy, but shortly after emergence, become infected at or just below the soil line. Lower stems of seedlings collapse, seedlings fall over onto the soil surface and subsequently die. Seedlings with damping-off will die and cannot be saved.
  • Gray mold (Botrytis blight) (Botrytis cinerea)
    Causes brown, water-soaked spots or decay on leaves or petals. Once diseased tissue encircles the stem, the shoot will wilt. Botrytis is easily diagnosed by the fluffy gray, tan or brown mold produced on blighted plant parts under moist conditions. It rapidly blights flowers. Infected petals that fall onto foliage or stems can cause additional blighting and dieback.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Overwatering ()
    Overwatering, whether acute or chronic, is usually a death sentence for plants, especially when accompanied with poor drainage. Waterlogged soils limit oxygen uptake by plant roots, which in turn affects the plant's metabolism, nutrient uptake, water absorption and photosynthesis. Symptoms vary from slow growth to plant death and can include: leaf necrosis, dieback, root discoloration, soil blackening, foul odors, slow growth, thinning canopy and chlorosis. Overwatered conifer symptoms are similar, except they can also exhibit needle drop. Overwatering is common in irrigated landscapes, plantings at the bottoms of slopes and in poorly drained containers.
  • Pythium rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Pythium species (H))
    First symptoms are yellow, stunted or wilted plants. Pythium infects young tissue, often root tips, and causes a dark brown to black wet rot that softens and disintegrates tissue. This disease commonly attacks below the soil surface from root tips to primary roots and sometimes to the base of the plant, and is favored by wet, poorly drained conditions.
  • Septoria leaf spot (herbaceous) (Septoria species (H))
    Symptoms first appear at plant bases as small (approx. 1∕4" diameter) spots with whitish centers and dark borders on leaves and stems. Eventually multiple spots on a single leaf will merge, leading to extensive destruction of leaf tissue. Can lead to total defoliation of lower leaves and even death of an infected plant. Septoria persists mainly on crop debris, or on infected plant tissue or seeds and spreads via watersplash.
  • Soft scale (Coccidae family)
    Soft scales are usually broadly oval becoming larger and more humped as eggs mature underneath the protective cover. Look for adults on twigs or small branches and immature stages on leaves or needles.
  • Sooty molds (Several)
    Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on plant surfaces covered in honeydew excreted by insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts such as aphids, scale, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is generally harmless to plants, except when it is prolific, preventing light from reaching leaf surfaces, causing plants stress. This stress may make the plant more susceptible to other diseases or problems.
  • Tobacco mosaic (Tobacco mosaic virus)
    Viruses can only be definitively diagnosed in a lab under high magnification or with various serological test kits. Mosaic symptoms are characterized by intermingled patches of normal and light green or yellowish colors on the leaves of infected plants. TMV damages the leaves, flowers and fruit, and causes stunting of the plant. It almost never kills the plants, but lowers the quality and quantity of the crop, particularly when plants are infected while young.
  • Two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae)
    This most common spider mite is miniscule (0.5mm) and prefers to colonize and lay eggs on leaf undersides of most host plants. When populations are high, these mites can be found on all leaf surfaces and stems.
  • White mold (Sclerotinia stem rot) (Sclerotinia species)
    Symptoms vary with the plant host and can lead to crown and stem cankers, root rots, wilts, damping-off of seedlings, and blossom and fruit rots. Plants can wilt rapidly as a result of stem-girdling cankers at or near the soil line. Brown spots can appear on flower petals and buds. Cottony masses of fungal threads (hyphae) may appear on stems or on nearby soil. Hard, irregularly-shaped masses (sclerotia) develop within or on the surface of infected plants. The sclerotia are white at first and then turn dark brown or black when mature. This disease favors cool wet springs and fall weather. Spores are dispersed primarily by wind, watersplash and insects.

Coleus (Coleus)

  • Alternaria leaf spot (Alternaria species)
    Causes numerous dark brown to black spots, which may develop in concentric rings or appear targetlike, on infected leaves. The plant may appear chlorotic and leaves may dry or drop prematurely. Stem lesions or cankers may develop, sometimes girdling and killing stems. Alternaria species persist in infected crops, seeds and plant debris. Spores are carried mainly by the wind, but can also be spread by watersplash to neighboring plants.
  • Cold/Frost Damage ()
    Any part of a plant may be affected by cold damage. In spring, it's usually tender growth, which will appear watersoaked and may turn black. Flower buds can sustain damage during winter dormancy or during the blooming period. Plants will either have reduced numbers of blooms, and hence fruit set, or won't bloom at all. In fall, if plants aren't hardened off, they can sustain cold injury in temperatures well above those tolerated by acclimated plants. Root injury is rare unless plants are in raised beds or containers. Generally younger plants are more susceptible than mature plants. Cold injury on woody plants usually presents in the form of frost cracks in wood or bark. Mature leaves may turn red, purple, brown or black and may or may not fall off the tree or shrub.
  • Damping off (Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia solani)
    Seedlings killed by damping-off initially are healthy, but shortly after emergence, become infected at or just below the soil line. Lower stems of seedlings collapse, seedlings fall over onto the soil surface and subsequently die. Seedlings with damping-off will die and cannot be saved.
  • Downy mildew (herbaceous) (Several)
    Early symptoms appear as irregular, light green or yellow angular patches on upper leaf surfaces. Lesions may also be purplish red to dark brown. Under high humidity, downy mildews form fluffy or fuzzy (downy) areas of spores on the undersides of leaves. Under magnification, the downy areas look like very small bunches of branched hairs. Older leaves toward the bottom of plants are usually infected first and wither and brown as the disease proceeds up the stem.
  • Gray mold (Botrytis blight) (Botrytis cinerea)
    Causes brown, water-soaked spots or decay on leaves or petals. Once diseased tissue encircles the stem, the shoot will wilt. Botrytis is easily diagnosed by the fluffy gray, tan or brown mold produced on blighted plant parts under moist conditions. It rapidly blights flowers. Infected petals that fall onto foliage or stems can cause additional blighting and dieback.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Mealybug (Pseudococcidae family)
    Characteristically mealybugs are covered in white granular or cotton-like wax. Mealy bug bodies are always soft and the females are oval and flat with distinct segmentation often visible in the wax. Eggs are usually laid in a white cottony material underneath the female. Widespread in greenhouses and indoor plants; not an outdoor problem. Depending on temperature, one generation can develop every 1-3 months.
  • Overwatering ()
    Overwatering, whether acute or chronic, is usually a death sentence for plants, especially when accompanied with poor drainage. Waterlogged soils limit oxygen uptake by plant roots, which in turn affects the plant's metabolism, nutrient uptake, water absorption and photosynthesis. Symptoms vary from slow growth to plant death and can include: leaf necrosis, dieback, root discoloration, soil blackening, foul odors, slow growth, thinning canopy and chlorosis. Overwatered conifer symptoms are similar, except they can also exhibit needle drop. Overwatering is common in irrigated landscapes, plantings at the bottoms of slopes and in poorly drained containers.
  • Phytophthora rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Phytophthora species (H))
    May cause leaves to discolor, wilt and drop prematurely. Infected plants are stunted, stems die back and the entire plant may be killed. Thrives under wet conditions with similar symptoms on similar hosts often alongside Pythium species. Spreads via watersplash.
  • Powdery mildew (herbaceous) (Several)
    Symptoms appear as a white powdery coating on surfaces of leaves, buds, twigs, and stems. Fungi can overwinter as spores on leaf litter or in buds. Spores spread via air currents and rainsplash. Older leaves usually show symptoms first. The disease's impact varies depending on host. Infected leaves may distort, discolor, dry and drop prematurely.
  • Pythium rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Pythium species (H))
    First symptoms are yellow, stunted or wilted plants. Pythium infects young tissue, often root tips, and causes a dark brown to black wet rot that softens and disintegrates tissue. This disease commonly attacks below the soil surface from root tips to primary roots and sometimes to the base of the plant, and is favored by wet, poorly drained conditions.
  • Rhizoctonia rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Rhizoctonia species (H))
    Symptoms include wilting and death, especially of seedlings (damping off). Moist brown lesions commonly form at the base of infected petioles or on lower stems, usually at the soil line. Crown areas decay, and roots are also sometimes infected and become dark and decayed, especially in peat-containing mixes. Rhizoctonia root rot is favored by relatively high temperatures and intermediate moisture, neither too wet nor too dry. It persists in growing media and is common in many soils.
  • Soft scale (Coccidae family)
    Soft scales are usually broadly oval becoming larger and more humped as eggs mature underneath the protective cover. Look for adults on twigs or small branches and immature stages on leaves or needles.
  • Sooty molds (Several)
    Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on plant surfaces covered in honeydew excreted by insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts such as aphids, scale, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is generally harmless to plants, except when it is prolific, preventing light from reaching leaf surfaces, causing plants stress. This stress may make the plant more susceptible to other diseases or problems.
  • Thielaviopsis rot (herbaceous-root, stem or crown) (Thielaviopsis basicola (H))
    Aboveground symptoms include stunting, chlorosis and even plant death. Infected roots decay and thicken. They may be very black in color in mixes containing soil. Belowground stems may develop black, longitudinal cracks. Basal stem and root lesions are drier than those caused by Rhizoctonia.
  • White mold (Sclerotinia stem rot) (Sclerotinia species)
    Symptoms vary with the plant host and can lead to crown and stem cankers, root rots, wilts, damping-off of seedlings, and blossom and fruit rots. Plants can wilt rapidly as a result of stem-girdling cankers at or near the soil line. Brown spots can appear on flower petals and buds. Cottony masses of fungal threads (hyphae) may appear on stems or on nearby soil. Hard, irregularly-shaped masses (sclerotia) develop within or on the surface of infected plants. The sclerotia are white at first and then turn dark brown or black when mature. This disease favors cool wet springs and fall weather. Spores are dispersed primarily by wind, watersplash and insects.
  • Whitefly (Aleyrodidae family)
    Adult whiteflies are small (1-2mm), white, fly-like insects related to scales, aphids and mealybugs. Their color comes from wax they create to cover their bodies. All whitefly stages are usually found on the undersides of leaves. There can be several generations per year depending on the environment.

Cosmos (Cosmos)

  • Alternaria leaf spot (Alternaria species)
    Causes numerous dark brown to black spots, which may develop in concentric rings or appear targetlike, on infected leaves. The plant may appear chlorotic and leaves may dry or drop prematurely. Stem lesions or cankers may develop, sometimes girdling and killing stems. Alternaria species persist in infected crops, seeds and plant debris. Spores are carried mainly by the wind, but can also be spread by watersplash to neighboring plants.
  • Cold/Frost Damage ()
    Any part of a plant may be affected by cold damage. In spring, it's usually tender growth, which will appear watersoaked and may turn black. Flower buds can sustain damage during winter dormancy or during the blooming period. Plants will either have reduced numbers of blooms, and hence fruit set, or won't bloom at all. In fall, if plants aren't hardened off, they can sustain cold injury in temperatures well above those tolerated by acclimated plants. Root injury is rare unless plants are in raised beds or containers. Generally younger plants are more susceptible than mature plants. Cold injury on woody plants usually presents in the form of frost cracks in wood or bark. Mature leaves may turn red, purple, brown or black and may or may not fall off the tree or shrub.
  • Damping off (Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia solani)
    Seedlings killed by damping-off initially are healthy, but shortly after emergence, become infected at or just below the soil line. Lower stems of seedlings collapse, seedlings fall over onto the soil surface and subsequently die. Seedlings with damping-off will die and cannot be saved.
  • Fusarium wilt (Fusarium species (H))
    Infected plants wilt and die. Foliage yellows, curls, wilts, then browns and dies. Lower foliage is usually affected first. In many hosts, symptoms may appear only on one side of the plant. If you take a cross-section of the basal stem, vascular tissues may be discolored and you may see brown rings or solid brown coloration, often from the soil line to shoots.
  • Gray mold (Botrytis blight) (Botrytis cinerea)
    Causes brown, water-soaked spots or decay on leaves or petals. Once diseased tissue encircles the stem, the shoot will wilt. Botrytis is easily diagnosed by the fluffy gray, tan or brown mold produced on blighted plant parts under moist conditions. It rapidly blights flowers. Infected petals that fall onto foliage or stems can cause additional blighting and dieback.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Overwatering ()
    Overwatering, whether acute or chronic, is usually a death sentence for plants, especially when accompanied with poor drainage. Waterlogged soils limit oxygen uptake by plant roots, which in turn affects the plant's metabolism, nutrient uptake, water absorption and photosynthesis. Symptoms vary from slow growth to plant death and can include: leaf necrosis, dieback, root discoloration, soil blackening, foul odors, slow growth, thinning canopy and chlorosis. Overwatered conifer symptoms are similar, except they can also exhibit needle drop. Overwatering is common in irrigated landscapes, plantings at the bottoms of slopes and in poorly drained containers.
  • Phytophthora rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Phytophthora species (H))
    May cause leaves to discolor, wilt and drop prematurely. Infected plants are stunted, stems die back and the entire plant may be killed. Thrives under wet conditions with similar symptoms on similar hosts often alongside Pythium species. Spreads via watersplash.
  • Pythium rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Pythium species (H))
    First symptoms are yellow, stunted or wilted plants. Pythium infects young tissue, often root tips, and causes a dark brown to black wet rot that softens and disintegrates tissue. This disease commonly attacks below the soil surface from root tips to primary roots and sometimes to the base of the plant, and is favored by wet, poorly drained conditions.
  • Ralstonia wilt (Ralstonia solanacearum)
    Initially, lower leaves of infected plants yellow and wilt, then die. Yellowing and death of upper leaves follow. Symptoms may initially occur on only one side of the plant. Internally, the water-conducting tissue of the plant browns, and then the entire stem rots from the inside out. Finally, infected plants die. One race of this bacteria can cause a serious disease of potatoes, thus it is closely monitored by various government agencies.
  • Rhizoctonia rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Rhizoctonia species (H))
    Symptoms include wilting and death, especially of seedlings (damping off). Moist brown lesions commonly form at the base of infected petioles or on lower stems, usually at the soil line. Crown areas decay, and roots are also sometimes infected and become dark and decayed, especially in peat-containing mixes. Rhizoctonia root rot is favored by relatively high temperatures and intermediate moisture, neither too wet nor too dry. It persists in growing media and is common in many soils.
  • Sooty molds (Several)
    Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on plant surfaces covered in honeydew excreted by insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts such as aphids, scale, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is generally harmless to plants, except when it is prolific, preventing light from reaching leaf surfaces, causing plants stress. This stress may make the plant more susceptible to other diseases or problems.
  • Two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae)
    This most common spider mite is miniscule (0.5mm) and prefers to colonize and lay eggs on leaf undersides of most host plants. When populations are high, these mites can be found on all leaf surfaces and stems.
  • White mold (Sclerotinia stem rot) (Sclerotinia species)
    Symptoms vary with the plant host and can lead to crown and stem cankers, root rots, wilts, damping-off of seedlings, and blossom and fruit rots. Plants can wilt rapidly as a result of stem-girdling cankers at or near the soil line. Brown spots can appear on flower petals and buds. Cottony masses of fungal threads (hyphae) may appear on stems or on nearby soil. Hard, irregularly-shaped masses (sclerotia) develop within or on the surface of infected plants. The sclerotia are white at first and then turn dark brown or black when mature. This disease favors cool wet springs and fall weather. Spores are dispersed primarily by wind, watersplash and insects.

Flossflower (Ageratum)

  • Alternaria leaf spot (Alternaria species)
    Causes numerous dark brown to black spots, which may develop in concentric rings or appear targetlike, on infected leaves. The plant may appear chlorotic and leaves may dry or drop prematurely. Stem lesions or cankers may develop, sometimes girdling and killing stems. Alternaria species persist in infected crops, seeds and plant debris. Spores are carried mainly by the wind, but can also be spread by watersplash to neighboring plants.
  • Cold/Frost Damage ()
    Any part of a plant may be affected by cold damage. In spring, it's usually tender growth, which will appear watersoaked and may turn black. Flower buds can sustain damage during winter dormancy or during the blooming period. Plants will either have reduced numbers of blooms, and hence fruit set, or won't bloom at all. In fall, if plants aren't hardened off, they can sustain cold injury in temperatures well above those tolerated by acclimated plants. Root injury is rare unless plants are in raised beds or containers. Generally younger plants are more susceptible than mature plants. Cold injury on woody plants usually presents in the form of frost cracks in wood or bark. Mature leaves may turn red, purple, brown or black and may or may not fall off the tree or shrub.
  • Cyclamen and Broad mites (Tarsonemidae family)
    Miniscule mites, often less than 1/80", are colorless or may have a pale brown tint. Can develop rapidly, with generation times completed in about 1 week. If temperature conditions are favorable, cyclamen mites can reproduce continually. Goes dormant in winter and reactivates in spring. Cyclamen and broad mites have different genera, but cause similar damage and are impossible to ID without high magnification. Broad mites are restricted to greenhouses in our area.
  • Damping off (Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia solani)
    Seedlings killed by damping-off initially are healthy, but shortly after emergence, become infected at or just below the soil line. Lower stems of seedlings collapse, seedlings fall over onto the soil surface and subsequently die. Seedlings with damping-off will die and cannot be saved.
  • Gray mold (Botrytis blight) (Botrytis cinerea)
    Causes brown, water-soaked spots or decay on leaves or petals. Once diseased tissue encircles the stem, the shoot will wilt. Botrytis is easily diagnosed by the fluffy gray, tan or brown mold produced on blighted plant parts under moist conditions. It rapidly blights flowers. Infected petals that fall onto foliage or stems can cause additional blighting and dieback.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Overwatering ()
    Overwatering, whether acute or chronic, is usually a death sentence for plants, especially when accompanied with poor drainage. Waterlogged soils limit oxygen uptake by plant roots, which in turn affects the plant's metabolism, nutrient uptake, water absorption and photosynthesis. Symptoms vary from slow growth to plant death and can include: leaf necrosis, dieback, root discoloration, soil blackening, foul odors, slow growth, thinning canopy and chlorosis. Overwatered conifer symptoms are similar, except they can also exhibit needle drop. Overwatering is common in irrigated landscapes, plantings at the bottoms of slopes and in poorly drained containers.
  • Phytophthora rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Phytophthora species (H))
    May cause leaves to discolor, wilt and drop prematurely. Infected plants are stunted, stems die back and the entire plant may be killed. Thrives under wet conditions with similar symptoms on similar hosts often alongside Pythium species. Spreads via watersplash.
  • Powdery mildew (herbaceous) (Several)
    Symptoms appear as a white powdery coating on surfaces of leaves, buds, twigs, and stems. Fungi can overwinter as spores on leaf litter or in buds. Spores spread via air currents and rainsplash. Older leaves usually show symptoms first. The disease's impact varies depending on host. Infected leaves may distort, discolor, dry and drop prematurely.
  • Pythium rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Pythium species (H))
    First symptoms are yellow, stunted or wilted plants. Pythium infects young tissue, often root tips, and causes a dark brown to black wet rot that softens and disintegrates tissue. This disease commonly attacks below the soil surface from root tips to primary roots and sometimes to the base of the plant, and is favored by wet, poorly drained conditions.
  • Rhizoctonia rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Rhizoctonia species (H))
    Symptoms include wilting and death, especially of seedlings (damping off). Moist brown lesions commonly form at the base of infected petioles or on lower stems, usually at the soil line. Crown areas decay, and roots are also sometimes infected and become dark and decayed, especially in peat-containing mixes. Rhizoctonia root rot is favored by relatively high temperatures and intermediate moisture, neither too wet nor too dry. It persists in growing media and is common in many soils.
  • Root rot (Fusarium species (W))
    Symptoms include stunting, chlorosis, root necrosis and death of woody plants. Symptoms are dependent on cultural practices and the local environment.
  • Sooty molds (Several)
    Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on plant surfaces covered in honeydew excreted by insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts such as aphids, scale, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is generally harmless to plants, except when it is prolific, preventing light from reaching leaf surfaces, causing plants stress. This stress may make the plant more susceptible to other diseases or problems.
  • Two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae)
    This most common spider mite is miniscule (0.5mm) and prefers to colonize and lay eggs on leaf undersides of most host plants. When populations are high, these mites can be found on all leaf surfaces and stems.
  • Whitefly (Aleyrodidae family)
    Adult whiteflies are small (1-2mm), white, fly-like insects related to scales, aphids and mealybugs. Their color comes from wax they create to cover their bodies. All whitefly stages are usually found on the undersides of leaves. There can be several generations per year depending on the environment.

Fountain plant, Love-lies-bleeding (Amaranth)

  • Cold/Frost Damage ()
    Any part of a plant may be affected by cold damage. In spring, it's usually tender growth, which will appear watersoaked and may turn black. Flower buds can sustain damage during winter dormancy or during the blooming period. Plants will either have reduced numbers of blooms, and hence fruit set, or won't bloom at all. In fall, if plants aren't hardened off, they can sustain cold injury in temperatures well above those tolerated by acclimated plants. Root injury is rare unless plants are in raised beds or containers. Generally younger plants are more susceptible than mature plants. Cold injury on woody plants usually presents in the form of frost cracks in wood or bark. Mature leaves may turn red, purple, brown or black and may or may not fall off the tree or shrub.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Overwatering ()
    Overwatering, whether acute or chronic, is usually a death sentence for plants, especially when accompanied with poor drainage. Waterlogged soils limit oxygen uptake by plant roots, which in turn affects the plant's metabolism, nutrient uptake, water absorption and photosynthesis. Symptoms vary from slow growth to plant death and can include: leaf necrosis, dieback, root discoloration, soil blackening, foul odors, slow growth, thinning canopy and chlorosis. Overwatered conifer symptoms are similar, except they can also exhibit needle drop. Overwatering is common in irrigated landscapes, plantings at the bottoms of slopes and in poorly drained containers.
  • Soft scale (Coccidae family)
    Soft scales are usually broadly oval becoming larger and more humped as eggs mature underneath the protective cover. Look for adults on twigs or small branches and immature stages on leaves or needles.
  • Sooty molds (Several)
    Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on plant surfaces covered in honeydew excreted by insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts such as aphids, scale, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is generally harmless to plants, except when it is prolific, preventing light from reaching leaf surfaces, causing plants stress. This stress may make the plant more susceptible to other diseases or problems.

Ornamental pepper (Capsicum)

  • Alternaria leaf spot (Alternaria species)
    Causes numerous dark brown to black spots, which may develop in concentric rings or appear targetlike, on infected leaves. The plant may appear chlorotic and leaves may dry or drop prematurely. Stem lesions or cankers may develop, sometimes girdling and killing stems. Alternaria species persist in infected crops, seeds and plant debris. Spores are carried mainly by the wind, but can also be spread by watersplash to neighboring plants.
  • Anthracnose (herbaceous) (Several)
    Symptoms typically appear as tan to brown spots or sunken lesions that may combine to form irregular, dark lesions that cause rapid blighting of leaves or stems. Depending on the fungus species and host plant species, foliage may also distort, turn yellow, wilt, drop prematurely or die. This may cause signficant plant losses if not diagnosed in the early stages of infection. Under wet conditions, these diseases can have multiple infection cycles during the growing season. Anthracnose fungi persist primarily in infected plant parts and crop debris.
  • Cold/Frost Damage ()
    Any part of a plant may be affected by cold damage. In spring, it's usually tender growth, which will appear watersoaked and may turn black. Flower buds can sustain damage during winter dormancy or during the blooming period. Plants will either have reduced numbers of blooms, and hence fruit set, or won't bloom at all. In fall, if plants aren't hardened off, they can sustain cold injury in temperatures well above those tolerated by acclimated plants. Root injury is rare unless plants are in raised beds or containers. Generally younger plants are more susceptible than mature plants. Cold injury on woody plants usually presents in the form of frost cracks in wood or bark. Mature leaves may turn red, purple, brown or black and may or may not fall off the tree or shrub.
  • Cucumber mosaic (Cucumber mosaic virus)
    Viruses can only be definitively diagnosed in a lab under high magnification or with various serological test kits. Viruses can retard plant growth and change the appearance of foliage, flowers and fruits. Virus-infected leaves can become spotted, streaked or mottled; they may be distorted or stunted. Veins may lose their color or develop outgrowths. Flowers can be dwarfed, deformed, streaked, faded, or they can remain green and develop into leaf-like structures.
  • Cyclamen and Broad mites (Tarsonemidae family)
    Miniscule mites, often less than 1/80", are colorless or may have a pale brown tint. Can develop rapidly, with generation times completed in about 1 week. If temperature conditions are favorable, cyclamen mites can reproduce continually. Goes dormant in winter and reactivates in spring. Cyclamen and broad mites have different genera, but cause similar damage and are impossible to ID without high magnification. Broad mites are restricted to greenhouses in our area.
  • Damping off (Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia solani)
    Seedlings killed by damping-off initially are healthy, but shortly after emergence, become infected at or just below the soil line. Lower stems of seedlings collapse, seedlings fall over onto the soil surface and subsequently die. Seedlings with damping-off will die and cannot be saved.
  • Gray mold (Botrytis blight) (Botrytis cinerea)
    Causes brown, water-soaked spots or decay on leaves or petals. Once diseased tissue encircles the stem, the shoot will wilt. Botrytis is easily diagnosed by the fluffy gray, tan or brown mold produced on blighted plant parts under moist conditions. It rapidly blights flowers. Infected petals that fall onto foliage or stems can cause additional blighting and dieback.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Inchworms (cankerworm, loopers, spanworms) (Geometridae family)
    Inchworms are a collective group of caterpillars including cankerworms, loopers and spanworms. These larvae move distinctively, contracting their bodies into a hump, then extending straight due to only 2-3 sets of prolegs. Colors vary widely depending on species. Female adults are usually wingless and lay egg masses on small twigs, under bark or in trunk crevices. Larvae descend from trees on silk strands when they're ready to pupate, landing on anything in their path.
  • Overwatering ()
    Overwatering, whether acute or chronic, is usually a death sentence for plants, especially when accompanied with poor drainage. Waterlogged soils limit oxygen uptake by plant roots, which in turn affects the plant's metabolism, nutrient uptake, water absorption and photosynthesis. Symptoms vary from slow growth to plant death and can include: leaf necrosis, dieback, root discoloration, soil blackening, foul odors, slow growth, thinning canopy and chlorosis. Overwatered conifer symptoms are similar, except they can also exhibit needle drop. Overwatering is common in irrigated landscapes, plantings at the bottoms of slopes and in poorly drained containers.
  • Phytophthora blight (herbaceous) (Phytophthora species (H))
    Symptoms appear as dark brown to black leathery tissue on plant parts, but commonly the lower halves of young shoots, stems or the bases of blighted leaves. Shoots may wilt and collapse. Severe infection may affect the entire crown. If you cut into the stem, vascular tissues show brown, olive green, reddish or dark streaking. Phytophthora is a 'water mold' and it is favored by frequent irrigation and wet, slow draining soils. Saturated soils encourage spore production, causing more severe disease.
  • Ralstonia wilt (Ralstonia solanacearum)
    Initially, lower leaves of infected plants yellow and wilt, then die. Yellowing and death of upper leaves follow. Symptoms may initially occur on only one side of the plant. Internally, the water-conducting tissue of the plant browns, and then the entire stem rots from the inside out. Finally, infected plants die. One race of this bacteria can cause a serious disease of potatoes, thus it is closely monitored by various government agencies.
  • Sooty molds (Several)
    Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on plant surfaces covered in honeydew excreted by insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts such as aphids, scale, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is generally harmless to plants, except when it is prolific, preventing light from reaching leaf surfaces, causing plants stress. This stress may make the plant more susceptible to other diseases or problems.
  • Thrips (Order Thysanoptera)
    Minute insects usually identifiable only under high-powered magnification. Thrips have a modified, single mandible that they use to puncture plant tissue. They then feed on the sap that exudes from the resulting wound. Larvae drop to the soil to pupate. Adult insects like flowers with an open structures where the stamen and pistil are readily available.
  • Tobacco mosaic (Tobacco mosaic virus)
    Viruses can only be definitively diagnosed in a lab under high magnification or with various serological test kits. Mosaic symptoms are characterized by intermingled patches of normal and light green or yellowish colors on the leaves of infected plants. TMV damages the leaves, flowers and fruit, and causes stunting of the plant. It almost never kills the plants, but lowers the quality and quantity of the crop, particularly when plants are infected while young.
  • White mold (Sclerotinia stem rot) (Sclerotinia species)
    Symptoms vary with the plant host and can lead to crown and stem cankers, root rots, wilts, damping-off of seedlings, and blossom and fruit rots. Plants can wilt rapidly as a result of stem-girdling cankers at or near the soil line. Brown spots can appear on flower petals and buds. Cottony masses of fungal threads (hyphae) may appear on stems or on nearby soil. Hard, irregularly-shaped masses (sclerotia) develop within or on the surface of infected plants. The sclerotia are white at first and then turn dark brown or black when mature. This disease favors cool wet springs and fall weather. Spores are dispersed primarily by wind, watersplash and insects.

Pot marigold (Calendula)

  • Alternaria leaf spot (Alternaria species)
    Causes numerous dark brown to black spots, which may develop in concentric rings or appear targetlike, on infected leaves. The plant may appear chlorotic and leaves may dry or drop prematurely. Stem lesions or cankers may develop, sometimes girdling and killing stems. Alternaria species persist in infected crops, seeds and plant debris. Spores are carried mainly by the wind, but can also be spread by watersplash to neighboring plants.
  • Cold/Frost Damage ()
    Any part of a plant may be affected by cold damage. In spring, it's usually tender growth, which will appear watersoaked and may turn black. Flower buds can sustain damage during winter dormancy or during the blooming period. Plants will either have reduced numbers of blooms, and hence fruit set, or won't bloom at all. In fall, if plants aren't hardened off, they can sustain cold injury in temperatures well above those tolerated by acclimated plants. Root injury is rare unless plants are in raised beds or containers. Generally younger plants are more susceptible than mature plants. Cold injury on woody plants usually presents in the form of frost cracks in wood or bark. Mature leaves may turn red, purple, brown or black and may or may not fall off the tree or shrub.
  • Cucumber mosaic (Cucumber mosaic virus)
    Viruses can only be definitively diagnosed in a lab under high magnification or with various serological test kits. Viruses can retard plant growth and change the appearance of foliage, flowers and fruits. Virus-infected leaves can become spotted, streaked or mottled; they may be distorted or stunted. Veins may lose their color or develop outgrowths. Flowers can be dwarfed, deformed, streaked, faded, or they can remain green and develop into leaf-like structures.
  • Damping off (Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia solani)
    Seedlings killed by damping-off initially are healthy, but shortly after emergence, become infected at or just below the soil line. Lower stems of seedlings collapse, seedlings fall over onto the soil surface and subsequently die. Seedlings with damping-off will die and cannot be saved.
  • Gray mold (Botrytis blight) (Botrytis cinerea)
    Causes brown, water-soaked spots or decay on leaves or petals. Once diseased tissue encircles the stem, the shoot will wilt. Botrytis is easily diagnosed by the fluffy gray, tan or brown mold produced on blighted plant parts under moist conditions. It rapidly blights flowers. Infected petals that fall onto foliage or stems can cause additional blighting and dieback.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Inchworms (cankerworm, loopers, spanworms) (Geometridae family)
    Inchworms are a collective group of caterpillars including cankerworms, loopers and spanworms. These larvae move distinctively, contracting their bodies into a hump, then extending straight due to only 2-3 sets of prolegs. Colors vary widely depending on species. Female adults are usually wingless and lay egg masses on small twigs, under bark or in trunk crevices. Larvae descend from trees on silk strands when they're ready to pupate, landing on anything in their path.
  • Mealybug (Pseudococcidae family)
    Characteristically mealybugs are covered in white granular or cotton-like wax. Mealy bug bodies are always soft and the females are oval and flat with distinct segmentation often visible in the wax. Eggs are usually laid in a white cottony material underneath the female. Widespread in greenhouses and indoor plants; not an outdoor problem. Depending on temperature, one generation can develop every 1-3 months.
  • Overwatering ()
    Overwatering, whether acute or chronic, is usually a death sentence for plants, especially when accompanied with poor drainage. Waterlogged soils limit oxygen uptake by plant roots, which in turn affects the plant's metabolism, nutrient uptake, water absorption and photosynthesis. Symptoms vary from slow growth to plant death and can include: leaf necrosis, dieback, root discoloration, soil blackening, foul odors, slow growth, thinning canopy and chlorosis. Overwatered conifer symptoms are similar, except they can also exhibit needle drop. Overwatering is common in irrigated landscapes, plantings at the bottoms of slopes and in poorly drained containers.
  • Powdery mildew (herbaceous) (Several)
    Symptoms appear as a white powdery coating on surfaces of leaves, buds, twigs, and stems. Fungi can overwinter as spores on leaf litter or in buds. Spores spread via air currents and rainsplash. Older leaves usually show symptoms first. The disease's impact varies depending on host. Infected leaves may distort, discolor, dry and drop prematurely.
  • Soft scale (Coccidae family)
    Soft scales are usually broadly oval becoming larger and more humped as eggs mature underneath the protective cover. Look for adults on twigs or small branches and immature stages on leaves or needles.
  • Sooty molds (Several)
    Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on plant surfaces covered in honeydew excreted by insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts such as aphids, scale, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is generally harmless to plants, except when it is prolific, preventing light from reaching leaf surfaces, causing plants stress. This stress may make the plant more susceptible to other diseases or problems.
  • Thrips (Order Thysanoptera)
    Minute insects usually identifiable only under high-powered magnification. Thrips have a modified, single mandible that they use to puncture plant tissue. They then feed on the sap that exudes from the resulting wound. Larvae drop to the soil to pupate. Adult insects like flowers with an open structures where the stamen and pistil are readily available.
  • Whitefly (Aleyrodidae family)
    Adult whiteflies are small (1-2mm), white, fly-like insects related to scales, aphids and mealybugs. Their color comes from wax they create to cover their bodies. All whitefly stages are usually found on the undersides of leaves. There can be several generations per year depending on the environment.

Slipper flower (Calceolaria)

  • Cold/Frost Damage ()
    Any part of a plant may be affected by cold damage. In spring, it's usually tender growth, which will appear watersoaked and may turn black. Flower buds can sustain damage during winter dormancy or during the blooming period. Plants will either have reduced numbers of blooms, and hence fruit set, or won't bloom at all. In fall, if plants aren't hardened off, they can sustain cold injury in temperatures well above those tolerated by acclimated plants. Root injury is rare unless plants are in raised beds or containers. Generally younger plants are more susceptible than mature plants. Cold injury on woody plants usually presents in the form of frost cracks in wood or bark. Mature leaves may turn red, purple, brown or black and may or may not fall off the tree or shrub.
  • Damping off (Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia solani)
    Seedlings killed by damping-off initially are healthy, but shortly after emergence, become infected at or just below the soil line. Lower stems of seedlings collapse, seedlings fall over onto the soil surface and subsequently die. Seedlings with damping-off will die and cannot be saved.
  • Gray mold (Botrytis blight) (Botrytis cinerea)
    Causes brown, water-soaked spots or decay on leaves or petals. Once diseased tissue encircles the stem, the shoot will wilt. Botrytis is easily diagnosed by the fluffy gray, tan or brown mold produced on blighted plant parts under moist conditions. It rapidly blights flowers. Infected petals that fall onto foliage or stems can cause additional blighting and dieback.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Overwatering ()
    Overwatering, whether acute or chronic, is usually a death sentence for plants, especially when accompanied with poor drainage. Waterlogged soils limit oxygen uptake by plant roots, which in turn affects the plant's metabolism, nutrient uptake, water absorption and photosynthesis. Symptoms vary from slow growth to plant death and can include: leaf necrosis, dieback, root discoloration, soil blackening, foul odors, slow growth, thinning canopy and chlorosis. Overwatered conifer symptoms are similar, except they can also exhibit needle drop. Overwatering is common in irrigated landscapes, plantings at the bottoms of slopes and in poorly drained containers.
  • Sooty molds (Several)
    Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on plant surfaces covered in honeydew excreted by insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts such as aphids, scale, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is generally harmless to plants, except when it is prolific, preventing light from reaching leaf surfaces, causing plants stress. This stress may make the plant more susceptible to other diseases or problems.
  • Two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae)
    This most common spider mite is miniscule (0.5mm) and prefers to colonize and lay eggs on leaf undersides of most host plants. When populations are high, these mites can be found on all leaf surfaces and stems.
  • White mold (Sclerotinia stem rot) (Sclerotinia species)
    Symptoms vary with the plant host and can lead to crown and stem cankers, root rots, wilts, damping-off of seedlings, and blossom and fruit rots. Plants can wilt rapidly as a result of stem-girdling cankers at or near the soil line. Brown spots can appear on flower petals and buds. Cottony masses of fungal threads (hyphae) may appear on stems or on nearby soil. Hard, irregularly-shaped masses (sclerotia) develop within or on the surface of infected plants. The sclerotia are white at first and then turn dark brown or black when mature. This disease favors cool wet springs and fall weather. Spores are dispersed primarily by wind, watersplash and insects.
  • Whitefly (Aleyrodidae family)
    Adult whiteflies are small (1-2mm), white, fly-like insects related to scales, aphids and mealybugs. Their color comes from wax they create to cover their bodies. All whitefly stages are usually found on the undersides of leaves. There can be several generations per year depending on the environment.

Snapdragon (Antirrhinum)

  • Alternaria leaf spot (Alternaria species)
    Causes numerous dark brown to black spots, which may develop in concentric rings or appear targetlike, on infected leaves. The plant may appear chlorotic and leaves may dry or drop prematurely. Stem lesions or cankers may develop, sometimes girdling and killing stems. Alternaria species persist in infected crops, seeds and plant debris. Spores are carried mainly by the wind, but can also be spread by watersplash to neighboring plants.
  • Cold/Frost Damage ()
    Any part of a plant may be affected by cold damage. In spring, it's usually tender growth, which will appear watersoaked and may turn black. Flower buds can sustain damage during winter dormancy or during the blooming period. Plants will either have reduced numbers of blooms, and hence fruit set, or won't bloom at all. In fall, if plants aren't hardened off, they can sustain cold injury in temperatures well above those tolerated by acclimated plants. Root injury is rare unless plants are in raised beds or containers. Generally younger plants are more susceptible than mature plants. Cold injury on woody plants usually presents in the form of frost cracks in wood or bark. Mature leaves may turn red, purple, brown or black and may or may not fall off the tree or shrub.
  • Cucumber mosaic (Cucumber mosaic virus)
    Viruses can only be definitively diagnosed in a lab under high magnification or with various serological test kits. Viruses can retard plant growth and change the appearance of foliage, flowers and fruits. Virus-infected leaves can become spotted, streaked or mottled; they may be distorted or stunted. Veins may lose their color or develop outgrowths. Flowers can be dwarfed, deformed, streaked, faded, or they can remain green and develop into leaf-like structures.
  • Cyclamen and Broad mites (Tarsonemidae family)
    Miniscule mites, often less than 1/80", are colorless or may have a pale brown tint. Can develop rapidly, with generation times completed in about 1 week. If temperature conditions are favorable, cyclamen mites can reproduce continually. Goes dormant in winter and reactivates in spring. Cyclamen and broad mites have different genera, but cause similar damage and are impossible to ID without high magnification. Broad mites are restricted to greenhouses in our area.
  • Damping off (Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia solani)
    Seedlings killed by damping-off initially are healthy, but shortly after emergence, become infected at or just below the soil line. Lower stems of seedlings collapse, seedlings fall over onto the soil surface and subsequently die. Seedlings with damping-off will die and cannot be saved.
  • Downy mildew (herbaceous) (Several)
    Early symptoms appear as irregular, light green or yellow angular patches on upper leaf surfaces. Lesions may also be purplish red to dark brown. Under high humidity, downy mildews form fluffy or fuzzy (downy) areas of spores on the undersides of leaves. Under magnification, the downy areas look like very small bunches of branched hairs. Older leaves toward the bottom of plants are usually infected first and wither and brown as the disease proceeds up the stem.
  • Gray mold (Botrytis blight) (Botrytis cinerea)
    Causes brown, water-soaked spots or decay on leaves or petals. Once diseased tissue encircles the stem, the shoot will wilt. Botrytis is easily diagnosed by the fluffy gray, tan or brown mold produced on blighted plant parts under moist conditions. It rapidly blights flowers. Infected petals that fall onto foliage or stems can cause additional blighting and dieback.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Inchworms (cankerworm, loopers, spanworms) (Geometridae family)
    Inchworms are a collective group of caterpillars including cankerworms, loopers and spanworms. These larvae move distinctively, contracting their bodies into a hump, then extending straight due to only 2-3 sets of prolegs. Colors vary widely depending on species. Female adults are usually wingless and lay egg masses on small twigs, under bark or in trunk crevices. Larvae descend from trees on silk strands when they're ready to pupate, landing on anything in their path.
  • Overwatering ()
    Overwatering, whether acute or chronic, is usually a death sentence for plants, especially when accompanied with poor drainage. Waterlogged soils limit oxygen uptake by plant roots, which in turn affects the plant's metabolism, nutrient uptake, water absorption and photosynthesis. Symptoms vary from slow growth to plant death and can include: leaf necrosis, dieback, root discoloration, soil blackening, foul odors, slow growth, thinning canopy and chlorosis. Overwatered conifer symptoms are similar, except they can also exhibit needle drop. Overwatering is common in irrigated landscapes, plantings at the bottoms of slopes and in poorly drained containers.
  • Phytophthora rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Phytophthora species (H))
    May cause leaves to discolor, wilt and drop prematurely. Infected plants are stunted, stems die back and the entire plant may be killed. Thrives under wet conditions with similar symptoms on similar hosts often alongside Pythium species. Spreads via watersplash.
  • Powdery mildew (herbaceous) (Several)
    Symptoms appear as a white powdery coating on surfaces of leaves, buds, twigs, and stems. Fungi can overwinter as spores on leaf litter or in buds. Spores spread via air currents and rainsplash. Older leaves usually show symptoms first. The disease's impact varies depending on host. Infected leaves may distort, discolor, dry and drop prematurely.
  • Pythium rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Pythium species (H))
    First symptoms are yellow, stunted or wilted plants. Pythium infects young tissue, often root tips, and causes a dark brown to black wet rot that softens and disintegrates tissue. This disease commonly attacks below the soil surface from root tips to primary roots and sometimes to the base of the plant, and is favored by wet, poorly drained conditions.
  • Rhizoctonia rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Rhizoctonia species (H))
    Symptoms include wilting and death, especially of seedlings (damping off). Moist brown lesions commonly form at the base of infected petioles or on lower stems, usually at the soil line. Crown areas decay, and roots are also sometimes infected and become dark and decayed, especially in peat-containing mixes. Rhizoctonia root rot is favored by relatively high temperatures and intermediate moisture, neither too wet nor too dry. It persists in growing media and is common in many soils.
  • Rusts (herbaceous) (Several)
    Symptoms of infection usually first appear as light-colored spots on upper leaf surfaces followed by dry, brown, orange, purple, reddish or yellowish spore masses or pustules commonly on the lower leaf surfaces. Each rust species is specific to a certain host genus or species and cannot spread to unrelated plants. Moderate infections will not harm plants, but can make plants unattractive. Heavily infected leaves may curl, wither and drop prematurely. Severely infected plants may be stunted. Rusts spread primarily via windblown spores.
  • Septoria leaf spot (herbaceous) (Septoria species (H))
    Symptoms first appear at plant bases as small (approx. 1∕4" diameter) spots with whitish centers and dark borders on leaves and stems. Eventually multiple spots on a single leaf will merge, leading to extensive destruction of leaf tissue. Can lead to total defoliation of lower leaves and even death of an infected plant. Septoria persists mainly on crop debris, or on infected plant tissue or seeds and spreads via watersplash.
  • Sooty molds (Several)
    Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on plant surfaces covered in honeydew excreted by insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts such as aphids, scale, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is generally harmless to plants, except when it is prolific, preventing light from reaching leaf surfaces, causing plants stress. This stress may make the plant more susceptible to other diseases or problems.
  • Thrips (Order Thysanoptera)
    Minute insects usually identifiable only under high-powered magnification. Thrips have a modified, single mandible that they use to puncture plant tissue. They then feed on the sap that exudes from the resulting wound. Larvae drop to the soil to pupate. Adult insects like flowers with an open structures where the stamen and pistil are readily available.
  • Tobacco mosaic (Tobacco mosaic virus)
    Viruses can only be definitively diagnosed in a lab under high magnification or with various serological test kits. Mosaic symptoms are characterized by intermingled patches of normal and light green or yellowish colors on the leaves of infected plants. TMV damages the leaves, flowers and fruit, and causes stunting of the plant. It almost never kills the plants, but lowers the quality and quantity of the crop, particularly when plants are infected while young.
  • Two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae)
    This most common spider mite is miniscule (0.5mm) and prefers to colonize and lay eggs on leaf undersides of most host plants. When populations are high, these mites can be found on all leaf surfaces and stems.
  • White mold (Sclerotinia stem rot) (Sclerotinia species)
    Symptoms vary with the plant host and can lead to crown and stem cankers, root rots, wilts, damping-off of seedlings, and blossom and fruit rots. Plants can wilt rapidly as a result of stem-girdling cankers at or near the soil line. Brown spots can appear on flower petals and buds. Cottony masses of fungal threads (hyphae) may appear on stems or on nearby soil. Hard, irregularly-shaped masses (sclerotia) develop within or on the surface of infected plants. The sclerotia are white at first and then turn dark brown or black when mature. This disease favors cool wet springs and fall weather. Spores are dispersed primarily by wind, watersplash and insects.

Herbaceous Ornamentals-Perennials

Anemone (Anemone)

  • Damping off (Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia solani)
    Seedlings killed by damping-off initially are healthy, but shortly after emergence, become infected at or just below the soil line. Lower stems of seedlings collapse, seedlings fall over onto the soil surface and subsequently die. Seedlings with damping-off will die and cannot be saved.
  • Downy mildew (herbaceous) (Several)
    Early symptoms appear as irregular, light green or yellow angular patches on upper leaf surfaces. Lesions may also be purplish red to dark brown. Under high humidity, downy mildews form fluffy or fuzzy (downy) areas of spores on the undersides of leaves. Under magnification, the downy areas look like very small bunches of branched hairs. Older leaves toward the bottom of plants are usually infected first and wither and brown as the disease proceeds up the stem.
  • Gray mold (Botrytis blight) (Botrytis cinerea)
    Causes brown, water-soaked spots or decay on leaves or petals. Once diseased tissue encircles the stem, the shoot will wilt. Botrytis is easily diagnosed by the fluffy gray, tan or brown mold produced on blighted plant parts under moist conditions. It rapidly blights flowers. Infected petals that fall onto foliage or stems can cause additional blighting and dieback.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Mealybug (Pseudococcidae family)
    Characteristically mealybugs are covered in white granular or cotton-like wax. Mealy bug bodies are always soft and the females are oval and flat with distinct segmentation often visible in the wax. Eggs are usually laid in a white cottony material underneath the female. Widespread in greenhouses and indoor plants; not an outdoor problem. Depending on temperature, one generation can develop every 1-3 months.
  • Phytophthora rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Phytophthora species (H))
    May cause leaves to discolor, wilt and drop prematurely. Infected plants are stunted, stems die back and the entire plant may be killed. Thrives under wet conditions with similar symptoms on similar hosts often alongside Pythium species. Spreads via watersplash.
  • Powdery mildew (herbaceous) (Several)
    Symptoms appear as a white powdery coating on surfaces of leaves, buds, twigs, and stems. Fungi can overwinter as spores on leaf litter or in buds. Spores spread via air currents and rainsplash. Older leaves usually show symptoms first. The disease's impact varies depending on host. Infected leaves may distort, discolor, dry and drop prematurely.
  • Pythium rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Pythium species (H))
    First symptoms are yellow, stunted or wilted plants. Pythium infects young tissue, often root tips, and causes a dark brown to black wet rot that softens and disintegrates tissue. This disease commonly attacks below the soil surface from root tips to primary roots and sometimes to the base of the plant, and is favored by wet, poorly drained conditions.
  • Rhizoctonia rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Rhizoctonia species (H))
    Symptoms include wilting and death, especially of seedlings (damping off). Moist brown lesions commonly form at the base of infected petioles or on lower stems, usually at the soil line. Crown areas decay, and roots are also sometimes infected and become dark and decayed, especially in peat-containing mixes. Rhizoctonia root rot is favored by relatively high temperatures and intermediate moisture, neither too wet nor too dry. It persists in growing media and is common in many soils.
  • Rusts (herbaceous) (Several)
    Symptoms of infection usually first appear as light-colored spots on upper leaf surfaces followed by dry, brown, orange, purple, reddish or yellowish spore masses or pustules commonly on the lower leaf surfaces. Each rust species is specific to a certain host genus or species and cannot spread to unrelated plants. Moderate infections will not harm plants, but can make plants unattractive. Heavily infected leaves may curl, wither and drop prematurely. Severely infected plants may be stunted. Rusts spread primarily via windblown spores.
  • Septoria leaf spot (herbaceous) (Septoria species (H))
    Symptoms first appear at plant bases as small (approx. 1∕4" diameter) spots with whitish centers and dark borders on leaves and stems. Eventually multiple spots on a single leaf will merge, leading to extensive destruction of leaf tissue. Can lead to total defoliation of lower leaves and even death of an infected plant. Septoria persists mainly on crop debris, or on infected plant tissue or seeds and spreads via watersplash.
  • Sooty molds (Several)
    Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on plant surfaces covered in honeydew excreted by insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts such as aphids, scale, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is generally harmless to plants, except when it is prolific, preventing light from reaching leaf surfaces, causing plants stress. This stress may make the plant more susceptible to other diseases or problems.
  • Thrips (Order Thysanoptera)
    Minute insects usually identifiable only under high-powered magnification. Thrips have a modified, single mandible that they use to puncture plant tissue. They then feed on the sap that exudes from the resulting wound. Larvae drop to the soil to pupate. Adult insects like flowers with an open structures where the stamen and pistil are readily available.
  • White mold (Sclerotinia stem rot) (Sclerotinia species)
    Symptoms vary with the plant host and can lead to crown and stem cankers, root rots, wilts, damping-off of seedlings, and blossom and fruit rots. Plants can wilt rapidly as a result of stem-girdling cankers at or near the soil line. Brown spots can appear on flower petals and buds. Cottony masses of fungal threads (hyphae) may appear on stems or on nearby soil. Hard, irregularly-shaped masses (sclerotia) develop within or on the surface of infected plants. The sclerotia are white at first and then turn dark brown or black when mature. This disease favors cool wet springs and fall weather. Spores are dispersed primarily by wind, watersplash and insects.

Bellflower (Campanula)

  • Cold/Frost Damage ()
    Any part of a plant may be affected by cold damage. In spring, it's usually tender growth, which will appear watersoaked and may turn black. Flower buds can sustain damage during winter dormancy or during the blooming period. Plants will either have reduced numbers of blooms, and hence fruit set, or won't bloom at all. In fall, if plants aren't hardened off, they can sustain cold injury in temperatures well above those tolerated by acclimated plants. Root injury is rare unless plants are in raised beds or containers. Generally younger plants are more susceptible than mature plants. Cold injury on woody plants usually presents in the form of frost cracks in wood or bark. Mature leaves may turn red, purple, brown or black and may or may not fall off the tree or shrub.
  • Damping off (Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia solani)
    Seedlings killed by damping-off initially are healthy, but shortly after emergence, become infected at or just below the soil line. Lower stems of seedlings collapse, seedlings fall over onto the soil surface and subsequently die. Seedlings with damping-off will die and cannot be saved.
  • Gas Injury ()
    Symptoms of gas injury can range from slow growth to total plant death, and initially resemble symptoms of water stress. Gas injury may also be mistaken for compacted soil, root disease, herbicide injury or air pollution. Symptoms include: slow growth, small leaves, wilt and leaf drop. Roots may be bluish and water-soaked, and surrounding soils may turn bluish gray or black. The injury may progress over time. Gas injury may occur from gas released into the soil or into the air. Root zone injury from gas leaks in soil usually stems from gas or sewer-line breaks (rapid damage) or gases leaking from landfills (gradual damage). The extent of damage depends on the size of the leak, when it occurs (summer is worse), soil type (heavier is worse) and the amount of paving surrounding the plants. Gas injury due to atmospheric gas leaks usually stems from vents, chimneys, smokestacks or industrial equipment, and may or may not be phytotoxic. These releases are usually accidental and short-lived.
  • Gray mold (Botrytis blight) (Botrytis cinerea)
    Causes brown, water-soaked spots or decay on leaves or petals. Once diseased tissue encircles the stem, the shoot will wilt. Botrytis is easily diagnosed by the fluffy gray, tan or brown mold produced on blighted plant parts under moist conditions. It rapidly blights flowers. Infected petals that fall onto foliage or stems can cause additional blighting and dieback.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Impatiens necrotic spot (Impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV))
    Viruses can only be definitively diagnosed in a lab under high magnification or with various serological test kits. Symptoms can include necrotic streaks, spots, rings and lines on leaves and stems; vein necrosis; distorted flowers, stems and leaves; general stunting; and bud drop. Black, brown, reddish or yellowish concentric rings, although not always present, are also symptoms of viral infection. This virus is spread by thrips which feed on infected plants and spread the virus to healthy plants via their saliva.
  • Phytophthora rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Phytophthora species (H))
    May cause leaves to discolor, wilt and drop prematurely. Infected plants are stunted, stems die back and the entire plant may be killed. Thrives under wet conditions with similar symptoms on similar hosts often alongside Pythium species. Spreads via watersplash.
  • Powdery mildew (herbaceous) (Several)
    Symptoms appear as a white powdery coating on surfaces of leaves, buds, twigs, and stems. Fungi can overwinter as spores on leaf litter or in buds. Spores spread via air currents and rainsplash. Older leaves usually show symptoms first. The disease's impact varies depending on host. Infected leaves may distort, discolor, dry and drop prematurely.
  • Pythium rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Pythium species (H))
    First symptoms are yellow, stunted or wilted plants. Pythium infects young tissue, often root tips, and causes a dark brown to black wet rot that softens and disintegrates tissue. This disease commonly attacks below the soil surface from root tips to primary roots and sometimes to the base of the plant, and is favored by wet, poorly drained conditions.
  • Rhizoctonia rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Rhizoctonia species (H))
    Symptoms include wilting and death, especially of seedlings (damping off). Moist brown lesions commonly form at the base of infected petioles or on lower stems, usually at the soil line. Crown areas decay, and roots are also sometimes infected and become dark and decayed, especially in peat-containing mixes. Rhizoctonia root rot is favored by relatively high temperatures and intermediate moisture, neither too wet nor too dry. It persists in growing media and is common in many soils.
  • Rusts (herbaceous) (Several)
    Symptoms of infection usually first appear as light-colored spots on upper leaf surfaces followed by dry, brown, orange, purple, reddish or yellowish spore masses or pustules commonly on the lower leaf surfaces. Each rust species is specific to a certain host genus or species and cannot spread to unrelated plants. Moderate infections will not harm plants, but can make plants unattractive. Heavily infected leaves may curl, wither and drop prematurely. Severely infected plants may be stunted. Rusts spread primarily via windblown spores.
  • Thielaviopsis rot (herbaceous-root, stem or crown) (Thielaviopsis basicola (H))
    Aboveground symptoms include stunting, chlorosis and even plant death. Infected roots decay and thicken. They may be very black in color in mixes containing soil. Belowground stems may develop black, longitudinal cracks. Basal stem and root lesions are drier than those caused by Rhizoctonia.
  • Thrips (Order Thysanoptera)
    Minute insects usually identifiable only under high-powered magnification. Thrips have a modified, single mandible that they use to puncture plant tissue. They then feed on the sap that exudes from the resulting wound. Larvae drop to the soil to pupate. Adult insects like flowers with an open structures where the stamen and pistil are readily available.
  • Two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae)
    This most common spider mite is miniscule (0.5mm) and prefers to colonize and lay eggs on leaf undersides of most host plants. When populations are high, these mites can be found on all leaf surfaces and stems.

Blackberry lily (Belamcanda)

  • Anthracnose (herbaceous) (Several)
    Symptoms typically appear as tan to brown spots or sunken lesions that may combine to form irregular, dark lesions that cause rapid blighting of leaves or stems. Depending on the fungus species and host plant species, foliage may also distort, turn yellow, wilt, drop prematurely or die. This may cause signficant plant losses if not diagnosed in the early stages of infection. Under wet conditions, these diseases can have multiple infection cycles during the growing season. Anthracnose fungi persist primarily in infected plant parts and crop debris.
  • Cold/Frost Damage ()
    Any part of a plant may be affected by cold damage. In spring, it's usually tender growth, which will appear watersoaked and may turn black. Flower buds can sustain damage during winter dormancy or during the blooming period. Plants will either have reduced numbers of blooms, and hence fruit set, or won't bloom at all. In fall, if plants aren't hardened off, they can sustain cold injury in temperatures well above those tolerated by acclimated plants. Root injury is rare unless plants are in raised beds or containers. Generally younger plants are more susceptible than mature plants. Cold injury on woody plants usually presents in the form of frost cracks in wood or bark. Mature leaves may turn red, purple, brown or black and may or may not fall off the tree or shrub.
  • Damping off (Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia solani)
    Seedlings killed by damping-off initially are healthy, but shortly after emergence, become infected at or just below the soil line. Lower stems of seedlings collapse, seedlings fall over onto the soil surface and subsequently die. Seedlings with damping-off will die and cannot be saved.
  • Gray mold (Botrytis blight) (Botrytis cinerea)
    Causes brown, water-soaked spots or decay on leaves or petals. Once diseased tissue encircles the stem, the shoot will wilt. Botrytis is easily diagnosed by the fluffy gray, tan or brown mold produced on blighted plant parts under moist conditions. It rapidly blights flowers. Infected petals that fall onto foliage or stems can cause additional blighting and dieback.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Overwatering ()
    Overwatering, whether acute or chronic, is usually a death sentence for plants, especially when accompanied with poor drainage. Waterlogged soils limit oxygen uptake by plant roots, which in turn affects the plant's metabolism, nutrient uptake, water absorption and photosynthesis. Symptoms vary from slow growth to plant death and can include: leaf necrosis, dieback, root discoloration, soil blackening, foul odors, slow growth, thinning canopy and chlorosis. Overwatered conifer symptoms are similar, except they can also exhibit needle drop. Overwatering is common in irrigated landscapes, plantings at the bottoms of slopes and in poorly drained containers.
  • Phytophthora rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Phytophthora species (H))
    May cause leaves to discolor, wilt and drop prematurely. Infected plants are stunted, stems die back and the entire plant may be killed. Thrives under wet conditions with similar symptoms on similar hosts often alongside Pythium species. Spreads via watersplash.
  • Pythium rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Pythium species (H))
    First symptoms are yellow, stunted or wilted plants. Pythium infects young tissue, often root tips, and causes a dark brown to black wet rot that softens and disintegrates tissue. This disease commonly attacks below the soil surface from root tips to primary roots and sometimes to the base of the plant, and is favored by wet, poorly drained conditions.
  • Rhizoctonia rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Rhizoctonia species (H))
    Symptoms include wilting and death, especially of seedlings (damping off). Moist brown lesions commonly form at the base of infected petioles or on lower stems, usually at the soil line. Crown areas decay, and roots are also sometimes infected and become dark and decayed, especially in peat-containing mixes. Rhizoctonia root rot is favored by relatively high temperatures and intermediate moisture, neither too wet nor too dry. It persists in growing media and is common in many soils.
  • Soft scale (Coccidae family)
    Soft scales are usually broadly oval becoming larger and more humped as eggs mature underneath the protective cover. Look for adults on twigs or small branches and immature stages on leaves or needles.
  • Sooty molds (Several)
    Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on plant surfaces covered in honeydew excreted by insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts such as aphids, scale, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is generally harmless to plants, except when it is prolific, preventing light from reaching leaf surfaces, causing plants stress. This stress may make the plant more susceptible to other diseases or problems.
  • Thielaviopsis rot (herbaceous-root, stem or crown) (Thielaviopsis basicola (H))
    Aboveground symptoms include stunting, chlorosis and even plant death. Infected roots decay and thicken. They may be very black in color in mixes containing soil. Belowground stems may develop black, longitudinal cracks. Basal stem and root lesions are drier than those caused by Rhizoctonia.
  • White mold (Sclerotinia stem rot) (Sclerotinia species)
    Symptoms vary with the plant host and can lead to crown and stem cankers, root rots, wilts, damping-off of seedlings, and blossom and fruit rots. Plants can wilt rapidly as a result of stem-girdling cankers at or near the soil line. Brown spots can appear on flower petals and buds. Cottony masses of fungal threads (hyphae) may appear on stems or on nearby soil. Hard, irregularly-shaped masses (sclerotia) develop within or on the surface of infected plants. The sclerotia are white at first and then turn dark brown or black when mature. This disease favors cool wet springs and fall weather. Spores are dispersed primarily by wind, watersplash and insects.
  • Winter salt injury ()
    De-icing salts accumulate in the soil along streets/sidewalks or may be dispersed in an aerosol spray by fast-moving traffic and high winds along wet, salted roads. Salt spray can travel hundreds of feet from the roads where it originated. Symptoms can be similar to other abiotic plant problems, but there are tell-tale indicators including: Damage is more severe on sides of plants facing roads/sidewalks; severity of damage increases with volume/speed of traffic and amount of salt used; plants downwind from roads show more damage than those upwind; most damage occurs within 60' of road and decreases with distance; branches covered by snow or otherwise sheltered show no damage; branches growing above spray drift zone show no damage. Symptoms in deciduous plants include: delayed budbreak; reduced leaf size/stem growth; off-colored foliage; scorched leaves; no flowering; bud/twig death; and branch-tip dieback leading to 'witches' broom' growth below the dead area. Symptoms on conifers include: tips of mature needles turn brown or yellow, discoloration moves down needle eventually killing all of it, then needles fall off; twig dieback; and symptoms manifest only on sides of plants facing roads/sidewalks.

Bugleweed (Ajuga)

  • Cold/Frost Damage ()
    Any part of a plant may be affected by cold damage. In spring, it's usually tender growth, which will appear watersoaked and may turn black. Flower buds can sustain damage during winter dormancy or during the blooming period. Plants will either have reduced numbers of blooms, and hence fruit set, or won't bloom at all. In fall, if plants aren't hardened off, they can sustain cold injury in temperatures well above those tolerated by acclimated plants. Root injury is rare unless plants are in raised beds or containers. Generally younger plants are more susceptible than mature plants. Cold injury on woody plants usually presents in the form of frost cracks in wood or bark. Mature leaves may turn red, purple, brown or black and may or may not fall off the tree or shrub.
  • Damping off (Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia solani)
    Seedlings killed by damping-off initially are healthy, but shortly after emergence, become infected at or just below the soil line. Lower stems of seedlings collapse, seedlings fall over onto the soil surface and subsequently die. Seedlings with damping-off will die and cannot be saved.
  • Gray mold (Botrytis blight) (Botrytis cinerea)
    Causes brown, water-soaked spots or decay on leaves or petals. Once diseased tissue encircles the stem, the shoot will wilt. Botrytis is easily diagnosed by the fluffy gray, tan or brown mold produced on blighted plant parts under moist conditions. It rapidly blights flowers. Infected petals that fall onto foliage or stems can cause additional blighting and dieback.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Overwatering ()
    Overwatering, whether acute or chronic, is usually a death sentence for plants, especially when accompanied with poor drainage. Waterlogged soils limit oxygen uptake by plant roots, which in turn affects the plant's metabolism, nutrient uptake, water absorption and photosynthesis. Symptoms vary from slow growth to plant death and can include: leaf necrosis, dieback, root discoloration, soil blackening, foul odors, slow growth, thinning canopy and chlorosis. Overwatered conifer symptoms are similar, except they can also exhibit needle drop. Overwatering is common in irrigated landscapes, plantings at the bottoms of slopes and in poorly drained containers.
  • Phytophthora rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Phytophthora species (H))
    May cause leaves to discolor, wilt and drop prematurely. Infected plants are stunted, stems die back and the entire plant may be killed. Thrives under wet conditions with similar symptoms on similar hosts often alongside Pythium species. Spreads via watersplash.
  • Pythium rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Pythium species (H))
    First symptoms are yellow, stunted or wilted plants. Pythium infects young tissue, often root tips, and causes a dark brown to black wet rot that softens and disintegrates tissue. This disease commonly attacks below the soil surface from root tips to primary roots and sometimes to the base of the plant, and is favored by wet, poorly drained conditions.
  • Rhizoctonia rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Rhizoctonia species (H))
    Symptoms include wilting and death, especially of seedlings (damping off). Moist brown lesions commonly form at the base of infected petioles or on lower stems, usually at the soil line. Crown areas decay, and roots are also sometimes infected and become dark and decayed, especially in peat-containing mixes. Rhizoctonia root rot is favored by relatively high temperatures and intermediate moisture, neither too wet nor too dry. It persists in growing media and is common in many soils.
  • Septoria leaf spot (herbaceous) (Septoria species (H))
    Symptoms first appear at plant bases as small (approx. 1∕4" diameter) spots with whitish centers and dark borders on leaves and stems. Eventually multiple spots on a single leaf will merge, leading to extensive destruction of leaf tissue. Can lead to total defoliation of lower leaves and even death of an infected plant. Septoria persists mainly on crop debris, or on infected plant tissue or seeds and spreads via watersplash.
  • Sooty molds (Several)
    Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on plant surfaces covered in honeydew excreted by insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts such as aphids, scale, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is generally harmless to plants, except when it is prolific, preventing light from reaching leaf surfaces, causing plants stress. This stress may make the plant more susceptible to other diseases or problems.
  • Thielaviopsis rot (herbaceous-root, stem or crown) (Thielaviopsis basicola (H))
    Aboveground symptoms include stunting, chlorosis and even plant death. Infected roots decay and thicken. They may be very black in color in mixes containing soil. Belowground stems may develop black, longitudinal cracks. Basal stem and root lesions are drier than those caused by Rhizoctonia.
  • Two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae)
    This most common spider mite is miniscule (0.5mm) and prefers to colonize and lay eggs on leaf undersides of most host plants. When populations are high, these mites can be found on all leaf surfaces and stems.
  • White mold (Sclerotinia stem rot) (Sclerotinia species)
    Symptoms vary with the plant host and can lead to crown and stem cankers, root rots, wilts, damping-off of seedlings, and blossom and fruit rots. Plants can wilt rapidly as a result of stem-girdling cankers at or near the soil line. Brown spots can appear on flower petals and buds. Cottony masses of fungal threads (hyphae) may appear on stems or on nearby soil. Hard, irregularly-shaped masses (sclerotia) develop within or on the surface of infected plants. The sclerotia are white at first and then turn dark brown or black when mature. This disease favors cool wet springs and fall weather. Spores are dispersed primarily by wind, watersplash and insects.

Columbine (Aquilegia)

  • Cucumber mosaic (Cucumber mosaic virus)
    Viruses can only be definitively diagnosed in a lab under high magnification or with various serological test kits. Viruses can retard plant growth and change the appearance of foliage, flowers and fruits. Virus-infected leaves can become spotted, streaked or mottled; they may be distorted or stunted. Veins may lose their color or develop outgrowths. Flowers can be dwarfed, deformed, streaked, faded, or they can remain green and develop into leaf-like structures.
  • Damping off (Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia solani)
    Seedlings killed by damping-off initially are healthy, but shortly after emergence, become infected at or just below the soil line. Lower stems of seedlings collapse, seedlings fall over onto the soil surface and subsequently die. Seedlings with damping-off will die and cannot be saved.
  • Gray mold (Botrytis blight) (Botrytis cinerea)
    Causes brown, water-soaked spots or decay on leaves or petals. Once diseased tissue encircles the stem, the shoot will wilt. Botrytis is easily diagnosed by the fluffy gray, tan or brown mold produced on blighted plant parts under moist conditions. It rapidly blights flowers. Infected petals that fall onto foliage or stems can cause additional blighting and dieback.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Impatiens necrotic spot (Impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV))
    Viruses can only be definitively diagnosed in a lab under high magnification or with various serological test kits. Symptoms can include necrotic streaks, spots, rings and lines on leaves and stems; vein necrosis; distorted flowers, stems and leaves; general stunting; and bud drop. Black, brown, reddish or yellowish concentric rings, although not always present, are also symptoms of viral infection. This virus is spread by thrips which feed on infected plants and spread the virus to healthy plants via their saliva.
  • Overwatering ()
    Overwatering, whether acute or chronic, is usually a death sentence for plants, especially when accompanied with poor drainage. Waterlogged soils limit oxygen uptake by plant roots, which in turn affects the plant's metabolism, nutrient uptake, water absorption and photosynthesis. Symptoms vary from slow growth to plant death and can include: leaf necrosis, dieback, root discoloration, soil blackening, foul odors, slow growth, thinning canopy and chlorosis. Overwatered conifer symptoms are similar, except they can also exhibit needle drop. Overwatering is common in irrigated landscapes, plantings at the bottoms of slopes and in poorly drained containers.
  • Phytophthora rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Phytophthora species (H))
    May cause leaves to discolor, wilt and drop prematurely. Infected plants are stunted, stems die back and the entire plant may be killed. Thrives under wet conditions with similar symptoms on similar hosts often alongside Pythium species. Spreads via watersplash.
  • Powdery mildew (herbaceous) (Several)
    Symptoms appear as a white powdery coating on surfaces of leaves, buds, twigs, and stems. Fungi can overwinter as spores on leaf litter or in buds. Spores spread via air currents and rainsplash. Older leaves usually show symptoms first. The disease's impact varies depending on host. Infected leaves may distort, discolor, dry and drop prematurely.
  • Pythium rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Pythium species (H))
    First symptoms are yellow, stunted or wilted plants. Pythium infects young tissue, often root tips, and causes a dark brown to black wet rot that softens and disintegrates tissue. This disease commonly attacks below the soil surface from root tips to primary roots and sometimes to the base of the plant, and is favored by wet, poorly drained conditions.
  • Rhizoctonia rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Rhizoctonia species (H))
    Symptoms include wilting and death, especially of seedlings (damping off). Moist brown lesions commonly form at the base of infected petioles or on lower stems, usually at the soil line. Crown areas decay, and roots are also sometimes infected and become dark and decayed, especially in peat-containing mixes. Rhizoctonia root rot is favored by relatively high temperatures and intermediate moisture, neither too wet nor too dry. It persists in growing media and is common in many soils.
  • Sooty molds (Several)
    Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on plant surfaces covered in honeydew excreted by insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts such as aphids, scale, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is generally harmless to plants, except when it is prolific, preventing light from reaching leaf surfaces, causing plants stress. This stress may make the plant more susceptible to other diseases or problems.
  • Two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae)
    This most common spider mite is miniscule (0.5mm) and prefers to colonize and lay eggs on leaf undersides of most host plants. When populations are high, these mites can be found on all leaf surfaces and stems.
  • White mold (Sclerotinia stem rot) (Sclerotinia species)
    Symptoms vary with the plant host and can lead to crown and stem cankers, root rots, wilts, damping-off of seedlings, and blossom and fruit rots. Plants can wilt rapidly as a result of stem-girdling cankers at or near the soil line. Brown spots can appear on flower petals and buds. Cottony masses of fungal threads (hyphae) may appear on stems or on nearby soil. Hard, irregularly-shaped masses (sclerotia) develop within or on the surface of infected plants. The sclerotia are white at first and then turn dark brown or black when mature. This disease favors cool wet springs and fall weather. Spores are dispersed primarily by wind, watersplash and insects.
  • Whitefly (Aleyrodidae family)
    Adult whiteflies are small (1-2mm), white, fly-like insects related to scales, aphids and mealybugs. Their color comes from wax they create to cover their bodies. All whitefly stages are usually found on the undersides of leaves. There can be several generations per year depending on the environment.

Common or Rose Mallow (Althaea)

  • Cold/Frost Damage ()
    Any part of a plant may be affected by cold damage. In spring, it's usually tender growth, which will appear watersoaked and may turn black. Flower buds can sustain damage during winter dormancy or during the blooming period. Plants will either have reduced numbers of blooms, and hence fruit set, or won't bloom at all. In fall, if plants aren't hardened off, they can sustain cold injury in temperatures well above those tolerated by acclimated plants. Root injury is rare unless plants are in raised beds or containers. Generally younger plants are more susceptible than mature plants. Cold injury on woody plants usually presents in the form of frost cracks in wood or bark. Mature leaves may turn red, purple, brown or black and may or may not fall off the tree or shrub.
  • Damping off (Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia solani)
    Seedlings killed by damping-off initially are healthy, but shortly after emergence, become infected at or just below the soil line. Lower stems of seedlings collapse, seedlings fall over onto the soil surface and subsequently die. Seedlings with damping-off will die and cannot be saved.
  • Gray mold (Botrytis blight) (Botrytis cinerea)
    Causes brown, water-soaked spots or decay on leaves or petals. Once diseased tissue encircles the stem, the shoot will wilt. Botrytis is easily diagnosed by the fluffy gray, tan or brown mold produced on blighted plant parts under moist conditions. It rapidly blights flowers. Infected petals that fall onto foliage or stems can cause additional blighting and dieback.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Phytophthora rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Phytophthora species (H))
    May cause leaves to discolor, wilt and drop prematurely. Infected plants are stunted, stems die back and the entire plant may be killed. Thrives under wet conditions with similar symptoms on similar hosts often alongside Pythium species. Spreads via watersplash.
  • Rhizoctonia rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Rhizoctonia species (H))
    Symptoms include wilting and death, especially of seedlings (damping off). Moist brown lesions commonly form at the base of infected petioles or on lower stems, usually at the soil line. Crown areas decay, and roots are also sometimes infected and become dark and decayed, especially in peat-containing mixes. Rhizoctonia root rot is favored by relatively high temperatures and intermediate moisture, neither too wet nor too dry. It persists in growing media and is common in many soils.
  • Root rot (woody plants) (Pythium species (W))
    Gardeners often become aware of root rot problems when they see above ground symptoms of the disease. Plants with root rot are often stunted or wilted, and may have leaves with a yellow or red color, suggesting a nutrient deficiency. Examination of the roots of these plants reveals tissue that is soft and brown.
  • Rusts (herbaceous) (Several)
    Symptoms of infection usually first appear as light-colored spots on upper leaf surfaces followed by dry, brown, orange, purple, reddish or yellowish spore masses or pustules commonly on the lower leaf surfaces. Each rust species is specific to a certain host genus or species and cannot spread to unrelated plants. Moderate infections will not harm plants, but can make plants unattractive. Heavily infected leaves may curl, wither and drop prematurely. Severely infected plants may be stunted. Rusts spread primarily via windblown spores.
  • Septoria leaf spot (herbaceous) (Septoria species (H))
    Symptoms first appear at plant bases as small (approx. 1∕4" diameter) spots with whitish centers and dark borders on leaves and stems. Eventually multiple spots on a single leaf will merge, leading to extensive destruction of leaf tissue. Can lead to total defoliation of lower leaves and even death of an infected plant. Septoria persists mainly on crop debris, or on infected plant tissue or seeds and spreads via watersplash.
  • Sooty molds (Several)
    Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on plant surfaces covered in honeydew excreted by insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts such as aphids, scale, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is generally harmless to plants, except when it is prolific, preventing light from reaching leaf surfaces, causing plants stress. This stress may make the plant more susceptible to other diseases or problems.
  • Thrips (Order Thysanoptera)
    Minute insects usually identifiable only under high-powered magnification. Thrips have a modified, single mandible that they use to puncture plant tissue. They then feed on the sap that exudes from the resulting wound. Larvae drop to the soil to pupate. Adult insects like flowers with an open structures where the stamen and pistil are readily available.
  • Two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae)
    This most common spider mite is miniscule (0.5mm) and prefers to colonize and lay eggs on leaf undersides of most host plants. When populations are high, these mites can be found on all leaf surfaces and stems.
  • White mold (Sclerotinia stem rot) (Sclerotinia species)
    Symptoms vary with the plant host and can lead to crown and stem cankers, root rots, wilts, damping-off of seedlings, and blossom and fruit rots. Plants can wilt rapidly as a result of stem-girdling cankers at or near the soil line. Brown spots can appear on flower petals and buds. Cottony masses of fungal threads (hyphae) may appear on stems or on nearby soil. Hard, irregularly-shaped masses (sclerotia) develop within or on the surface of infected plants. The sclerotia are white at first and then turn dark brown or black when mature. This disease favors cool wet springs and fall weather. Spores are dispersed primarily by wind, watersplash and insects.

False spirea (Astilbe)

  • Cold/Frost Damage ()
    Any part of a plant may be affected by cold damage. In spring, it's usually tender growth, which will appear watersoaked and may turn black. Flower buds can sustain damage during winter dormancy or during the blooming period. Plants will either have reduced numbers of blooms, and hence fruit set, or won't bloom at all. In fall, if plants aren't hardened off, they can sustain cold injury in temperatures well above those tolerated by acclimated plants. Root injury is rare unless plants are in raised beds or containers. Generally younger plants are more susceptible than mature plants. Cold injury on woody plants usually presents in the form of frost cracks in wood or bark. Mature leaves may turn red, purple, brown or black and may or may not fall off the tree or shrub.
  • Damping off (Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia solani)
    Seedlings killed by damping-off initially are healthy, but shortly after emergence, become infected at or just below the soil line. Lower stems of seedlings collapse, seedlings fall over onto the soil surface and subsequently die. Seedlings with damping-off will die and cannot be saved.
  • Fusarium wilt (Fusarium species (H))
    Infected plants wilt and die. Foliage yellows, curls, wilts, then browns and dies. Lower foliage is usually affected first. In many hosts, symptoms may appear only on one side of the plant. If you take a cross-section of the basal stem, vascular tissues may be discolored and you may see brown rings or solid brown coloration, often from the soil line to shoots.
  • Gray mold (Botrytis blight) (Botrytis cinerea)
    Causes brown, water-soaked spots or decay on leaves or petals. Once diseased tissue encircles the stem, the shoot will wilt. Botrytis is easily diagnosed by the fluffy gray, tan or brown mold produced on blighted plant parts under moist conditions. It rapidly blights flowers. Infected petals that fall onto foliage or stems can cause additional blighting and dieback.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Phytophthora rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Phytophthora species (H))
    May cause leaves to discolor, wilt and drop prematurely. Infected plants are stunted, stems die back and the entire plant may be killed. Thrives under wet conditions with similar symptoms on similar hosts often alongside Pythium species. Spreads via watersplash.
  • Powdery mildew (herbaceous) (Several)
    Symptoms appear as a white powdery coating on surfaces of leaves, buds, twigs, and stems. Fungi can overwinter as spores on leaf litter or in buds. Spores spread via air currents and rainsplash. Older leaves usually show symptoms first. The disease's impact varies depending on host. Infected leaves may distort, discolor, dry and drop prematurely.
  • Pythium rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Pythium species (H))
    First symptoms are yellow, stunted or wilted plants. Pythium infects young tissue, often root tips, and causes a dark brown to black wet rot that softens and disintegrates tissue. This disease commonly attacks below the soil surface from root tips to primary roots and sometimes to the base of the plant, and is favored by wet, poorly drained conditions.
  • Rhizoctonia rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Rhizoctonia species (H))
    Symptoms include wilting and death, especially of seedlings (damping off). Moist brown lesions commonly form at the base of infected petioles or on lower stems, usually at the soil line. Crown areas decay, and roots are also sometimes infected and become dark and decayed, especially in peat-containing mixes. Rhizoctonia root rot is favored by relatively high temperatures and intermediate moisture, neither too wet nor too dry. It persists in growing media and is common in many soils.
  • Thielaviopsis rot (herbaceous-root, stem or crown) (Thielaviopsis basicola (H))
    Aboveground symptoms include stunting, chlorosis and even plant death. Infected roots decay and thicken. They may be very black in color in mixes containing soil. Belowground stems may develop black, longitudinal cracks. Basal stem and root lesions are drier than those caused by Rhizoctonia.
  • Tobacco rattle (Tobacco rattle virus)
    Symptoms include mottling (blotchy light/dark discoloration of leaf tissue), yellow ring spots or line patterns, localized necrotic (dead) lesions, chlorotic spots or streaks or notched leaves. Plants infected at a young age may also exhibit a variety of leaf and stem deformities. This virus is spread primarily by stubby-root nematodes, a group of microscopic worm-like organisms. Nematodes feed on the roots of infected plants, then move to non-infected plants where subsequent feeding spreads the virus. TRV can also be spread mechanically with contaminated pruning tools and by grafting. This virus can also be found in the seeds of infected plants.
  • White mold (Sclerotinia stem rot) (Sclerotinia species)
    Symptoms vary with the plant host and can lead to crown and stem cankers, root rots, wilts, damping-off of seedlings, and blossom and fruit rots. Plants can wilt rapidly as a result of stem-girdling cankers at or near the soil line. Brown spots can appear on flower petals and buds. Cottony masses of fungal threads (hyphae) may appear on stems or on nearby soil. Hard, irregularly-shaped masses (sclerotia) develop within or on the surface of infected plants. The sclerotia are white at first and then turn dark brown or black when mature. This disease favors cool wet springs and fall weather. Spores are dispersed primarily by wind, watersplash and insects.
  • Whitefly (Aleyrodidae family)
    Adult whiteflies are small (1-2mm), white, fly-like insects related to scales, aphids and mealybugs. Their color comes from wax they create to cover their bodies. All whitefly stages are usually found on the undersides of leaves. There can be several generations per year depending on the environment.

Feather reed grass (Calamagrostis)

  • Anthracnose (herbaceous) (Several)
    Symptoms typically appear as tan to brown spots or sunken lesions that may combine to form irregular, dark lesions that cause rapid blighting of leaves or stems. Depending on the fungus species and host plant species, foliage may also distort, turn yellow, wilt, drop prematurely or die. This may cause signficant plant losses if not diagnosed in the early stages of infection. Under wet conditions, these diseases can have multiple infection cycles during the growing season. Anthracnose fungi persist primarily in infected plant parts and crop debris.
  • Gas Injury ()
    Symptoms of gas injury can range from slow growth to total plant death, and initially resemble symptoms of water stress. Gas injury may also be mistaken for compacted soil, root disease, herbicide injury or air pollution. Symptoms include: slow growth, small leaves, wilt and leaf drop. Roots may be bluish and water-soaked, and surrounding soils may turn bluish gray or black. The injury may progress over time. Gas injury may occur from gas released into the soil or into the air. Root zone injury from gas leaks in soil usually stems from gas or sewer-line breaks (rapid damage) or gases leaking from landfills (gradual damage). The extent of damage depends on the size of the leak, when it occurs (summer is worse), soil type (heavier is worse) and the amount of paving surrounding the plants. Gas injury due to atmospheric gas leaks usually stems from vents, chimneys, smokestacks or industrial equipment, and may or may not be phytotoxic. These releases are usually accidental and short-lived.
  • Gray mold (Botrytis blight) (Botrytis cinerea)
    Causes brown, water-soaked spots or decay on leaves or petals. Once diseased tissue encircles the stem, the shoot will wilt. Botrytis is easily diagnosed by the fluffy gray, tan or brown mold produced on blighted plant parts under moist conditions. It rapidly blights flowers. Infected petals that fall onto foliage or stems can cause additional blighting and dieback.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Phytophthora rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Phytophthora species (H))
    May cause leaves to discolor, wilt and drop prematurely. Infected plants are stunted, stems die back and the entire plant may be killed. Thrives under wet conditions with similar symptoms on similar hosts often alongside Pythium species. Spreads via watersplash.
  • Pythium rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Pythium species (H))
    First symptoms are yellow, stunted or wilted plants. Pythium infects young tissue, often root tips, and causes a dark brown to black wet rot that softens and disintegrates tissue. This disease commonly attacks below the soil surface from root tips to primary roots and sometimes to the base of the plant, and is favored by wet, poorly drained conditions.
  • Rhizoctonia rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Rhizoctonia species (H))
    Symptoms include wilting and death, especially of seedlings (damping off). Moist brown lesions commonly form at the base of infected petioles or on lower stems, usually at the soil line. Crown areas decay, and roots are also sometimes infected and become dark and decayed, especially in peat-containing mixes. Rhizoctonia root rot is favored by relatively high temperatures and intermediate moisture, neither too wet nor too dry. It persists in growing media and is common in many soils.
  • Rusts (herbaceous) (Several)
    Symptoms of infection usually first appear as light-colored spots on upper leaf surfaces followed by dry, brown, orange, purple, reddish or yellowish spore masses or pustules commonly on the lower leaf surfaces. Each rust species is specific to a certain host genus or species and cannot spread to unrelated plants. Moderate infections will not harm plants, but can make plants unattractive. Heavily infected leaves may curl, wither and drop prematurely. Severely infected plants may be stunted. Rusts spread primarily via windblown spores.
  • White mold (Sclerotinia stem rot) (Sclerotinia species)
    Symptoms vary with the plant host and can lead to crown and stem cankers, root rots, wilts, damping-off of seedlings, and blossom and fruit rots. Plants can wilt rapidly as a result of stem-girdling cankers at or near the soil line. Brown spots can appear on flower petals and buds. Cottony masses of fungal threads (hyphae) may appear on stems or on nearby soil. Hard, irregularly-shaped masses (sclerotia) develop within or on the surface of infected plants. The sclerotia are white at first and then turn dark brown or black when mature. This disease favors cool wet springs and fall weather. Spores are dispersed primarily by wind, watersplash and insects.

Fumitory (Corydalis)

  • Damping off (Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia solani)
    Seedlings killed by damping-off initially are healthy, but shortly after emergence, become infected at or just below the soil line. Lower stems of seedlings collapse, seedlings fall over onto the soil surface and subsequently die. Seedlings with damping-off will die and cannot be saved.
  • Gray mold (Botrytis blight) (Botrytis cinerea)
    Causes brown, water-soaked spots or decay on leaves or petals. Once diseased tissue encircles the stem, the shoot will wilt. Botrytis is easily diagnosed by the fluffy gray, tan or brown mold produced on blighted plant parts under moist conditions. It rapidly blights flowers. Infected petals that fall onto foliage or stems can cause additional blighting and dieback.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Overwatering ()
    Overwatering, whether acute or chronic, is usually a death sentence for plants, especially when accompanied with poor drainage. Waterlogged soils limit oxygen uptake by plant roots, which in turn affects the plant's metabolism, nutrient uptake, water absorption and photosynthesis. Symptoms vary from slow growth to plant death and can include: leaf necrosis, dieback, root discoloration, soil blackening, foul odors, slow growth, thinning canopy and chlorosis. Overwatered conifer symptoms are similar, except they can also exhibit needle drop. Overwatering is common in irrigated landscapes, plantings at the bottoms of slopes and in poorly drained containers.
  • Phytophthora rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Phytophthora species (H))
    May cause leaves to discolor, wilt and drop prematurely. Infected plants are stunted, stems die back and the entire plant may be killed. Thrives under wet conditions with similar symptoms on similar hosts often alongside Pythium species. Spreads via watersplash.
  • Pythium rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Pythium species (H))
    First symptoms are yellow, stunted or wilted plants. Pythium infects young tissue, often root tips, and causes a dark brown to black wet rot that softens and disintegrates tissue. This disease commonly attacks below the soil surface from root tips to primary roots and sometimes to the base of the plant, and is favored by wet, poorly drained conditions.
  • Rhizoctonia rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Rhizoctonia species (H))
    Symptoms include wilting and death, especially of seedlings (damping off). Moist brown lesions commonly form at the base of infected petioles or on lower stems, usually at the soil line. Crown areas decay, and roots are also sometimes infected and become dark and decayed, especially in peat-containing mixes. Rhizoctonia root rot is favored by relatively high temperatures and intermediate moisture, neither too wet nor too dry. It persists in growing media and is common in many soils.
  • Thielaviopsis rot (herbaceous-root, stem or crown) (Thielaviopsis basicola (H))
    Aboveground symptoms include stunting, chlorosis and even plant death. Infected roots decay and thicken. They may be very black in color in mixes containing soil. Belowground stems may develop black, longitudinal cracks. Basal stem and root lesions are drier than those caused by Rhizoctonia.
  • White mold (Sclerotinia stem rot) (Sclerotinia species)
    Symptoms vary with the plant host and can lead to crown and stem cankers, root rots, wilts, damping-off of seedlings, and blossom and fruit rots. Plants can wilt rapidly as a result of stem-girdling cankers at or near the soil line. Brown spots can appear on flower petals and buds. Cottony masses of fungal threads (hyphae) may appear on stems or on nearby soil. Hard, irregularly-shaped masses (sclerotia) develop within or on the surface of infected plants. The sclerotia are white at first and then turn dark brown or black when mature. This disease favors cool wet springs and fall weather. Spores are dispersed primarily by wind, watersplash and insects.

Lily of the valley (Convallaria)

  • Alternaria leaf spot (Alternaria species)
    Causes numerous dark brown to black spots, which may develop in concentric rings or appear targetlike, on infected leaves. The plant may appear chlorotic and leaves may dry or drop prematurely. Stem lesions or cankers may develop, sometimes girdling and killing stems. Alternaria species persist in infected crops, seeds and plant debris. Spores are carried mainly by the wind, but can also be spread by watersplash to neighboring plants.
  • Anthracnose (herbaceous) (Several)
    Symptoms typically appear as tan to brown spots or sunken lesions that may combine to form irregular, dark lesions that cause rapid blighting of leaves or stems. Depending on the fungus species and host plant species, foliage may also distort, turn yellow, wilt, drop prematurely or die. This may cause signficant plant losses if not diagnosed in the early stages of infection. Under wet conditions, these diseases can have multiple infection cycles during the growing season. Anthracnose fungi persist primarily in infected plant parts and crop debris.
  • Fusarium wilt (Fusarium species (H))
    Infected plants wilt and die. Foliage yellows, curls, wilts, then browns and dies. Lower foliage is usually affected first. In many hosts, symptoms may appear only on one side of the plant. If you take a cross-section of the basal stem, vascular tissues may be discolored and you may see brown rings or solid brown coloration, often from the soil line to shoots.
  • Gray mold (Botrytis blight) (Botrytis cinerea)
    Causes brown, water-soaked spots or decay on leaves or petals. Once diseased tissue encircles the stem, the shoot will wilt. Botrytis is easily diagnosed by the fluffy gray, tan or brown mold produced on blighted plant parts under moist conditions. It rapidly blights flowers. Infected petals that fall onto foliage or stems can cause additional blighting and dieback.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Phytophthora rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Phytophthora species (H))
    May cause leaves to discolor, wilt and drop prematurely. Infected plants are stunted, stems die back and the entire plant may be killed. Thrives under wet conditions with similar symptoms on similar hosts often alongside Pythium species. Spreads via watersplash.
  • Pythium rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Pythium species (H))
    First symptoms are yellow, stunted or wilted plants. Pythium infects young tissue, often root tips, and causes a dark brown to black wet rot that softens and disintegrates tissue. This disease commonly attacks below the soil surface from root tips to primary roots and sometimes to the base of the plant, and is favored by wet, poorly drained conditions.
  • Rhizoctonia rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Rhizoctonia species (H))
    Symptoms include wilting and death, especially of seedlings (damping off). Moist brown lesions commonly form at the base of infected petioles or on lower stems, usually at the soil line. Crown areas decay, and roots are also sometimes infected and become dark and decayed, especially in peat-containing mixes. Rhizoctonia root rot is favored by relatively high temperatures and intermediate moisture, neither too wet nor too dry. It persists in growing media and is common in many soils.
  • Septoria leaf spot (herbaceous) (Septoria species (H))
    Symptoms first appear at plant bases as small (approx. 1∕4" diameter) spots with whitish centers and dark borders on leaves and stems. Eventually multiple spots on a single leaf will merge, leading to extensive destruction of leaf tissue. Can lead to total defoliation of lower leaves and even death of an infected plant. Septoria persists mainly on crop debris, or on infected plant tissue or seeds and spreads via watersplash.
  • Thielaviopsis rot (herbaceous-root, stem or crown) (Thielaviopsis basicola (H))
    Aboveground symptoms include stunting, chlorosis and even plant death. Infected roots decay and thicken. They may be very black in color in mixes containing soil. Belowground stems may develop black, longitudinal cracks. Basal stem and root lesions are drier than those caused by Rhizoctonia.
  • Winter salt injury ()
    De-icing salts accumulate in the soil along streets/sidewalks or may be dispersed in an aerosol spray by fast-moving traffic and high winds along wet, salted roads. Salt spray can travel hundreds of feet from the roads where it originated. Symptoms can be similar to other abiotic plant problems, but there are tell-tale indicators including: Damage is more severe on sides of plants facing roads/sidewalks; severity of damage increases with volume/speed of traffic and amount of salt used; plants downwind from roads show more damage than those upwind; most damage occurs within 60' of road and decreases with distance; branches covered by snow or otherwise sheltered show no damage; branches growing above spray drift zone show no damage. Symptoms in deciduous plants include: delayed budbreak; reduced leaf size/stem growth; off-colored foliage; scorched leaves; no flowering; bud/twig death; and branch-tip dieback leading to 'witches' broom' growth below the dead area. Symptoms on conifers include: tips of mature needles turn brown or yellow, discoloration moves down needle eventually killing all of it, then needles fall off; twig dieback; and symptoms manifest only on sides of plants facing roads/sidewalks.

Monkshood (Aconitum)

  • Cold/Frost Damage ()
    Any part of a plant may be affected by cold damage. In spring, it's usually tender growth, which will appear watersoaked and may turn black. Flower buds can sustain damage during winter dormancy or during the blooming period. Plants will either have reduced numbers of blooms, and hence fruit set, or won't bloom at all. In fall, if plants aren't hardened off, they can sustain cold injury in temperatures well above those tolerated by acclimated plants. Root injury is rare unless plants are in raised beds or containers. Generally younger plants are more susceptible than mature plants. Cold injury on woody plants usually presents in the form of frost cracks in wood or bark. Mature leaves may turn red, purple, brown or black and may or may not fall off the tree or shrub.
  • Cyclamen and Broad mites (Tarsonemidae family)
    Miniscule mites, often less than 1/80", are colorless or may have a pale brown tint. Can develop rapidly, with generation times completed in about 1 week. If temperature conditions are favorable, cyclamen mites can reproduce continually. Goes dormant in winter and reactivates in spring. Cyclamen and broad mites have different genera, but cause similar damage and are impossible to ID without high magnification. Broad mites are restricted to greenhouses in our area.
  • Damping off (Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia solani)
    Seedlings killed by damping-off initially are healthy, but shortly after emergence, become infected at or just below the soil line. Lower stems of seedlings collapse, seedlings fall over onto the soil surface and subsequently die. Seedlings with damping-off will die and cannot be saved.
  • Gray mold (Botrytis blight) (Botrytis cinerea)
    Causes brown, water-soaked spots or decay on leaves or petals. Once diseased tissue encircles the stem, the shoot will wilt. Botrytis is easily diagnosed by the fluffy gray, tan or brown mold produced on blighted plant parts under moist conditions. It rapidly blights flowers. Infected petals that fall onto foliage or stems can cause additional blighting and dieback.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Impatiens necrotic spot (Impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV))
    Viruses can only be definitively diagnosed in a lab under high magnification or with various serological test kits. Symptoms can include necrotic streaks, spots, rings and lines on leaves and stems; vein necrosis; distorted flowers, stems and leaves; general stunting; and bud drop. Black, brown, reddish or yellowish concentric rings, although not always present, are also symptoms of viral infection. This virus is spread by thrips which feed on infected plants and spread the virus to healthy plants via their saliva.
  • Overwatering ()
    Overwatering, whether acute or chronic, is usually a death sentence for plants, especially when accompanied with poor drainage. Waterlogged soils limit oxygen uptake by plant roots, which in turn affects the plant's metabolism, nutrient uptake, water absorption and photosynthesis. Symptoms vary from slow growth to plant death and can include: leaf necrosis, dieback, root discoloration, soil blackening, foul odors, slow growth, thinning canopy and chlorosis. Overwatered conifer symptoms are similar, except they can also exhibit needle drop. Overwatering is common in irrigated landscapes, plantings at the bottoms of slopes and in poorly drained containers.
  • Phytophthora blight (herbaceous) (Phytophthora species (H))
    Symptoms appear as dark brown to black leathery tissue on plant parts, but commonly the lower halves of young shoots, stems or the bases of blighted leaves. Shoots may wilt and collapse. Severe infection may affect the entire crown. If you cut into the stem, vascular tissues show brown, olive green, reddish or dark streaking. Phytophthora is a 'water mold' and it is favored by frequent irrigation and wet, slow draining soils. Saturated soils encourage spore production, causing more severe disease.
  • Phytophthora rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Phytophthora species (H))
    May cause leaves to discolor, wilt and drop prematurely. Infected plants are stunted, stems die back and the entire plant may be killed. Thrives under wet conditions with similar symptoms on similar hosts often alongside Pythium species. Spreads via watersplash.
  • Powdery mildew (herbaceous) (Several)
    Symptoms appear as a white powdery coating on surfaces of leaves, buds, twigs, and stems. Fungi can overwinter as spores on leaf litter or in buds. Spores spread via air currents and rainsplash. Older leaves usually show symptoms first. The disease's impact varies depending on host. Infected leaves may distort, discolor, dry and drop prematurely.
  • Pythium rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Pythium species (H))
    First symptoms are yellow, stunted or wilted plants. Pythium infects young tissue, often root tips, and causes a dark brown to black wet rot that softens and disintegrates tissue. This disease commonly attacks below the soil surface from root tips to primary roots and sometimes to the base of the plant, and is favored by wet, poorly drained conditions.
  • Rhizoctonia rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Rhizoctonia species (H))
    Symptoms include wilting and death, especially of seedlings (damping off). Moist brown lesions commonly form at the base of infected petioles or on lower stems, usually at the soil line. Crown areas decay, and roots are also sometimes infected and become dark and decayed, especially in peat-containing mixes. Rhizoctonia root rot is favored by relatively high temperatures and intermediate moisture, neither too wet nor too dry. It persists in growing media and is common in many soils.
  • Thielaviopsis rot (herbaceous-root, stem or crown) (Thielaviopsis basicola (H))
    Aboveground symptoms include stunting, chlorosis and even plant death. Infected roots decay and thicken. They may be very black in color in mixes containing soil. Belowground stems may develop black, longitudinal cracks. Basal stem and root lesions are drier than those caused by Rhizoctonia.
  • White mold (Sclerotinia stem rot) (Sclerotinia species)
    Symptoms vary with the plant host and can lead to crown and stem cankers, root rots, wilts, damping-off of seedlings, and blossom and fruit rots. Plants can wilt rapidly as a result of stem-girdling cankers at or near the soil line. Brown spots can appear on flower petals and buds. Cottony masses of fungal threads (hyphae) may appear on stems or on nearby soil. Hard, irregularly-shaped masses (sclerotia) develop within or on the surface of infected plants. The sclerotia are white at first and then turn dark brown or black when mature. This disease favors cool wet springs and fall weather. Spores are dispersed primarily by wind, watersplash and insects.
  • Winter salt injury ()
    De-icing salts accumulate in the soil along streets/sidewalks or may be dispersed in an aerosol spray by fast-moving traffic and high winds along wet, salted roads. Salt spray can travel hundreds of feet from the roads where it originated. Symptoms can be similar to other abiotic plant problems, but there are tell-tale indicators including: Damage is more severe on sides of plants facing roads/sidewalks; severity of damage increases with volume/speed of traffic and amount of salt used; plants downwind from roads show more damage than those upwind; most damage occurs within 60' of road and decreases with distance; branches covered by snow or otherwise sheltered show no damage; branches growing above spray drift zone show no damage. Symptoms in deciduous plants include: delayed budbreak; reduced leaf size/stem growth; off-colored foliage; scorched leaves; no flowering; bud/twig death; and branch-tip dieback leading to 'witches' broom' growth below the dead area. Symptoms on conifers include: tips of mature needles turn brown or yellow, discoloration moves down needle eventually killing all of it, then needles fall off; twig dieback; and symptoms manifest only on sides of plants facing roads/sidewalks.

Pigsqueak (Bergenia)

  • Anthracnose (herbaceous) (Several)
    Symptoms typically appear as tan to brown spots or sunken lesions that may combine to form irregular, dark lesions that cause rapid blighting of leaves or stems. Depending on the fungus species and host plant species, foliage may also distort, turn yellow, wilt, drop prematurely or die. This may cause signficant plant losses if not diagnosed in the early stages of infection. Under wet conditions, these diseases can have multiple infection cycles during the growing season. Anthracnose fungi persist primarily in infected plant parts and crop debris.
  • Damping off (Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia solani)
    Seedlings killed by damping-off initially are healthy, but shortly after emergence, become infected at or just below the soil line. Lower stems of seedlings collapse, seedlings fall over onto the soil surface and subsequently die. Seedlings with damping-off will die and cannot be saved.
  • Gray mold (Botrytis blight) (Botrytis cinerea)
    Causes brown, water-soaked spots or decay on leaves or petals. Once diseased tissue encircles the stem, the shoot will wilt. Botrytis is easily diagnosed by the fluffy gray, tan or brown mold produced on blighted plant parts under moist conditions. It rapidly blights flowers. Infected petals that fall onto foliage or stems can cause additional blighting and dieback.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Phytophthora rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Phytophthora species (H))
    May cause leaves to discolor, wilt and drop prematurely. Infected plants are stunted, stems die back and the entire plant may be killed. Thrives under wet conditions with similar symptoms on similar hosts often alongside Pythium species. Spreads via watersplash.
  • Pythium rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Pythium species (H))
    First symptoms are yellow, stunted or wilted plants. Pythium infects young tissue, often root tips, and causes a dark brown to black wet rot that softens and disintegrates tissue. This disease commonly attacks below the soil surface from root tips to primary roots and sometimes to the base of the plant, and is favored by wet, poorly drained conditions.
  • Rhizoctonia rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Rhizoctonia species (H))
    Symptoms include wilting and death, especially of seedlings (damping off). Moist brown lesions commonly form at the base of infected petioles or on lower stems, usually at the soil line. Crown areas decay, and roots are also sometimes infected and become dark and decayed, especially in peat-containing mixes. Rhizoctonia root rot is favored by relatively high temperatures and intermediate moisture, neither too wet nor too dry. It persists in growing media and is common in many soils.
  • Thielaviopsis rot (herbaceous-root, stem or crown) (Thielaviopsis basicola (H))
    Aboveground symptoms include stunting, chlorosis and even plant death. Infected roots decay and thicken. They may be very black in color in mixes containing soil. Belowground stems may develop black, longitudinal cracks. Basal stem and root lesions are drier than those caused by Rhizoctonia.
  • White mold (Sclerotinia stem rot) (Sclerotinia species)
    Symptoms vary with the plant host and can lead to crown and stem cankers, root rots, wilts, damping-off of seedlings, and blossom and fruit rots. Plants can wilt rapidly as a result of stem-girdling cankers at or near the soil line. Brown spots can appear on flower petals and buds. Cottony masses of fungal threads (hyphae) may appear on stems or on nearby soil. Hard, irregularly-shaped masses (sclerotia) develop within or on the surface of infected plants. The sclerotia are white at first and then turn dark brown or black when mature. This disease favors cool wet springs and fall weather. Spores are dispersed primarily by wind, watersplash and insects.
  • Winter salt injury ()
    De-icing salts accumulate in the soil along streets/sidewalks or may be dispersed in an aerosol spray by fast-moving traffic and high winds along wet, salted roads. Salt spray can travel hundreds of feet from the roads where it originated. Symptoms can be similar to other abiotic plant problems, but there are tell-tale indicators including: Damage is more severe on sides of plants facing roads/sidewalks; severity of damage increases with volume/speed of traffic and amount of salt used; plants downwind from roads show more damage than those upwind; most damage occurs within 60' of road and decreases with distance; branches covered by snow or otherwise sheltered show no damage; branches growing above spray drift zone show no damage. Symptoms in deciduous plants include: delayed budbreak; reduced leaf size/stem growth; off-colored foliage; scorched leaves; no flowering; bud/twig death; and branch-tip dieback leading to 'witches' broom' growth below the dead area. Symptoms on conifers include: tips of mature needles turn brown or yellow, discoloration moves down needle eventually killing all of it, then needles fall off; twig dieback; and symptoms manifest only on sides of plants facing roads/sidewalks.

Rock cress (Aubrieta)

  • Damping off (Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia solani)
    Seedlings killed by damping-off initially are healthy, but shortly after emergence, become infected at or just below the soil line. Lower stems of seedlings collapse, seedlings fall over onto the soil surface and subsequently die. Seedlings with damping-off will die and cannot be saved.
  • Gray mold (Botrytis blight) (Botrytis cinerea)
    Causes brown, water-soaked spots or decay on leaves or petals. Once diseased tissue encircles the stem, the shoot will wilt. Botrytis is easily diagnosed by the fluffy gray, tan or brown mold produced on blighted plant parts under moist conditions. It rapidly blights flowers. Infected petals that fall onto foliage or stems can cause additional blighting and dieback.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Mealybug (Pseudococcidae family)
    Characteristically mealybugs are covered in white granular or cotton-like wax. Mealy bug bodies are always soft and the females are oval and flat with distinct segmentation often visible in the wax. Eggs are usually laid in a white cottony material underneath the female. Widespread in greenhouses and indoor plants; not an outdoor problem. Depending on temperature, one generation can develop every 1-3 months.
  • Phytophthora rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Phytophthora species (H))
    May cause leaves to discolor, wilt and drop prematurely. Infected plants are stunted, stems die back and the entire plant may be killed. Thrives under wet conditions with similar symptoms on similar hosts often alongside Pythium species. Spreads via watersplash.
  • Pythium rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Pythium species (H))
    First symptoms are yellow, stunted or wilted plants. Pythium infects young tissue, often root tips, and causes a dark brown to black wet rot that softens and disintegrates tissue. This disease commonly attacks below the soil surface from root tips to primary roots and sometimes to the base of the plant, and is favored by wet, poorly drained conditions.
  • Rhizoctonia rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Rhizoctonia species (H))
    Symptoms include wilting and death, especially of seedlings (damping off). Moist brown lesions commonly form at the base of infected petioles or on lower stems, usually at the soil line. Crown areas decay, and roots are also sometimes infected and become dark and decayed, especially in peat-containing mixes. Rhizoctonia root rot is favored by relatively high temperatures and intermediate moisture, neither too wet nor too dry. It persists in growing media and is common in many soils.
  • Thielaviopsis rot (herbaceous-root, stem or crown) (Thielaviopsis basicola (H))
    Aboveground symptoms include stunting, chlorosis and even plant death. Infected roots decay and thicken. They may be very black in color in mixes containing soil. Belowground stems may develop black, longitudinal cracks. Basal stem and root lesions are drier than those caused by Rhizoctonia.
  • White mold (Sclerotinia stem rot) (Sclerotinia species)
    Symptoms vary with the plant host and can lead to crown and stem cankers, root rots, wilts, damping-off of seedlings, and blossom and fruit rots. Plants can wilt rapidly as a result of stem-girdling cankers at or near the soil line. Brown spots can appear on flower petals and buds. Cottony masses of fungal threads (hyphae) may appear on stems or on nearby soil. Hard, irregularly-shaped masses (sclerotia) develop within or on the surface of infected plants. The sclerotia are white at first and then turn dark brown or black when mature. This disease favors cool wet springs and fall weather. Spores are dispersed primarily by wind, watersplash and insects.

Sweet Flag (Acorus)

  • Anthracnose (herbaceous) (Several)
    Symptoms typically appear as tan to brown spots or sunken lesions that may combine to form irregular, dark lesions that cause rapid blighting of leaves or stems. Depending on the fungus species and host plant species, foliage may also distort, turn yellow, wilt, drop prematurely or die. This may cause signficant plant losses if not diagnosed in the early stages of infection. Under wet conditions, these diseases can have multiple infection cycles during the growing season. Anthracnose fungi persist primarily in infected plant parts and crop debris.
  • Cold/Frost Damage ()
    Any part of a plant may be affected by cold damage. In spring, it's usually tender growth, which will appear watersoaked and may turn black. Flower buds can sustain damage during winter dormancy or during the blooming period. Plants will either have reduced numbers of blooms, and hence fruit set, or won't bloom at all. In fall, if plants aren't hardened off, they can sustain cold injury in temperatures well above those tolerated by acclimated plants. Root injury is rare unless plants are in raised beds or containers. Generally younger plants are more susceptible than mature plants. Cold injury on woody plants usually presents in the form of frost cracks in wood or bark. Mature leaves may turn red, purple, brown or black and may or may not fall off the tree or shrub.
  • Damping off (Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia solani)
    Seedlings killed by damping-off initially are healthy, but shortly after emergence, become infected at or just below the soil line. Lower stems of seedlings collapse, seedlings fall over onto the soil surface and subsequently die. Seedlings with damping-off will die and cannot be saved.
  • Gray mold (Botrytis blight) (Botrytis cinerea)
    Causes brown, water-soaked spots or decay on leaves or petals. Once diseased tissue encircles the stem, the shoot will wilt. Botrytis is easily diagnosed by the fluffy gray, tan or brown mold produced on blighted plant parts under moist conditions. It rapidly blights flowers. Infected petals that fall onto foliage or stems can cause additional blighting and dieback.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • White mold (Sclerotinia stem rot) (Sclerotinia species)
    Symptoms vary with the plant host and can lead to crown and stem cankers, root rots, wilts, damping-off of seedlings, and blossom and fruit rots. Plants can wilt rapidly as a result of stem-girdling cankers at or near the soil line. Brown spots can appear on flower petals and buds. Cottony masses of fungal threads (hyphae) may appear on stems or on nearby soil. Hard, irregularly-shaped masses (sclerotia) develop within or on the surface of infected plants. The sclerotia are white at first and then turn dark brown or black when mature. This disease favors cool wet springs and fall weather. Spores are dispersed primarily by wind, watersplash and insects.

Tickweed (Coreopsis)

  • Alternaria leaf spot (Alternaria species)
    Causes numerous dark brown to black spots, which may develop in concentric rings or appear targetlike, on infected leaves. The plant may appear chlorotic and leaves may dry or drop prematurely. Stem lesions or cankers may develop, sometimes girdling and killing stems. Alternaria species persist in infected crops, seeds and plant debris. Spores are carried mainly by the wind, but can also be spread by watersplash to neighboring plants.
  • Damping off (Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia solani)
    Seedlings killed by damping-off initially are healthy, but shortly after emergence, become infected at or just below the soil line. Lower stems of seedlings collapse, seedlings fall over onto the soil surface and subsequently die. Seedlings with damping-off will die and cannot be saved.
  • Downy mildew (herbaceous) (Several)
    Early symptoms appear as irregular, light green or yellow angular patches on upper leaf surfaces. Lesions may also be purplish red to dark brown. Under high humidity, downy mildews form fluffy or fuzzy (downy) areas of spores on the undersides of leaves. Under magnification, the downy areas look like very small bunches of branched hairs. Older leaves toward the bottom of plants are usually infected first and wither and brown as the disease proceeds up the stem.
  • Gray mold (Botrytis blight) (Botrytis cinerea)
    Causes brown, water-soaked spots or decay on leaves or petals. Once diseased tissue encircles the stem, the shoot will wilt. Botrytis is easily diagnosed by the fluffy gray, tan or brown mold produced on blighted plant parts under moist conditions. It rapidly blights flowers. Infected petals that fall onto foliage or stems can cause additional blighting and dieback.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Impatiens necrotic spot (Impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV))
    Viruses can only be definitively diagnosed in a lab under high magnification or with various serological test kits. Symptoms can include necrotic streaks, spots, rings and lines on leaves and stems; vein necrosis; distorted flowers, stems and leaves; general stunting; and bud drop. Black, brown, reddish or yellowish concentric rings, although not always present, are also symptoms of viral infection. This virus is spread by thrips which feed on infected plants and spread the virus to healthy plants via their saliva.
  • Phytophthora rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Phytophthora species (H))
    May cause leaves to discolor, wilt and drop prematurely. Infected plants are stunted, stems die back and the entire plant may be killed. Thrives under wet conditions with similar symptoms on similar hosts often alongside Pythium species. Spreads via watersplash.
  • Powdery mildew (herbaceous) (Several)
    Symptoms appear as a white powdery coating on surfaces of leaves, buds, twigs, and stems. Fungi can overwinter as spores on leaf litter or in buds. Spores spread via air currents and rainsplash. Older leaves usually show symptoms first. The disease's impact varies depending on host. Infected leaves may distort, discolor, dry and drop prematurely.
  • Pythium rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Pythium species (H))
    First symptoms are yellow, stunted or wilted plants. Pythium infects young tissue, often root tips, and causes a dark brown to black wet rot that softens and disintegrates tissue. This disease commonly attacks below the soil surface from root tips to primary roots and sometimes to the base of the plant, and is favored by wet, poorly drained conditions.
  • Rhizoctonia rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Rhizoctonia species (H))
    Symptoms include wilting and death, especially of seedlings (damping off). Moist brown lesions commonly form at the base of infected petioles or on lower stems, usually at the soil line. Crown areas decay, and roots are also sometimes infected and become dark and decayed, especially in peat-containing mixes. Rhizoctonia root rot is favored by relatively high temperatures and intermediate moisture, neither too wet nor too dry. It persists in growing media and is common in many soils.
  • Rhizoctonia web blight (Rhizoctonia species (H))
    This disease is favored by high temperatures and high humidity, especially in the greenhouse setting. Symptoms appear as irregular, brown spots which can form anywhere on foliage or stems. In high humidity, web-like brown mycelium can cover infected portions of the plant host. Rhizoctonia is a soil-borne pathogen.
  • Sooty molds (Several)
    Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on plant surfaces covered in honeydew excreted by insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts such as aphids, scale, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is generally harmless to plants, except when it is prolific, preventing light from reaching leaf surfaces, causing plants stress. This stress may make the plant more susceptible to other diseases or problems.
  • Thielaviopsis rot (herbaceous-root, stem or crown) (Thielaviopsis basicola (H))
    Aboveground symptoms include stunting, chlorosis and even plant death. Infected roots decay and thicken. They may be very black in color in mixes containing soil. Belowground stems may develop black, longitudinal cracks. Basal stem and root lesions are drier than those caused by Rhizoctonia.
  • White mold (Sclerotinia stem rot) (Sclerotinia species)
    Symptoms vary with the plant host and can lead to crown and stem cankers, root rots, wilts, damping-off of seedlings, and blossom and fruit rots. Plants can wilt rapidly as a result of stem-girdling cankers at or near the soil line. Brown spots can appear on flower petals and buds. Cottony masses of fungal threads (hyphae) may appear on stems or on nearby soil. Hard, irregularly-shaped masses (sclerotia) develop within or on the surface of infected plants. The sclerotia are white at first and then turn dark brown or black when mature. This disease favors cool wet springs and fall weather. Spores are dispersed primarily by wind, watersplash and insects.
  • Winter salt injury ()
    De-icing salts accumulate in the soil along streets/sidewalks or may be dispersed in an aerosol spray by fast-moving traffic and high winds along wet, salted roads. Salt spray can travel hundreds of feet from the roads where it originated. Symptoms can be similar to other abiotic plant problems, but there are tell-tale indicators including: Damage is more severe on sides of plants facing roads/sidewalks; severity of damage increases with volume/speed of traffic and amount of salt used; plants downwind from roads show more damage than those upwind; most damage occurs within 60' of road and decreases with distance; branches covered by snow or otherwise sheltered show no damage; branches growing above spray drift zone show no damage. Symptoms in deciduous plants include: delayed budbreak; reduced leaf size/stem growth; off-colored foliage; scorched leaves; no flowering; bud/twig death; and branch-tip dieback leading to 'witches' broom' growth below the dead area. Symptoms on conifers include: tips of mature needles turn brown or yellow, discoloration moves down needle eventually killing all of it, then needles fall off; twig dieback; and symptoms manifest only on sides of plants facing roads/sidewalks.

Various ferns (Adiantum, Asplenium, Blechnum, Dryopteris, Gymnocarpium, Polystichum, etc.) (Ferns)

  • Animal damage ()
    Animals that do the most damage to herbaceous plants include: deer, rabbits and woodchucks. Deer damage is distinctive because deer only have teeth on their lower jaws, so when they bite down, they must tear the plant to pull off leaves. Thus, deer damage to plants is rough or shredded-looking. It may also be several feet off of the ground. Plus, if a large amount of plant material is damaged overnight, you should suspect deer. Rabbit damage looks like someone used a pruner to cut the plant off at a clean, 45-degree angle. Woodchucks will mow down plants, or sometimes just nibble on succulent material. They are diurnal, so keep on the lookout.
  • Cold/Frost Damage ()
    Any part of a plant may be affected by cold damage. In spring, it's usually tender growth, which will appear watersoaked and may turn black. Flower buds can sustain damage during winter dormancy or during the blooming period. Plants will either have reduced numbers of blooms, and hence fruit set, or won't bloom at all. In fall, if plants aren't hardened off, they can sustain cold injury in temperatures well above those tolerated by acclimated plants. Root injury is rare unless plants are in raised beds or containers. Generally younger plants are more susceptible than mature plants. Cold injury on woody plants usually presents in the form of frost cracks in wood or bark. Mature leaves may turn red, purple, brown or black and may or may not fall off the tree or shrub.
  • Damping off (Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia solani)
    Seedlings killed by damping-off initially are healthy, but shortly after emergence, become infected at or just below the soil line. Lower stems of seedlings collapse, seedlings fall over onto the soil surface and subsequently die. Seedlings with damping-off will die and cannot be saved.
  • Gray mold (Botrytis blight) (Botrytis cinerea)
    Causes brown, water-soaked spots or decay on leaves or petals. Once diseased tissue encircles the stem, the shoot will wilt. Botrytis is easily diagnosed by the fluffy gray, tan or brown mold produced on blighted plant parts under moist conditions. It rapidly blights flowers. Infected petals that fall onto foliage or stems can cause additional blighting and dieback.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Mealybug (Pseudococcidae family)
    Characteristically mealybugs are covered in white granular or cotton-like wax. Mealy bug bodies are always soft and the females are oval and flat with distinct segmentation often visible in the wax. Eggs are usually laid in a white cottony material underneath the female. Widespread in greenhouses and indoor plants; not an outdoor problem. Depending on temperature, one generation can develop every 1-3 months.
  • Overwatering ()
    Overwatering, whether acute or chronic, is usually a death sentence for plants, especially when accompanied with poor drainage. Waterlogged soils limit oxygen uptake by plant roots, which in turn affects the plant's metabolism, nutrient uptake, water absorption and photosynthesis. Symptoms vary from slow growth to plant death and can include: leaf necrosis, dieback, root discoloration, soil blackening, foul odors, slow growth, thinning canopy and chlorosis. Overwatered conifer symptoms are similar, except they can also exhibit needle drop. Overwatering is common in irrigated landscapes, plantings at the bottoms of slopes and in poorly drained containers.
  • Phytophthora rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Phytophthora species (H))
    May cause leaves to discolor, wilt and drop prematurely. Infected plants are stunted, stems die back and the entire plant may be killed. Thrives under wet conditions with similar symptoms on similar hosts often alongside Pythium species. Spreads via watersplash.
  • Powdery mildew (herbaceous) (Several)
    Symptoms appear as a white powdery coating on surfaces of leaves, buds, twigs, and stems. Fungi can overwinter as spores on leaf litter or in buds. Spores spread via air currents and rainsplash. Older leaves usually show symptoms first. The disease's impact varies depending on host. Infected leaves may distort, discolor, dry and drop prematurely.
  • Pythium rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Pythium species (H))
    First symptoms are yellow, stunted or wilted plants. Pythium infects young tissue, often root tips, and causes a dark brown to black wet rot that softens and disintegrates tissue. This disease commonly attacks below the soil surface from root tips to primary roots and sometimes to the base of the plant, and is favored by wet, poorly drained conditions.
  • Rhizoctonia rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Rhizoctonia species (H))
    Symptoms include wilting and death, especially of seedlings (damping off). Moist brown lesions commonly form at the base of infected petioles or on lower stems, usually at the soil line. Crown areas decay, and roots are also sometimes infected and become dark and decayed, especially in peat-containing mixes. Rhizoctonia root rot is favored by relatively high temperatures and intermediate moisture, neither too wet nor too dry. It persists in growing media and is common in many soils.
  • Soft scale (Coccidae family)
    Soft scales are usually broadly oval becoming larger and more humped as eggs mature underneath the protective cover. Look for adults on twigs or small branches and immature stages on leaves or needles.
  • Sooty molds (Several)
    Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on plant surfaces covered in honeydew excreted by insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts such as aphids, scale, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is generally harmless to plants, except when it is prolific, preventing light from reaching leaf surfaces, causing plants stress. This stress may make the plant more susceptible to other diseases or problems.
  • Thielaviopsis rot (herbaceous-root, stem or crown) (Thielaviopsis basicola (H))
    Aboveground symptoms include stunting, chlorosis and even plant death. Infected roots decay and thicken. They may be very black in color in mixes containing soil. Belowground stems may develop black, longitudinal cracks. Basal stem and root lesions are drier than those caused by Rhizoctonia.
  • Thrips (Order Thysanoptera)
    Minute insects usually identifiable only under high-powered magnification. Thrips have a modified, single mandible that they use to puncture plant tissue. They then feed on the sap that exudes from the resulting wound. Larvae drop to the soil to pupate. Adult insects like flowers with an open structures where the stamen and pistil are readily available.
  • Two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae)
    This most common spider mite is miniscule (0.5mm) and prefers to colonize and lay eggs on leaf undersides of most host plants. When populations are high, these mites can be found on all leaf surfaces and stems.
  • White mold (Sclerotinia stem rot) (Sclerotinia species)
    Symptoms vary with the plant host and can lead to crown and stem cankers, root rots, wilts, damping-off of seedlings, and blossom and fruit rots. Plants can wilt rapidly as a result of stem-girdling cankers at or near the soil line. Brown spots can appear on flower petals and buds. Cottony masses of fungal threads (hyphae) may appear on stems or on nearby soil. Hard, irregularly-shaped masses (sclerotia) develop within or on the surface of infected plants. The sclerotia are white at first and then turn dark brown or black when mature. This disease favors cool wet springs and fall weather. Spores are dispersed primarily by wind, watersplash and insects.
  • Whitefly (Aleyrodidae family)
    Adult whiteflies are small (1-2mm), white, fly-like insects related to scales, aphids and mealybugs. Their color comes from wax they create to cover their bodies. All whitefly stages are usually found on the undersides of leaves. There can be several generations per year depending on the environment.
  • Winter salt injury ()
    De-icing salts accumulate in the soil along streets/sidewalks or may be dispersed in an aerosol spray by fast-moving traffic and high winds along wet, salted roads. Salt spray can travel hundreds of feet from the roads where it originated. Symptoms can be similar to other abiotic plant problems, but there are tell-tale indicators including: Damage is more severe on sides of plants facing roads/sidewalks; severity of damage increases with volume/speed of traffic and amount of salt used; plants downwind from roads show more damage than those upwind; most damage occurs within 60' of road and decreases with distance; branches covered by snow or otherwise sheltered show no damage; branches growing above spray drift zone show no damage. Symptoms in deciduous plants include: delayed budbreak; reduced leaf size/stem growth; off-colored foliage; scorched leaves; no flowering; bud/twig death; and branch-tip dieback leading to 'witches' broom' growth below the dead area. Symptoms on conifers include: tips of mature needles turn brown or yellow, discoloration moves down needle eventually killing all of it, then needles fall off; twig dieback; and symptoms manifest only on sides of plants facing roads/sidewalks.

Yarrow (Achillea)

  • Alternaria leaf spot (Alternaria species)
    Causes numerous dark brown to black spots, which may develop in concentric rings or appear targetlike, on infected leaves. The plant may appear chlorotic and leaves may dry or drop prematurely. Stem lesions or cankers may develop, sometimes girdling and killing stems. Alternaria species persist in infected crops, seeds and plant debris. Spores are carried mainly by the wind, but can also be spread by watersplash to neighboring plants.
  • Cold/Frost Damage ()
    Any part of a plant may be affected by cold damage. In spring, it's usually tender growth, which will appear watersoaked and may turn black. Flower buds can sustain damage during winter dormancy or during the blooming period. Plants will either have reduced numbers of blooms, and hence fruit set, or won't bloom at all. In fall, if plants aren't hardened off, they can sustain cold injury in temperatures well above those tolerated by acclimated plants. Root injury is rare unless plants are in raised beds or containers. Generally younger plants are more susceptible than mature plants. Cold injury on woody plants usually presents in the form of frost cracks in wood or bark. Mature leaves may turn red, purple, brown or black and may or may not fall off the tree or shrub.
  • Crown gall (herbaceous) (Agrobacterium tumefaciens (H))
    Infected plants exhibit distorted growth or galls on the lower stem. To identify, crown gall surface tissue is the same color and as firm as healthy plant tissue; and swellings cannot be rubbed off of the plant. Roots may appear gnarled, stunted or hairy with mostly small rootlets. Symptomatic plants may also be chlorotic, distorted, grow slowly, have small leaves, and because they're under stress, may be more susceptible to drought and other problems. Galls can crack and become infected with secondary pathogens. Herbaceous plants may be more seriously affected and possibly killed.
  • Damping off (Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia solani)
    Seedlings killed by damping-off initially are healthy, but shortly after emergence, become infected at or just below the soil line. Lower stems of seedlings collapse, seedlings fall over onto the soil surface and subsequently die. Seedlings with damping-off will die and cannot be saved.
  • Gray mold (Botrytis blight) (Botrytis cinerea)
    Causes brown, water-soaked spots or decay on leaves or petals. Once diseased tissue encircles the stem, the shoot will wilt. Botrytis is easily diagnosed by the fluffy gray, tan or brown mold produced on blighted plant parts under moist conditions. It rapidly blights flowers. Infected petals that fall onto foliage or stems can cause additional blighting and dieback.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Overwatering ()
    Overwatering, whether acute or chronic, is usually a death sentence for plants, especially when accompanied with poor drainage. Waterlogged soils limit oxygen uptake by plant roots, which in turn affects the plant's metabolism, nutrient uptake, water absorption and photosynthesis. Symptoms vary from slow growth to plant death and can include: leaf necrosis, dieback, root discoloration, soil blackening, foul odors, slow growth, thinning canopy and chlorosis. Overwatered conifer symptoms are similar, except they can also exhibit needle drop. Overwatering is common in irrigated landscapes, plantings at the bottoms of slopes and in poorly drained containers.
  • Phytophthora rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Phytophthora species (H))
    May cause leaves to discolor, wilt and drop prematurely. Infected plants are stunted, stems die back and the entire plant may be killed. Thrives under wet conditions with similar symptoms on similar hosts often alongside Pythium species. Spreads via watersplash.
  • Powdery mildew (herbaceous) (Several)
    Symptoms appear as a white powdery coating on surfaces of leaves, buds, twigs, and stems. Fungi can overwinter as spores on leaf litter or in buds. Spores spread via air currents and rainsplash. Older leaves usually show symptoms first. The disease's impact varies depending on host. Infected leaves may distort, discolor, dry and drop prematurely.
  • Pythium rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Pythium species (H))
    First symptoms are yellow, stunted or wilted plants. Pythium infects young tissue, often root tips, and causes a dark brown to black wet rot that softens and disintegrates tissue. This disease commonly attacks below the soil surface from root tips to primary roots and sometimes to the base of the plant, and is favored by wet, poorly drained conditions.
  • Rhizoctonia rot (root, stem or crown-herbaceous) (Rhizoctonia species (H))
    Symptoms include wilting and death, especially of seedlings (damping off). Moist brown lesions commonly form at the base of infected petioles or on lower stems, usually at the soil line. Crown areas decay, and roots are also sometimes infected and become dark and decayed, especially in peat-containing mixes. Rhizoctonia root rot is favored by relatively high temperatures and intermediate moisture, neither too wet nor too dry. It persists in growing media and is common in many soils.
  • Rhizoctonia web blight (Rhizoctonia species (H))
    This disease is favored by high temperatures and high humidity, especially in the greenhouse setting. Symptoms appear as irregular, brown spots which can form anywhere on foliage or stems. In high humidity, web-like brown mycelium can cover infected portions of the plant host. Rhizoctonia is a soil-borne pathogen.
  • Rusts (herbaceous) (Several)
    Symptoms of infection usually first appear as light-colored spots on upper leaf surfaces followed by dry, brown, orange, purple, reddish or yellowish spore masses or pustules commonly on the lower leaf surfaces. Each rust species is specific to a certain host genus or species and cannot spread to unrelated plants. Moderate infections will not harm plants, but can make plants unattractive. Heavily infected leaves may curl, wither and drop prematurely. Severely infected plants may be stunted. Rusts spread primarily via windblown spores.
  • Septoria leaf spot (herbaceous) (Septoria species (H))
    Symptoms first appear at plant bases as small (approx. 1∕4" diameter) spots with whitish centers and dark borders on leaves and stems. Eventually multiple spots on a single leaf will merge, leading to extensive destruction of leaf tissue. Can lead to total defoliation of lower leaves and even death of an infected plant. Septoria persists mainly on crop debris, or on infected plant tissue or seeds and spreads via watersplash.
  • Thrips (Order Thysanoptera)
    Minute insects usually identifiable only under high-powered magnification. Thrips have a modified, single mandible that they use to puncture plant tissue. They then feed on the sap that exudes from the resulting wound. Larvae drop to the soil to pupate. Adult insects like flowers with an open structures where the stamen and pistil are readily available.

Woody Ornamentals-Conifer

Boxwood (Buxus)

  • Armillaria root rot (Armillaria species)
    Also known as shoestring root rot, this is an often lethal disease of woody plant roots and lower stems. It can affect almost any conifer or hardwood species, from seedling to maturity. Trees and shrubs stressed due to drought or defoliation are more susceptible. The fungi produce tough, cord-like strands called “rhizomorphs” that grow from decaying stumps and roots through the soil. Infection of other trees or shrubs can result from penetration of intact roots by rhizomorphs. In late summer or early fall, honey-colored mushrooms of Armillaria fungi develop near the bases of colonized plants and produce spores that are distributed by wind. Infection also can occur after these spores germinate in wounds on stems or roots. Above-ground symptoms include slow growth, yellowing and dwarfing of foliage, and thin crowns. Dieback of twigs and branches also may occur. Symptoms may develop slowly and intensify over many years or kill their host rapidly. Bark on lower stems or roots may be killed and crack, with flow of resin common on conifers. Thin white mats of fungus tissue called “mycelial fans” may be present within and beneath killed bark. Stem and root wood decayed by Armillaria fungi is often water-soaked, creamy to yellow in color, and spongy or stringy in texture. Rhizomorphs are commonly seen on or beneath the bark and growing from decayed stumps and roots.
  • Armored scale (Diaspididae family)
    Armored scales are oval, somewhat elongate (think oyster shell), small (1/20-1/8") insects that secrete a hard, waxy cover. During the adult stage, no body parts are visible except the cover. Eggs are laid under the cover and hatch into crawlers, which can move around and are susceptible to sprays and oils.
  • Cold/Frost Damage ()
    Any part of a plant may be affected by cold damage. In spring, it's usually tender growth, which will appear watersoaked and may turn black. Flower buds can sustain damage during winter dormancy or during the blooming period. Plants will either have reduced numbers of blooms, and hence fruit set, or won't bloom at all. In fall, if plants aren't hardened off, they can sustain cold injury in temperatures well above those tolerated by acclimated plants. Root injury is rare unless plants are in raised beds or containers. Generally younger plants are more susceptible than mature plants. Cold injury on woody plants usually presents in the form of frost cracks in wood or bark. Mature leaves may turn red, purple, brown or black and may or may not fall off the tree or shrub.
  • Gas Injury ()
    Symptoms of gas injury can range from slow growth to total plant death, and initially resemble symptoms of water stress. Gas injury may also be mistaken for compacted soil, root disease, herbicide injury or air pollution. Symptoms include: slow growth, small leaves, wilt and leaf drop. Roots may be bluish and water-soaked, and surrounding soils may turn bluish gray or black. The injury may progress over time. Gas injury may occur from gas released into the soil or into the air. Root zone injury from gas leaks in soil usually stems from gas or sewer-line breaks (rapid damage) or gases leaking from landfills (gradual damage). The extent of damage depends on the size of the leak, when it occurs (summer is worse), soil type (heavier is worse) and the amount of paving surrounding the plants. Gas injury due to atmospheric gas leaks usually stems from vents, chimneys, smokestacks or industrial equipment, and may or may not be phytotoxic. These releases are usually accidental and short-lived.
  • Girdling ()
    Decline and dieback caused by girdling, either by roots or man-made objects, usually affect mature trees moreso than young ones. Symptoms may include: thinning crown, leaf scorch, sparse foliage, leaves in tufts, branch dieback, early fall color, and leaf drop.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Leaf scorch (Colletotrichum species)
    Caused by one of the fungi that causes anthracnose, leaf scorch usually appears on previously injured tissue in hot, humid weather. There may also be symptoms on stems. The disease will not move to healthy tissue. Symptoms include bleached, brown, or scorched tissue on leaves or stems, with small (pinhead-sized) masses of clear to yellowish spores (use a hand lens).
  • Mealybug (Pseudococcidae family)
    Characteristically mealybugs are covered in white granular or cotton-like wax. Mealy bug bodies are always soft and the females are oval and flat with distinct segmentation often visible in the wax. Eggs are usually laid in a white cottony material underneath the female. Widespread in greenhouses and indoor plants; not an outdoor problem. Depending on temperature, one generation can develop every 1-3 months.
  • Nectria canker (Nectria (Neonectria))
    Nectria canker is characterized by the production of sore-like wounds (cankers) that form on twigs, branches, and trunks. Cankers can form at leaf scars and wherever injuries occur. Injuries can be caused by pruning (particularly improper pruning), frost, hail, cracking from heavy snow or ice, sunscald, insects, or mammals. Cankers appear first as slightly sunken areas on the bark, but can grow for years, becoming target-shaped or elongated. Small branches girdled by cankers can wilt suddenly, fail to leaf out, and die.
  • Overwatering ()
    Overwatering, whether acute or chronic, is usually a death sentence for plants, especially when accompanied with poor drainage. Waterlogged soils limit oxygen uptake by plant roots, which in turn affects the plant's metabolism, nutrient uptake, water absorption and photosynthesis. Symptoms vary from slow growth to plant death and can include: leaf necrosis, dieback, root discoloration, soil blackening, foul odors, slow growth, thinning canopy and chlorosis. Overwatered conifer symptoms are similar, except they can also exhibit needle drop. Overwatering is common in irrigated landscapes, plantings at the bottoms of slopes and in poorly drained containers.
  • Root rot (woody plants) (Cylindrocladium species)
    Root infections are characterized by many dark brown to black lesions often with longitudinal cracks. Severe root disease leads to stunting, wilting, yellowing and death. Stem infections of both conifers and broadleaves arise at the leaf bases and may girdle small stems. Diseased conifer needles turn yellow or red-brown. Dark lesions form in the leaves of broadleaf plants. Leaf blight leads to defoliation.
  • Soft scale (Coccidae family)
    Soft scales are usually broadly oval becoming larger and more humped as eggs mature underneath the protective cover. Look for adults on twigs or small branches and immature stages on leaves or needles.
  • Sunscald ()
    Often the first symptom of sunscald is the reddish-brown discoloration of bark. Then, the bark shrinks, appearing sunken, splits and peels back in chunky patches exposing sapwood underneath. Often cankers develop. Severe sunscald may cause the entire trunk to be girdled, or only individual branches. Look for sunscald on the south, southwest or west side of trunks or branches. It most commonly affects trees suffering from water stress or young trees with thin bark. Newly planted or transplanted are most susceptible and container-grown plants are more likely to get sunscald than field-grown ones. Species particularly prone to sunscald include: Liriodendron, Acer, Tilia, Prunus, Pyrus, Malus, Juglans, and Ulmus.
  • Two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae)
    This most common spider mite is miniscule (0.5mm) and prefers to colonize and lay eggs on leaf undersides of most host plants. When populations are high, these mites can be found on all leaf surfaces and stems.

Fir (Abies)

  • Armillaria root rot (Armillaria species)
    Also known as shoestring root rot, this is an often lethal disease of woody plant roots and lower stems. It can affect almost any conifer or hardwood species, from seedling to maturity. Trees and shrubs stressed due to drought or defoliation are more susceptible. The fungi produce tough, cord-like strands called “rhizomorphs” that grow from decaying stumps and roots through the soil. Infection of other trees or shrubs can result from penetration of intact roots by rhizomorphs. In late summer or early fall, honey-colored mushrooms of Armillaria fungi develop near the bases of colonized plants and produce spores that are distributed by wind. Infection also can occur after these spores germinate in wounds on stems or roots. Above-ground symptoms include slow growth, yellowing and dwarfing of foliage, and thin crowns. Dieback of twigs and branches also may occur. Symptoms may develop slowly and intensify over many years or kill their host rapidly. Bark on lower stems or roots may be killed and crack, with flow of resin common on conifers. Thin white mats of fungus tissue called “mycelial fans” may be present within and beneath killed bark. Stem and root wood decayed by Armillaria fungi is often water-soaked, creamy to yellow in color, and spongy or stringy in texture. Rhizomorphs are commonly seen on or beneath the bark and growing from decayed stumps and roots.
  • Armored scale (Diaspididae family)
    Armored scales are oval, somewhat elongate (think oyster shell), small (1/20-1/8") insects that secrete a hard, waxy cover. During the adult stage, no body parts are visible except the cover. Eggs are laid under the cover and hatch into crawlers, which can move around and are susceptible to sprays and oils.
  • Cold/Frost Damage ()
    Any part of a plant may be affected by cold damage. In spring, it's usually tender growth, which will appear watersoaked and may turn black. Flower buds can sustain damage during winter dormancy or during the blooming period. Plants will either have reduced numbers of blooms, and hence fruit set, or won't bloom at all. In fall, if plants aren't hardened off, they can sustain cold injury in temperatures well above those tolerated by acclimated plants. Root injury is rare unless plants are in raised beds or containers. Generally younger plants are more susceptible than mature plants. Cold injury on woody plants usually presents in the form of frost cracks in wood or bark. Mature leaves may turn red, purple, brown or black and may or may not fall off the tree or shrub.
  • Cytospora canker (Cytospora species)
    A stem and branch disorder affecting many different types of conifers. In Wisconsin, Colorado Blue Spruce is the main species that is affected.
  • Gas Injury ()
    Symptoms of gas injury can range from slow growth to total plant death, and initially resemble symptoms of water stress. Gas injury may also be mistaken for compacted soil, root disease, herbicide injury or air pollution. Symptoms include: slow growth, small leaves, wilt and leaf drop. Roots may be bluish and water-soaked, and surrounding soils may turn bluish gray or black. The injury may progress over time. Gas injury may occur from gas released into the soil or into the air. Root zone injury from gas leaks in soil usually stems from gas or sewer-line breaks (rapid damage) or gases leaking from landfills (gradual damage). The extent of damage depends on the size of the leak, when it occurs (summer is worse), soil type (heavier is worse) and the amount of paving surrounding the plants. Gas injury due to atmospheric gas leaks usually stems from vents, chimneys, smokestacks or industrial equipment, and may or may not be phytotoxic. These releases are usually accidental and short-lived.
  • Girdling ()
    Decline and dieback caused by girdling, either by roots or man-made objects, usually affect mature trees moreso than young ones. Symptoms may include: thinning crown, leaf scorch, sparse foliage, leaves in tufts, branch dieback, early fall color, and leaf drop.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Inchworms (cankerworm, loopers, spanworms) (Geometridae family)
    Inchworms are a collective group of caterpillars including cankerworms, loopers and spanworms. These larvae move distinctively, contracting their bodies into a hump, then extending straight due to only 2-3 sets of prolegs. Colors vary widely depending on species. Female adults are usually wingless and lay egg masses on small twigs, under bark or in trunk crevices. Larvae descend from trees on silk strands when they're ready to pupate, landing on anything in their path.
  • Soft scale (Coccidae family)
    Soft scales are usually broadly oval becoming larger and more humped as eggs mature underneath the protective cover. Look for adults on twigs or small branches and immature stages on leaves or needles.
  • Sooty molds (Several)
    Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on plant surfaces covered in honeydew excreted by insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts such as aphids, scale, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is generally harmless to plants, except when it is prolific, preventing light from reaching leaf surfaces, causing plants stress. This stress may make the plant more susceptible to other diseases or problems.
  • Sunscald ()
    Often the first symptom of sunscald is the reddish-brown discoloration of bark. Then, the bark shrinks, appearing sunken, splits and peels back in chunky patches exposing sapwood underneath. Often cankers develop. Severe sunscald may cause the entire trunk to be girdled, or only individual branches. Look for sunscald on the south, southwest or west side of trunks or branches. It most commonly affects trees suffering from water stress or young trees with thin bark. Newly planted or transplanted are most susceptible and container-grown plants are more likely to get sunscald than field-grown ones. Species particularly prone to sunscald include: Liriodendron, Acer, Tilia, Prunus, Pyrus, Malus, Juglans, and Ulmus.
  • Winter salt injury ()
    De-icing salts accumulate in the soil along streets/sidewalks or may be dispersed in an aerosol spray by fast-moving traffic and high winds along wet, salted roads. Salt spray can travel hundreds of feet from the roads where it originated. Symptoms can be similar to other abiotic plant problems, but there are tell-tale indicators including: Damage is more severe on sides of plants facing roads/sidewalks; severity of damage increases with volume/speed of traffic and amount of salt used; plants downwind from roads show more damage than those upwind; most damage occurs within 60' of road and decreases with distance; branches covered by snow or otherwise sheltered show no damage; branches growing above spray drift zone show no damage. Symptoms in deciduous plants include: delayed budbreak; reduced leaf size/stem growth; off-colored foliage; scorched leaves; no flowering; bud/twig death; and branch-tip dieback leading to 'witches' broom' growth below the dead area. Symptoms on conifers include: tips of mature needles turn brown or yellow, discoloration moves down needle eventually killing all of it, then needles fall off; twig dieback; and symptoms manifest only on sides of plants facing roads/sidewalks.

Hemlock (Tsuga)

  • Cytospora canker (Cytospora species)
    A stem and branch disorder affecting many different types of conifers. In Wisconsin, Colorado Blue Spruce is the main species that is affected.

Pine (Pinus)

  • Cytospora canker (Cytospora species)
    A stem and branch disorder affecting many different types of conifers. In Wisconsin, Colorado Blue Spruce is the main species that is affected.

Spruce (Picea)

  • Cytospora canker (Cytospora species)
    A stem and branch disorder affecting many different types of conifers. In Wisconsin, Colorado Blue Spruce is the main species that is affected.

Woody Ornamentals-Deciduous-Shrub

Barberry (Berberis)

  • Armillaria root rot (Armillaria species)
    Also known as shoestring root rot, this is an often lethal disease of woody plant roots and lower stems. It can affect almost any conifer or hardwood species, from seedling to maturity. Trees and shrubs stressed due to drought or defoliation are more susceptible. The fungi produce tough, cord-like strands called “rhizomorphs” that grow from decaying stumps and roots through the soil. Infection of other trees or shrubs can result from penetration of intact roots by rhizomorphs. In late summer or early fall, honey-colored mushrooms of Armillaria fungi develop near the bases of colonized plants and produce spores that are distributed by wind. Infection also can occur after these spores germinate in wounds on stems or roots. Above-ground symptoms include slow growth, yellowing and dwarfing of foliage, and thin crowns. Dieback of twigs and branches also may occur. Symptoms may develop slowly and intensify over many years or kill their host rapidly. Bark on lower stems or roots may be killed and crack, with flow of resin common on conifers. Thin white mats of fungus tissue called “mycelial fans” may be present within and beneath killed bark. Stem and root wood decayed by Armillaria fungi is often water-soaked, creamy to yellow in color, and spongy or stringy in texture. Rhizomorphs are commonly seen on or beneath the bark and growing from decayed stumps and roots.
  • Cold/Frost Damage ()
    Any part of a plant may be affected by cold damage. In spring, it's usually tender growth, which will appear watersoaked and may turn black. Flower buds can sustain damage during winter dormancy or during the blooming period. Plants will either have reduced numbers of blooms, and hence fruit set, or won't bloom at all. In fall, if plants aren't hardened off, they can sustain cold injury in temperatures well above those tolerated by acclimated plants. Root injury is rare unless plants are in raised beds or containers. Generally younger plants are more susceptible than mature plants. Cold injury on woody plants usually presents in the form of frost cracks in wood or bark. Mature leaves may turn red, purple, brown or black and may or may not fall off the tree or shrub.
  • Cucumber mosaic (Cucumber mosaic virus)
    Viruses can only be definitively diagnosed in a lab under high magnification or with various serological test kits. Viruses can retard plant growth and change the appearance of foliage, flowers and fruits. Virus-infected leaves can become spotted, streaked or mottled; they may be distorted or stunted. Veins may lose their color or develop outgrowths. Flowers can be dwarfed, deformed, streaked, faded, or they can remain green and develop into leaf-like structures.
  • Gas Injury ()
    Symptoms of gas injury can range from slow growth to total plant death, and initially resemble symptoms of water stress. Gas injury may also be mistaken for compacted soil, root disease, herbicide injury or air pollution. Symptoms include: slow growth, small leaves, wilt and leaf drop. Roots may be bluish and water-soaked, and surrounding soils may turn bluish gray or black. The injury may progress over time. Gas injury may occur from gas released into the soil or into the air. Root zone injury from gas leaks in soil usually stems from gas or sewer-line breaks (rapid damage) or gases leaking from landfills (gradual damage). The extent of damage depends on the size of the leak, when it occurs (summer is worse), soil type (heavier is worse) and the amount of paving surrounding the plants. Gas injury due to atmospheric gas leaks usually stems from vents, chimneys, smokestacks or industrial equipment, and may or may not be phytotoxic. These releases are usually accidental and short-lived.
  • Gray mold (Botrytis blight) (Botrytis cinerea)
    Causes brown, water-soaked spots or decay on leaves or petals. Once diseased tissue encircles the stem, the shoot will wilt. Botrytis is easily diagnosed by the fluffy gray, tan or brown mold produced on blighted plant parts under moist conditions. It rapidly blights flowers. Infected petals that fall onto foliage or stems can cause additional blighting and dieback.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Inchworms (cankerworm, loopers, spanworms) (Geometridae family)
    Inchworms are a collective group of caterpillars including cankerworms, loopers and spanworms. These larvae move distinctively, contracting their bodies into a hump, then extending straight due to only 2-3 sets of prolegs. Colors vary widely depending on species. Female adults are usually wingless and lay egg masses on small twigs, under bark or in trunk crevices. Larvae descend from trees on silk strands when they're ready to pupate, landing on anything in their path.
  • Nectria canker (Nectria (Neonectria))
    Nectria canker is characterized by the production of sore-like wounds (cankers) that form on twigs, branches, and trunks. Cankers can form at leaf scars and wherever injuries occur. Injuries can be caused by pruning (particularly improper pruning), frost, hail, cracking from heavy snow or ice, sunscald, insects, or mammals. Cankers appear first as slightly sunken areas on the bark, but can grow for years, becoming target-shaped or elongated. Small branches girdled by cankers can wilt suddenly, fail to leaf out, and die.
  • Overwatering ()
    Overwatering, whether acute or chronic, is usually a death sentence for plants, especially when accompanied with poor drainage. Waterlogged soils limit oxygen uptake by plant roots, which in turn affects the plant's metabolism, nutrient uptake, water absorption and photosynthesis. Symptoms vary from slow growth to plant death and can include: leaf necrosis, dieback, root discoloration, soil blackening, foul odors, slow growth, thinning canopy and chlorosis. Overwatered conifer symptoms are similar, except they can also exhibit needle drop. Overwatering is common in irrigated landscapes, plantings at the bottoms of slopes and in poorly drained containers.
  • Powdery mildew (woody plants) (Several)
    The upper and/or (less frequently) lower surface of leaves, as well as stems of infected plants, have a white, powdery appearance. They look as though someone has h pper and/or (less frequently) lower surface of leaves, as well as stems of infected plants, have a white, powdery appearance. They look as though someone has sprinkled them with talcum powder or powdered sugar.
  • Soft scale (Coccidae family)
    Soft scales are usually broadly oval becoming larger and more humped as eggs mature underneath the protective cover. Look for adults on twigs or small branches and immature stages on leaves or needles.
  • Sooty molds (Several)
    Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on plant surfaces covered in honeydew excreted by insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts such as aphids, scale, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is generally harmless to plants, except when it is prolific, preventing light from reaching leaf surfaces, causing plants stress. This stress may make the plant more susceptible to other diseases or problems.
  • Sunscald ()
    Often the first symptom of sunscald is the reddish-brown discoloration of bark. Then, the bark shrinks, appearing sunken, splits and peels back in chunky patches exposing sapwood underneath. Often cankers develop. Severe sunscald may cause the entire trunk to be girdled, or only individual branches. Look for sunscald on the south, southwest or west side of trunks or branches. It most commonly affects trees suffering from water stress or young trees with thin bark. Newly planted or transplanted are most susceptible and container-grown plants are more likely to get sunscald than field-grown ones. Species particularly prone to sunscald include: Liriodendron, Acer, Tilia, Prunus, Pyrus, Malus, Juglans, and Ulmus.
  • Whitefly (Aleyrodidae family)
    Adult whiteflies are small (1-2mm), white, fly-like insects related to scales, aphids and mealybugs. Their color comes from wax they create to cover their bodies. All whitefly stages are usually found on the undersides of leaves. There can be several generations per year depending on the environment.

Blue mist spirea (Caryopteris)

  • Cold/Frost Damage ()
    Any part of a plant may be affected by cold damage. In spring, it's usually tender growth, which will appear watersoaked and may turn black. Flower buds can sustain damage during winter dormancy or during the blooming period. Plants will either have reduced numbers of blooms, and hence fruit set, or won't bloom at all. In fall, if plants aren't hardened off, they can sustain cold injury in temperatures well above those tolerated by acclimated plants. Root injury is rare unless plants are in raised beds or containers. Generally younger plants are more susceptible than mature plants. Cold injury on woody plants usually presents in the form of frost cracks in wood or bark. Mature leaves may turn red, purple, brown or black and may or may not fall off the tree or shrub.
  • Gas Injury ()
    Symptoms of gas injury can range from slow growth to total plant death, and initially resemble symptoms of water stress. Gas injury may also be mistaken for compacted soil, root disease, herbicide injury or air pollution. Symptoms include: slow growth, small leaves, wilt and leaf drop. Roots may be bluish and water-soaked, and surrounding soils may turn bluish gray or black. The injury may progress over time. Gas injury may occur from gas released into the soil or into the air. Root zone injury from gas leaks in soil usually stems from gas or sewer-line breaks (rapid damage) or gases leaking from landfills (gradual damage). The extent of damage depends on the size of the leak, when it occurs (summer is worse), soil type (heavier is worse) and the amount of paving surrounding the plants. Gas injury due to atmospheric gas leaks usually stems from vents, chimneys, smokestacks or industrial equipment, and may or may not be phytotoxic. These releases are usually accidental and short-lived.
  • Girdling ()
    Decline and dieback caused by girdling, either by roots or man-made objects, usually affect mature trees moreso than young ones. Symptoms may include: thinning crown, leaf scorch, sparse foliage, leaves in tufts, branch dieback, early fall color, and leaf drop.
  • Gray mold (Botrytis blight) (Botrytis cinerea)
    Causes brown, water-soaked spots or decay on leaves or petals. Once diseased tissue encircles the stem, the shoot will wilt. Botrytis is easily diagnosed by the fluffy gray, tan or brown mold produced on blighted plant parts under moist conditions. It rapidly blights flowers. Infected petals that fall onto foliage or stems can cause additional blighting and dieback.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Overwatering ()
    Overwatering, whether acute or chronic, is usually a death sentence for plants, especially when accompanied with poor drainage. Waterlogged soils limit oxygen uptake by plant roots, which in turn affects the plant's metabolism, nutrient uptake, water absorption and photosynthesis. Symptoms vary from slow growth to plant death and can include: leaf necrosis, dieback, root discoloration, soil blackening, foul odors, slow growth, thinning canopy and chlorosis. Overwatered conifer symptoms are similar, except they can also exhibit needle drop. Overwatering is common in irrigated landscapes, plantings at the bottoms of slopes and in poorly drained containers.
  • Sunscald ()
    Often the first symptom of sunscald is the reddish-brown discoloration of bark. Then, the bark shrinks, appearing sunken, splits and peels back in chunky patches exposing sapwood underneath. Often cankers develop. Severe sunscald may cause the entire trunk to be girdled, or only individual branches. Look for sunscald on the south, southwest or west side of trunks or branches. It most commonly affects trees suffering from water stress or young trees with thin bark. Newly planted or transplanted are most susceptible and container-grown plants are more likely to get sunscald than field-grown ones. Species particularly prone to sunscald include: Liriodendron, Acer, Tilia, Prunus, Pyrus, Malus, Juglans, and Ulmus.
  • Winter salt injury ()
    De-icing salts accumulate in the soil along streets/sidewalks or may be dispersed in an aerosol spray by fast-moving traffic and high winds along wet, salted roads. Salt spray can travel hundreds of feet from the roads where it originated. Symptoms can be similar to other abiotic plant problems, but there are tell-tale indicators including: Damage is more severe on sides of plants facing roads/sidewalks; severity of damage increases with volume/speed of traffic and amount of salt used; plants downwind from roads show more damage than those upwind; most damage occurs within 60' of road and decreases with distance; branches covered by snow or otherwise sheltered show no damage; branches growing above spray drift zone show no damage. Symptoms in deciduous plants include: delayed budbreak; reduced leaf size/stem growth; off-colored foliage; scorched leaves; no flowering; bud/twig death; and branch-tip dieback leading to 'witches' broom' growth below the dead area. Symptoms on conifers include: tips of mature needles turn brown or yellow, discoloration moves down needle eventually killing all of it, then needles fall off; twig dieback; and symptoms manifest only on sides of plants facing roads/sidewalks.

Butterfly bush (Buddleia)

  • Armillaria root rot (Armillaria species)
    Also known as shoestring root rot, this is an often lethal disease of woody plant roots and lower stems. It can affect almost any conifer or hardwood species, from seedling to maturity. Trees and shrubs stressed due to drought or defoliation are more susceptible. The fungi produce tough, cord-like strands called “rhizomorphs” that grow from decaying stumps and roots through the soil. Infection of other trees or shrubs can result from penetration of intact roots by rhizomorphs. In late summer or early fall, honey-colored mushrooms of Armillaria fungi develop near the bases of colonized plants and produce spores that are distributed by wind. Infection also can occur after these spores germinate in wounds on stems or roots. Above-ground symptoms include slow growth, yellowing and dwarfing of foliage, and thin crowns. Dieback of twigs and branches also may occur. Symptoms may develop slowly and intensify over many years or kill their host rapidly. Bark on lower stems or roots may be killed and crack, with flow of resin common on conifers. Thin white mats of fungus tissue called “mycelial fans” may be present within and beneath killed bark. Stem and root wood decayed by Armillaria fungi is often water-soaked, creamy to yellow in color, and spongy or stringy in texture. Rhizomorphs are commonly seen on or beneath the bark and growing from decayed stumps and roots.
  • Armored scale (Diaspididae family)
    Armored scales are oval, somewhat elongate (think oyster shell), small (1/20-1/8") insects that secrete a hard, waxy cover. During the adult stage, no body parts are visible except the cover. Eggs are laid under the cover and hatch into crawlers, which can move around and are susceptible to sprays and oils.
  • Cold/Frost Damage ()
    Any part of a plant may be affected by cold damage. In spring, it's usually tender growth, which will appear watersoaked and may turn black. Flower buds can sustain damage during winter dormancy or during the blooming period. Plants will either have reduced numbers of blooms, and hence fruit set, or won't bloom at all. In fall, if plants aren't hardened off, they can sustain cold injury in temperatures well above those tolerated by acclimated plants. Root injury is rare unless plants are in raised beds or containers. Generally younger plants are more susceptible than mature plants. Cold injury on woody plants usually presents in the form of frost cracks in wood or bark. Mature leaves may turn red, purple, brown or black and may or may not fall off the tree or shrub.
  • Cucumber mosaic (Cucumber mosaic virus)
    Viruses can only be definitively diagnosed in a lab under high magnification or with various serological test kits. Viruses can retard plant growth and change the appearance of foliage, flowers and fruits. Virus-infected leaves can become spotted, streaked or mottled; they may be distorted or stunted. Veins may lose their color or develop outgrowths. Flowers can be dwarfed, deformed, streaked, faded, or they can remain green and develop into leaf-like structures.
  • Damping off (Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia solani)
    Seedlings killed by damping-off initially are healthy, but shortly after emergence, become infected at or just below the soil line. Lower stems of seedlings collapse, seedlings fall over onto the soil surface and subsequently die. Seedlings with damping-off will die and cannot be saved.
  • Gas Injury ()
    Symptoms of gas injury can range from slow growth to total plant death, and initially resemble symptoms of water stress. Gas injury may also be mistaken for compacted soil, root disease, herbicide injury or air pollution. Symptoms include: slow growth, small leaves, wilt and leaf drop. Roots may be bluish and water-soaked, and surrounding soils may turn bluish gray or black. The injury may progress over time. Gas injury may occur from gas released into the soil or into the air. Root zone injury from gas leaks in soil usually stems from gas or sewer-line breaks (rapid damage) or gases leaking from landfills (gradual damage). The extent of damage depends on the size of the leak, when it occurs (summer is worse), soil type (heavier is worse) and the amount of paving surrounding the plants. Gas injury due to atmospheric gas leaks usually stems from vents, chimneys, smokestacks or industrial equipment, and may or may not be phytotoxic. These releases are usually accidental and short-lived.
  • Girdling ()
    Decline and dieback caused by girdling, either by roots or man-made objects, usually affect mature trees moreso than young ones. Symptoms may include: thinning crown, leaf scorch, sparse foliage, leaves in tufts, branch dieback, early fall color, and leaf drop.
  • Gray mold (Botrytis blight) (Botrytis cinerea)
    Causes brown, water-soaked spots or decay on leaves or petals. Once diseased tissue encircles the stem, the shoot will wilt. Botrytis is easily diagnosed by the fluffy gray, tan or brown mold produced on blighted plant parts under moist conditions. It rapidly blights flowers. Infected petals that fall onto foliage or stems can cause additional blighting and dieback.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Root rot (woody plants) (Cylindrocladium species)
    Root infections are characterized by many dark brown to black lesions often with longitudinal cracks. Severe root disease leads to stunting, wilting, yellowing and death. Stem infections of both conifers and broadleaves arise at the leaf bases and may girdle small stems. Diseased conifer needles turn yellow or red-brown. Dark lesions form in the leaves of broadleaf plants. Leaf blight leads to defoliation.
  • Soft scale (Coccidae family)
    Soft scales are usually broadly oval becoming larger and more humped as eggs mature underneath the protective cover. Look for adults on twigs or small branches and immature stages on leaves or needles.
  • Thrips (Order Thysanoptera)
    Minute insects usually identifiable only under high-powered magnification. Thrips have a modified, single mandible that they use to puncture plant tissue. They then feed on the sap that exudes from the resulting wound. Larvae drop to the soil to pupate. Adult insects like flowers with an open structures where the stamen and pistil are readily available.
  • Two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae)
    This most common spider mite is miniscule (0.5mm) and prefers to colonize and lay eggs on leaf undersides of most host plants. When populations are high, these mites can be found on all leaf surfaces and stems.
  • Winter salt injury ()
    De-icing salts accumulate in the soil along streets/sidewalks or may be dispersed in an aerosol spray by fast-moving traffic and high winds along wet, salted roads. Salt spray can travel hundreds of feet from the roads where it originated. Symptoms can be similar to other abiotic plant problems, but there are tell-tale indicators including: Damage is more severe on sides of plants facing roads/sidewalks; severity of damage increases with volume/speed of traffic and amount of salt used; plants downwind from roads show more damage than those upwind; most damage occurs within 60' of road and decreases with distance; branches covered by snow or otherwise sheltered show no damage; branches growing above spray drift zone show no damage. Symptoms in deciduous plants include: delayed budbreak; reduced leaf size/stem growth; off-colored foliage; scorched leaves; no flowering; bud/twig death; and branch-tip dieback leading to 'witches' broom' growth below the dead area. Symptoms on conifers include: tips of mature needles turn brown or yellow, discoloration moves down needle eventually killing all of it, then needles fall off; twig dieback; and symptoms manifest only on sides of plants facing roads/sidewalks.

Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster)

  • Armillaria root rot (Armillaria species)
    Also known as shoestring root rot, this is an often lethal disease of woody plant roots and lower stems. It can affect almost any conifer or hardwood species, from seedling to maturity. Trees and shrubs stressed due to drought or defoliation are more susceptible. The fungi produce tough, cord-like strands called “rhizomorphs” that grow from decaying stumps and roots through the soil. Infection of other trees or shrubs can result from penetration of intact roots by rhizomorphs. In late summer or early fall, honey-colored mushrooms of Armillaria fungi develop near the bases of colonized plants and produce spores that are distributed by wind. Infection also can occur after these spores germinate in wounds on stems or roots. Above-ground symptoms include slow growth, yellowing and dwarfing of foliage, and thin crowns. Dieback of twigs and branches also may occur. Symptoms may develop slowly and intensify over many years or kill their host rapidly. Bark on lower stems or roots may be killed and crack, with flow of resin common on conifers. Thin white mats of fungus tissue called “mycelial fans” may be present within and beneath killed bark. Stem and root wood decayed by Armillaria fungi is often water-soaked, creamy to yellow in color, and spongy or stringy in texture. Rhizomorphs are commonly seen on or beneath the bark and growing from decayed stumps and roots.
  • Armored scale (Diaspididae family)
    Armored scales are oval, somewhat elongate (think oyster shell), small (1/20-1/8") insects that secrete a hard, waxy cover. During the adult stage, no body parts are visible except the cover. Eggs are laid under the cover and hatch into crawlers, which can move around and are susceptible to sprays and oils.
  • Cold/Frost Damage ()
    Any part of a plant may be affected by cold damage. In spring, it's usually tender growth, which will appear watersoaked and may turn black. Flower buds can sustain damage during winter dormancy or during the blooming period. Plants will either have reduced numbers of blooms, and hence fruit set, or won't bloom at all. In fall, if plants aren't hardened off, they can sustain cold injury in temperatures well above those tolerated by acclimated plants. Root injury is rare unless plants are in raised beds or containers. Generally younger plants are more susceptible than mature plants. Cold injury on woody plants usually presents in the form of frost cracks in wood or bark. Mature leaves may turn red, purple, brown or black and may or may not fall off the tree or shrub.
  • Damping off (Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia solani)
    Seedlings killed by damping-off initially are healthy, but shortly after emergence, become infected at or just below the soil line. Lower stems of seedlings collapse, seedlings fall over onto the soil surface and subsequently die. Seedlings with damping-off will die and cannot be saved.
  • Gas Injury ()
    Symptoms of gas injury can range from slow growth to total plant death, and initially resemble symptoms of water stress. Gas injury may also be mistaken for compacted soil, root disease, herbicide injury or air pollution. Symptoms include: slow growth, small leaves, wilt and leaf drop. Roots may be bluish and water-soaked, and surrounding soils may turn bluish gray or black. The injury may progress over time. Gas injury may occur from gas released into the soil or into the air. Root zone injury from gas leaks in soil usually stems from gas or sewer-line breaks (rapid damage) or gases leaking from landfills (gradual damage). The extent of damage depends on the size of the leak, when it occurs (summer is worse), soil type (heavier is worse) and the amount of paving surrounding the plants. Gas injury due to atmospheric gas leaks usually stems from vents, chimneys, smokestacks or industrial equipment, and may or may not be phytotoxic. These releases are usually accidental and short-lived.
  • Girdling ()
    Decline and dieback caused by girdling, either by roots or man-made objects, usually affect mature trees moreso than young ones. Symptoms may include: thinning crown, leaf scorch, sparse foliage, leaves in tufts, branch dieback, early fall color, and leaf drop.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Mealybug (Pseudococcidae family)
    Characteristically mealybugs are covered in white granular or cotton-like wax. Mealy bug bodies are always soft and the females are oval and flat with distinct segmentation often visible in the wax. Eggs are usually laid in a white cottony material underneath the female. Widespread in greenhouses and indoor plants; not an outdoor problem. Depending on temperature, one generation can develop every 1-3 months.
  • Nectria canker (Nectria (Neonectria))
    Nectria canker is characterized by the production of sore-like wounds (cankers) that form on twigs, branches, and trunks. Cankers can form at leaf scars and wherever injuries occur. Injuries can be caused by pruning (particularly improper pruning), frost, hail, cracking from heavy snow or ice, sunscald, insects, or mammals. Cankers appear first as slightly sunken areas on the bark, but can grow for years, becoming target-shaped or elongated. Small branches girdled by cankers can wilt suddenly, fail to leaf out, and die.
  • Overwatering ()
    Overwatering, whether acute or chronic, is usually a death sentence for plants, especially when accompanied with poor drainage. Waterlogged soils limit oxygen uptake by plant roots, which in turn affects the plant's metabolism, nutrient uptake, water absorption and photosynthesis. Symptoms vary from slow growth to plant death and can include: leaf necrosis, dieback, root discoloration, soil blackening, foul odors, slow growth, thinning canopy and chlorosis. Overwatered conifer symptoms are similar, except they can also exhibit needle drop. Overwatering is common in irrigated landscapes, plantings at the bottoms of slopes and in poorly drained containers.
  • Rhizoctonia web blight (Rhizoctonia species (H))
    This disease is favored by high temperatures and high humidity, especially in the greenhouse setting. Symptoms appear as irregular, brown spots which can form anywhere on foliage or stems. In high humidity, web-like brown mycelium can cover infected portions of the plant host. Rhizoctonia is a soil-borne pathogen.
  • Root rot (Fusarium species (W))
    Symptoms include stunting, chlorosis, root necrosis and death of woody plants. Symptoms are dependent on cultural practices and the local environment.
  • Root rot (woody plants) (Phytophthora species (W))
    Gardeners often become aware of root rot problems when they see above ground symptoms of the disease. Plants with root rot are often stunted or wilted, and may have leaves with a yellow or red color, suggestareardenersadners often become aware of root rot problems when they see above ground symptoms of the disease. Plants with root rot are often stunted or wilted, and may have leaves with a yellow or red color, suggesting a nutrient deficiency. Examination of the roots of these plants reveals tissue that is soft and brown.
  • Root rot (woody plants) (Rhizoctonia species (W))
    Symptoms on the above ground parts of larger plants include necrotic spots and blotches on the leaves, shoot blight and dieback.
  • Soft scale (Coccidae family)
    Soft scales are usually broadly oval becoming larger and more humped as eggs mature underneath the protective cover. Look for adults on twigs or small branches and immature stages on leaves or needles.
  • Sooty molds (Several)
    Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on plant surfaces covered in honeydew excreted by insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts such as aphids, scale, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is generally harmless to plants, except when it is prolific, preventing light from reaching leaf surfaces, causing plants stress. This stress may make the plant more susceptible to other diseases or problems.
  • Two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae)
    This most common spider mite is miniscule (0.5mm) and prefers to colonize and lay eggs on leaf undersides of most host plants. When populations are high, these mites can be found on all leaf surfaces and stems.

Dogwood (Cornus)

  • Armillaria root rot (Armillaria species)
    Also known as shoestring root rot, this is an often lethal disease of woody plant roots and lower stems. It can affect almost any conifer or hardwood species, from seedling to maturity. Trees and shrubs stressed due to drought or defoliation are more susceptible. The fungi produce tough, cord-like strands called “rhizomorphs” that grow from decaying stumps and roots through the soil. Infection of other trees or shrubs can result from penetration of intact roots by rhizomorphs. In late summer or early fall, honey-colored mushrooms of Armillaria fungi develop near the bases of colonized plants and produce spores that are distributed by wind. Infection also can occur after these spores germinate in wounds on stems or roots. Above-ground symptoms include slow growth, yellowing and dwarfing of foliage, and thin crowns. Dieback of twigs and branches also may occur. Symptoms may develop slowly and intensify over many years or kill their host rapidly. Bark on lower stems or roots may be killed and crack, with flow of resin common on conifers. Thin white mats of fungus tissue called “mycelial fans” may be present within and beneath killed bark. Stem and root wood decayed by Armillaria fungi is often water-soaked, creamy to yellow in color, and spongy or stringy in texture. Rhizomorphs are commonly seen on or beneath the bark and growing from decayed stumps and roots.
  • Armored scale (Diaspididae family)
    Armored scales are oval, somewhat elongate (think oyster shell), small (1/20-1/8") insects that secrete a hard, waxy cover. During the adult stage, no body parts are visible except the cover. Eggs are laid under the cover and hatch into crawlers, which can move around and are susceptible to sprays and oils.
  • Birch canker (Nectria (Neonectria) galligena)
    Canker lesions first appear as small dark depressed areas on young, smooth barked stems, often killing twigs by girdling. Most cankers are centered on small branch stubs or their remains. Diseased trees usually have more than one canker. This disease is among the most important stem diseases on birch.
  • Cold/Frost Damage ()
    Any part of a plant may be affected by cold damage. In spring, it's usually tender growth, which will appear watersoaked and may turn black. Flower buds can sustain damage during winter dormancy or during the blooming period. Plants will either have reduced numbers of blooms, and hence fruit set, or won't bloom at all. In fall, if plants aren't hardened off, they can sustain cold injury in temperatures well above those tolerated by acclimated plants. Root injury is rare unless plants are in raised beds or containers. Generally younger plants are more susceptible than mature plants. Cold injury on woody plants usually presents in the form of frost cracks in wood or bark. Mature leaves may turn red, purple, brown or black and may or may not fall off the tree or shrub.
  • Damping off (Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia solani)
    Seedlings killed by damping-off initially are healthy, but shortly after emergence, become infected at or just below the soil line. Lower stems of seedlings collapse, seedlings fall over onto the soil surface and subsequently die. Seedlings with damping-off will die and cannot be saved.
  • Gas Injury ()
    Symptoms of gas injury can range from slow growth to total plant death, and initially resemble symptoms of water stress. Gas injury may also be mistaken for compacted soil, root disease, herbicide injury or air pollution. Symptoms include: slow growth, small leaves, wilt and leaf drop. Roots may be bluish and water-soaked, and surrounding soils may turn bluish gray or black. The injury may progress over time. Gas injury may occur from gas released into the soil or into the air. Root zone injury from gas leaks in soil usually stems from gas or sewer-line breaks (rapid damage) or gases leaking from landfills (gradual damage). The extent of damage depends on the size of the leak, when it occurs (summer is worse), soil type (heavier is worse) and the amount of paving surrounding the plants. Gas injury due to atmospheric gas leaks usually stems from vents, chimneys, smokestacks or industrial equipment, and may or may not be phytotoxic. These releases are usually accidental and short-lived.
  • Girdling ()
    Decline and dieback caused by girdling, either by roots or man-made objects, usually affect mature trees moreso than young ones. Symptoms may include: thinning crown, leaf scorch, sparse foliage, leaves in tufts, branch dieback, early fall color, and leaf drop.
  • Gray mold (Botrytis blight) (Botrytis cinerea)
    Causes brown, water-soaked spots or decay on leaves or petals. Once diseased tissue encircles the stem, the shoot will wilt. Botrytis is easily diagnosed by the fluffy gray, tan or brown mold produced on blighted plant parts under moist conditions. It rapidly blights flowers. Infected petals that fall onto foliage or stems can cause additional blighting and dieback.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Leaf scorch (Colletotrichum species)
    Caused by one of the fungi that causes anthracnose, leaf scorch usually appears on previously injured tissue in hot, humid weather. There may also be symptoms on stems. The disease will not move to healthy tissue. Symptoms include bleached, brown, or scorched tissue on leaves or stems, with small (pinhead-sized) masses of clear to yellowish spores (use a hand lens).
  • Nectria canker (Nectria (Neonectria))
    Nectria canker is characterized by the production of sore-like wounds (cankers) that form on twigs, branches, and trunks. Cankers can form at leaf scars and wherever injuries occur. Injuries can be caused by pruning (particularly improper pruning), frost, hail, cracking from heavy snow or ice, sunscald, insects, or mammals. Cankers appear first as slightly sunken areas on the bark, but can grow for years, becoming target-shaped or elongated. Small branches girdled by cankers can wilt suddenly, fail to leaf out, and die.
  • Overwatering ()
    Overwatering, whether acute or chronic, is usually a death sentence for plants, especially when accompanied with poor drainage. Waterlogged soils limit oxygen uptake by plant roots, which in turn affects the plant's metabolism, nutrient uptake, water absorption and photosynthesis. Symptoms vary from slow growth to plant death and can include: leaf necrosis, dieback, root discoloration, soil blackening, foul odors, slow growth, thinning canopy and chlorosis. Overwatered conifer symptoms are similar, except they can also exhibit needle drop. Overwatering is common in irrigated landscapes, plantings at the bottoms of slopes and in poorly drained containers.
  • Powdery mildew (woody plants) (Several)
    The upper and/or (less frequently) lower surface of leaves, as well as stems of infected plants, have a white, powdery appearance. They look as though someone has h pper and/or (less frequently) lower surface of leaves, as well as stems of infected plants, have a white, powdery appearance. They look as though someone has sprinkled them with talcum powder or powdered sugar.
  • Root rot (Fusarium species (W))
    Symptoms include stunting, chlorosis, root necrosis and death of woody plants. Symptoms are dependent on cultural practices and the local environment.
  • Root rot (woody plants) (Cylindrocladium species)
    Root infections are characterized by many dark brown to black lesions often with longitudinal cracks. Severe root disease leads to stunting, wilting, yellowing and death. Stem infections of both conifers and broadleaves arise at the leaf bases and may girdle small stems. Diseased conifer needles turn yellow or red-brown. Dark lesions form in the leaves of broadleaf plants. Leaf blight leads to defoliation.
  • Root rot (woody plants) (Phytophthora species (W))
    Gardeners often become aware of root rot problems when they see above ground symptoms of the disease. Plants with root rot are often stunted or wilted, and may have leaves with a yellow or red color, suggestareardenersadners often become aware of root rot problems when they see above ground symptoms of the disease. Plants with root rot are often stunted or wilted, and may have leaves with a yellow or red color, suggesting a nutrient deficiency. Examination of the roots of these plants reveals tissue that is soft and brown.
  • Soft scale (Coccidae family)
    Soft scales are usually broadly oval becoming larger and more humped as eggs mature underneath the protective cover. Look for adults on twigs or small branches and immature stages on leaves or needles.
  • Sooty molds (Several)
    Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on plant surfaces covered in honeydew excreted by insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts such as aphids, scale, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is generally harmless to plants, except when it is prolific, preventing light from reaching leaf surfaces, causing plants stress. This stress may make the plant more susceptible to other diseases or problems.
  • Sunscald ()
    Often the first symptom of sunscald is the reddish-brown discoloration of bark. Then, the bark shrinks, appearing sunken, splits and peels back in chunky patches exposing sapwood underneath. Often cankers develop. Severe sunscald may cause the entire trunk to be girdled, or only individual branches. Look for sunscald on the south, southwest or west side of trunks or branches. It most commonly affects trees suffering from water stress or young trees with thin bark. Newly planted or transplanted are most susceptible and container-grown plants are more likely to get sunscald than field-grown ones. Species particularly prone to sunscald include: Liriodendron, Acer, Tilia, Prunus, Pyrus, Malus, Juglans, and Ulmus.
  • Two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae)
    This most common spider mite is miniscule (0.5mm) and prefers to colonize and lay eggs on leaf undersides of most host plants. When populations are high, these mites can be found on all leaf surfaces and stems.
  • Whitefly (Aleyrodidae family)
    Adult whiteflies are small (1-2mm), white, fly-like insects related to scales, aphids and mealybugs. Their color comes from wax they create to cover their bodies. All whitefly stages are usually found on the undersides of leaves. There can be several generations per year depending on the environment.

Quince (Chaenomeles)

  • Cold/Frost Damage ()
    Any part of a plant may be affected by cold damage. In spring, it's usually tender growth, which will appear watersoaked and may turn black. Flower buds can sustain damage during winter dormancy or during the blooming period. Plants will either have reduced numbers of blooms, and hence fruit set, or won't bloom at all. In fall, if plants aren't hardened off, they can sustain cold injury in temperatures well above those tolerated by acclimated plants. Root injury is rare unless plants are in raised beds or containers. Generally younger plants are more susceptible than mature plants. Cold injury on woody plants usually presents in the form of frost cracks in wood or bark. Mature leaves may turn red, purple, brown or black and may or may not fall off the tree or shrub.
  • Gas Injury ()
    Symptoms of gas injury can range from slow growth to total plant death, and initially resemble symptoms of water stress. Gas injury may also be mistaken for compacted soil, root disease, herbicide injury or air pollution. Symptoms include: slow growth, small leaves, wilt and leaf drop. Roots may be bluish and water-soaked, and surrounding soils may turn bluish gray or black. The injury may progress over time. Gas injury may occur from gas released into the soil or into the air. Root zone injury from gas leaks in soil usually stems from gas or sewer-line breaks (rapid damage) or gases leaking from landfills (gradual damage). The extent of damage depends on the size of the leak, when it occurs (summer is worse), soil type (heavier is worse) and the amount of paving surrounding the plants. Gas injury due to atmospheric gas leaks usually stems from vents, chimneys, smokestacks or industrial equipment, and may or may not be phytotoxic. These releases are usually accidental and short-lived.
  • Girdling ()
    Decline and dieback caused by girdling, either by roots or man-made objects, usually affect mature trees moreso than young ones. Symptoms may include: thinning crown, leaf scorch, sparse foliage, leaves in tufts, branch dieback, early fall color, and leaf drop.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Mealybug (Pseudococcidae family)
    Characteristically mealybugs are covered in white granular or cotton-like wax. Mealy bug bodies are always soft and the females are oval and flat with distinct segmentation often visible in the wax. Eggs are usually laid in a white cottony material underneath the female. Widespread in greenhouses and indoor plants; not an outdoor problem. Depending on temperature, one generation can develop every 1-3 months.
  • Nectria canker (Nectria (Neonectria))
    Nectria canker is characterized by the production of sore-like wounds (cankers) that form on twigs, branches, and trunks. Cankers can form at leaf scars and wherever injuries occur. Injuries can be caused by pruning (particularly improper pruning), frost, hail, cracking from heavy snow or ice, sunscald, insects, or mammals. Cankers appear first as slightly sunken areas on the bark, but can grow for years, becoming target-shaped or elongated. Small branches girdled by cankers can wilt suddenly, fail to leaf out, and die.
  • Overwatering ()
    Overwatering, whether acute or chronic, is usually a death sentence for plants, especially when accompanied with poor drainage. Waterlogged soils limit oxygen uptake by plant roots, which in turn affects the plant's metabolism, nutrient uptake, water absorption and photosynthesis. Symptoms vary from slow growth to plant death and can include: leaf necrosis, dieback, root discoloration, soil blackening, foul odors, slow growth, thinning canopy and chlorosis. Overwatered conifer symptoms are similar, except they can also exhibit needle drop. Overwatering is common in irrigated landscapes, plantings at the bottoms of slopes and in poorly drained containers.
  • Sooty molds (Several)
    Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on plant surfaces covered in honeydew excreted by insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts such as aphids, scale, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is generally harmless to plants, except when it is prolific, preventing light from reaching leaf surfaces, causing plants stress. This stress may make the plant more susceptible to other diseases or problems.
  • Sunscald ()
    Often the first symptom of sunscald is the reddish-brown discoloration of bark. Then, the bark shrinks, appearing sunken, splits and peels back in chunky patches exposing sapwood underneath. Often cankers develop. Severe sunscald may cause the entire trunk to be girdled, or only individual branches. Look for sunscald on the south, southwest or west side of trunks or branches. It most commonly affects trees suffering from water stress or young trees with thin bark. Newly planted or transplanted are most susceptible and container-grown plants are more likely to get sunscald than field-grown ones. Species particularly prone to sunscald include: Liriodendron, Acer, Tilia, Prunus, Pyrus, Malus, Juglans, and Ulmus.
  • Winter salt injury ()
    De-icing salts accumulate in the soil along streets/sidewalks or may be dispersed in an aerosol spray by fast-moving traffic and high winds along wet, salted roads. Salt spray can travel hundreds of feet from the roads where it originated. Symptoms can be similar to other abiotic plant problems, but there are tell-tale indicators including: Damage is more severe on sides of plants facing roads/sidewalks; severity of damage increases with volume/speed of traffic and amount of salt used; plants downwind from roads show more damage than those upwind; most damage occurs within 60' of road and decreases with distance; branches covered by snow or otherwise sheltered show no damage; branches growing above spray drift zone show no damage. Symptoms in deciduous plants include: delayed budbreak; reduced leaf size/stem growth; off-colored foliage; scorched leaves; no flowering; bud/twig death; and branch-tip dieback leading to 'witches' broom' growth below the dead area. Symptoms on conifers include: tips of mature needles turn brown or yellow, discoloration moves down needle eventually killing all of it, then needles fall off; twig dieback; and symptoms manifest only on sides of plants facing roads/sidewalks.

Smoketree (Cotinus)

  • Armillaria root rot (Armillaria species)
    Also known as shoestring root rot, this is an often lethal disease of woody plant roots and lower stems. It can affect almost any conifer or hardwood species, from seedling to maturity. Trees and shrubs stressed due to drought or defoliation are more susceptible. The fungi produce tough, cord-like strands called “rhizomorphs” that grow from decaying stumps and roots through the soil. Infection of other trees or shrubs can result from penetration of intact roots by rhizomorphs. In late summer or early fall, honey-colored mushrooms of Armillaria fungi develop near the bases of colonized plants and produce spores that are distributed by wind. Infection also can occur after these spores germinate in wounds on stems or roots. Above-ground symptoms include slow growth, yellowing and dwarfing of foliage, and thin crowns. Dieback of twigs and branches also may occur. Symptoms may develop slowly and intensify over many years or kill their host rapidly. Bark on lower stems or roots may be killed and crack, with flow of resin common on conifers. Thin white mats of fungus tissue called “mycelial fans” may be present within and beneath killed bark. Stem and root wood decayed by Armillaria fungi is often water-soaked, creamy to yellow in color, and spongy or stringy in texture. Rhizomorphs are commonly seen on or beneath the bark and growing from decayed stumps and roots.
  • Cold/Frost Damage ()
    Any part of a plant may be affected by cold damage. In spring, it's usually tender growth, which will appear watersoaked and may turn black. Flower buds can sustain damage during winter dormancy or during the blooming period. Plants will either have reduced numbers of blooms, and hence fruit set, or won't bloom at all. In fall, if plants aren't hardened off, they can sustain cold injury in temperatures well above those tolerated by acclimated plants. Root injury is rare unless plants are in raised beds or containers. Generally younger plants are more susceptible than mature plants. Cold injury on woody plants usually presents in the form of frost cracks in wood or bark. Mature leaves may turn red, purple, brown or black and may or may not fall off the tree or shrub.
  • Gas Injury ()
    Symptoms of gas injury can range from slow growth to total plant death, and initially resemble symptoms of water stress. Gas injury may also be mistaken for compacted soil, root disease, herbicide injury or air pollution. Symptoms include: slow growth, small leaves, wilt and leaf drop. Roots may be bluish and water-soaked, and surrounding soils may turn bluish gray or black. The injury may progress over time. Gas injury may occur from gas released into the soil or into the air. Root zone injury from gas leaks in soil usually stems from gas or sewer-line breaks (rapid damage) or gases leaking from landfills (gradual damage). The extent of damage depends on the size of the leak, when it occurs (summer is worse), soil type (heavier is worse) and the amount of paving surrounding the plants. Gas injury due to atmospheric gas leaks usually stems from vents, chimneys, smokestacks or industrial equipment, and may or may not be phytotoxic. These releases are usually accidental and short-lived.
  • Girdling ()
    Decline and dieback caused by girdling, either by roots or man-made objects, usually affect mature trees moreso than young ones. Symptoms may include: thinning crown, leaf scorch, sparse foliage, leaves in tufts, branch dieback, early fall color, and leaf drop.
  • Gray mold (Botrytis blight) (Botrytis cinerea)
    Causes brown, water-soaked spots or decay on leaves or petals. Once diseased tissue encircles the stem, the shoot will wilt. Botrytis is easily diagnosed by the fluffy gray, tan or brown mold produced on blighted plant parts under moist conditions. It rapidly blights flowers. Infected petals that fall onto foliage or stems can cause additional blighting and dieback.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Overwatering ()
    Overwatering, whether acute or chronic, is usually a death sentence for plants, especially when accompanied with poor drainage. Waterlogged soils limit oxygen uptake by plant roots, which in turn affects the plant's metabolism, nutrient uptake, water absorption and photosynthesis. Symptoms vary from slow growth to plant death and can include: leaf necrosis, dieback, root discoloration, soil blackening, foul odors, slow growth, thinning canopy and chlorosis. Overwatered conifer symptoms are similar, except they can also exhibit needle drop. Overwatering is common in irrigated landscapes, plantings at the bottoms of slopes and in poorly drained containers.
  • Sooty molds (Several)
    Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on plant surfaces covered in honeydew excreted by insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts such as aphids, scale, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is generally harmless to plants, except when it is prolific, preventing light from reaching leaf surfaces, causing plants stress. This stress may make the plant more susceptible to other diseases or problems.
  • Winter salt injury ()
    De-icing salts accumulate in the soil along streets/sidewalks or may be dispersed in an aerosol spray by fast-moving traffic and high winds along wet, salted roads. Salt spray can travel hundreds of feet from the roads where it originated. Symptoms can be similar to other abiotic plant problems, but there are tell-tale indicators including: Damage is more severe on sides of plants facing roads/sidewalks; severity of damage increases with volume/speed of traffic and amount of salt used; plants downwind from roads show more damage than those upwind; most damage occurs within 60' of road and decreases with distance; branches covered by snow or otherwise sheltered show no damage; branches growing above spray drift zone show no damage. Symptoms in deciduous plants include: delayed budbreak; reduced leaf size/stem growth; off-colored foliage; scorched leaves; no flowering; bud/twig death; and branch-tip dieback leading to 'witches' broom' growth below the dead area. Symptoms on conifers include: tips of mature needles turn brown or yellow, discoloration moves down needle eventually killing all of it, then needles fall off; twig dieback; and symptoms manifest only on sides of plants facing roads/sidewalks.

Woody Ornamentals-Deciduous-Tree

Birch (Betula)

  • Animal damage ()
    Animals that do the most damage to herbaceous plants include: deer, rabbits and woodchucks. Deer damage is distinctive because deer only have teeth on their lower jaws, so when they bite down, they must tear the plant to pull off leaves. Thus, deer damage to plants is rough or shredded-looking. It may also be several feet off of the ground. Plus, if a large amount of plant material is damaged overnight, you should suspect deer. Rabbit damage looks like someone used a pruner to cut the plant off at a clean, 45-degree angle. Woodchucks will mow down plants, or sometimes just nibble on succulent material. They are diurnal, so keep on the lookout.
  • Armillaria root rot (Armillaria species)
    Also known as shoestring root rot, this is an often lethal disease of woody plant roots and lower stems. It can affect almost any conifer or hardwood species, from seedling to maturity. Trees and shrubs stressed due to drought or defoliation are more susceptible. The fungi produce tough, cord-like strands called “rhizomorphs” that grow from decaying stumps and roots through the soil. Infection of other trees or shrubs can result from penetration of intact roots by rhizomorphs. In late summer or early fall, honey-colored mushrooms of Armillaria fungi develop near the bases of colonized plants and produce spores that are distributed by wind. Infection also can occur after these spores germinate in wounds on stems or roots. Above-ground symptoms include slow growth, yellowing and dwarfing of foliage, and thin crowns. Dieback of twigs and branches also may occur. Symptoms may develop slowly and intensify over many years or kill their host rapidly. Bark on lower stems or roots may be killed and crack, with flow of resin common on conifers. Thin white mats of fungus tissue called “mycelial fans” may be present within and beneath killed bark. Stem and root wood decayed by Armillaria fungi is often water-soaked, creamy to yellow in color, and spongy or stringy in texture. Rhizomorphs are commonly seen on or beneath the bark and growing from decayed stumps and roots.
  • Armored scale (Diaspididae family)
    Armored scales are oval, somewhat elongate (think oyster shell), small (1/20-1/8") insects that secrete a hard, waxy cover. During the adult stage, no body parts are visible except the cover. Eggs are laid under the cover and hatch into crawlers, which can move around and are susceptible to sprays and oils.
  • Birch canker (Nectria (Neonectria) galligena)
    Canker lesions first appear as small dark depressed areas on young, smooth barked stems, often killing twigs by girdling. Most cankers are centered on small branch stubs or their remains. Diseased trees usually have more than one canker. This disease is among the most important stem diseases on birch.
  • Cold/Frost Damage ()
    Any part of a plant may be affected by cold damage. In spring, it's usually tender growth, which will appear watersoaked and may turn black. Flower buds can sustain damage during winter dormancy or during the blooming period. Plants will either have reduced numbers of blooms, and hence fruit set, or won't bloom at all. In fall, if plants aren't hardened off, they can sustain cold injury in temperatures well above those tolerated by acclimated plants. Root injury is rare unless plants are in raised beds or containers. Generally younger plants are more susceptible than mature plants. Cold injury on woody plants usually presents in the form of frost cracks in wood or bark. Mature leaves may turn red, purple, brown or black and may or may not fall off the tree or shrub.
  • Gas Injury ()
    Symptoms of gas injury can range from slow growth to total plant death, and initially resemble symptoms of water stress. Gas injury may also be mistaken for compacted soil, root disease, herbicide injury or air pollution. Symptoms include: slow growth, small leaves, wilt and leaf drop. Roots may be bluish and water-soaked, and surrounding soils may turn bluish gray or black. The injury may progress over time. Gas injury may occur from gas released into the soil or into the air. Root zone injury from gas leaks in soil usually stems from gas or sewer-line breaks (rapid damage) or gases leaking from landfills (gradual damage). The extent of damage depends on the size of the leak, when it occurs (summer is worse), soil type (heavier is worse) and the amount of paving surrounding the plants. Gas injury due to atmospheric gas leaks usually stems from vents, chimneys, smokestacks or industrial equipment, and may or may not be phytotoxic. These releases are usually accidental and short-lived.
  • Girdling ()
    Decline and dieback caused by girdling, either by roots or man-made objects, usually affect mature trees moreso than young ones. Symptoms may include: thinning crown, leaf scorch, sparse foliage, leaves in tufts, branch dieback, early fall color, and leaf drop.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Inchworms (cankerworm, loopers, spanworms) (Geometridae family)
    Inchworms are a collective group of caterpillars including cankerworms, loopers and spanworms. These larvae move distinctively, contracting their bodies into a hump, then extending straight due to only 2-3 sets of prolegs. Colors vary widely depending on species. Female adults are usually wingless and lay egg masses on small twigs, under bark or in trunk crevices. Larvae descend from trees on silk strands when they're ready to pupate, landing on anything in their path.
  • Leaf scorch (Colletotrichum species)
    Caused by one of the fungi that causes anthracnose, leaf scorch usually appears on previously injured tissue in hot, humid weather. There may also be symptoms on stems. The disease will not move to healthy tissue. Symptoms include bleached, brown, or scorched tissue on leaves or stems, with small (pinhead-sized) masses of clear to yellowish spores (use a hand lens).
  • Nectria canker (Nectria (Neonectria))
    Nectria canker is characterized by the production of sore-like wounds (cankers) that form on twigs, branches, and trunks. Cankers can form at leaf scars and wherever injuries occur. Injuries can be caused by pruning (particularly improper pruning), frost, hail, cracking from heavy snow or ice, sunscald, insects, or mammals. Cankers appear first as slightly sunken areas on the bark, but can grow for years, becoming target-shaped or elongated. Small branches girdled by cankers can wilt suddenly, fail to leaf out, and die.
  • Powdery mildew (woody plants) (Several)
    The upper and/or (less frequently) lower surface of leaves, as well as stems of infected plants, have a white, powdery appearance. They look as though someone has h pper and/or (less frequently) lower surface of leaves, as well as stems of infected plants, have a white, powdery appearance. They look as though someone has sprinkled them with talcum powder or powdered sugar.
  • Root rot (woody plants) (Phytophthora species (W))
    Gardeners often become aware of root rot problems when they see above ground symptoms of the disease. Plants with root rot are often stunted or wilted, and may have leaves with a yellow or red color, suggestareardenersadners often become aware of root rot problems when they see above ground symptoms of the disease. Plants with root rot are often stunted or wilted, and may have leaves with a yellow or red color, suggesting a nutrient deficiency. Examination of the roots of these plants reveals tissue that is soft and brown.
  • Soft scale (Coccidae family)
    Soft scales are usually broadly oval becoming larger and more humped as eggs mature underneath the protective cover. Look for adults on twigs or small branches and immature stages on leaves or needles.
  • Sooty molds (Several)
    Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on plant surfaces covered in honeydew excreted by insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts such as aphids, scale, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is generally harmless to plants, except when it is prolific, preventing light from reaching leaf surfaces, causing plants stress. This stress may make the plant more susceptible to other diseases or problems.
  • Sunscald ()
    Often the first symptom of sunscald is the reddish-brown discoloration of bark. Then, the bark shrinks, appearing sunken, splits and peels back in chunky patches exposing sapwood underneath. Often cankers develop. Severe sunscald may cause the entire trunk to be girdled, or only individual branches. Look for sunscald on the south, southwest or west side of trunks or branches. It most commonly affects trees suffering from water stress or young trees with thin bark. Newly planted or transplanted are most susceptible and container-grown plants are more likely to get sunscald than field-grown ones. Species particularly prone to sunscald include: Liriodendron, Acer, Tilia, Prunus, Pyrus, Malus, Juglans, and Ulmus.

Buckeye (Aesculus)

  • Animal damage ()
    Animals that do the most damage to herbaceous plants include: deer, rabbits and woodchucks. Deer damage is distinctive because deer only have teeth on their lower jaws, so when they bite down, they must tear the plant to pull off leaves. Thus, deer damage to plants is rough or shredded-looking. It may also be several feet off of the ground. Plus, if a large amount of plant material is damaged overnight, you should suspect deer. Rabbit damage looks like someone used a pruner to cut the plant off at a clean, 45-degree angle. Woodchucks will mow down plants, or sometimes just nibble on succulent material. They are diurnal, so keep on the lookout.
  • Armillaria root rot (Armillaria species)
    Also known as shoestring root rot, this is an often lethal disease of woody plant roots and lower stems. It can affect almost any conifer or hardwood species, from seedling to maturity. Trees and shrubs stressed due to drought or defoliation are more susceptible. The fungi produce tough, cord-like strands called “rhizomorphs” that grow from decaying stumps and roots through the soil. Infection of other trees or shrubs can result from penetration of intact roots by rhizomorphs. In late summer or early fall, honey-colored mushrooms of Armillaria fungi develop near the bases of colonized plants and produce spores that are distributed by wind. Infection also can occur after these spores germinate in wounds on stems or roots. Above-ground symptoms include slow growth, yellowing and dwarfing of foliage, and thin crowns. Dieback of twigs and branches also may occur. Symptoms may develop slowly and intensify over many years or kill their host rapidly. Bark on lower stems or roots may be killed and crack, with flow of resin common on conifers. Thin white mats of fungus tissue called “mycelial fans” may be present within and beneath killed bark. Stem and root wood decayed by Armillaria fungi is often water-soaked, creamy to yellow in color, and spongy or stringy in texture. Rhizomorphs are commonly seen on or beneath the bark and growing from decayed stumps and roots.
  • Armored scale (Diaspididae family)
    Armored scales are oval, somewhat elongate (think oyster shell), small (1/20-1/8") insects that secrete a hard, waxy cover. During the adult stage, no body parts are visible except the cover. Eggs are laid under the cover and hatch into crawlers, which can move around and are susceptible to sprays and oils.
  • Cold/Frost Damage ()
    Any part of a plant may be affected by cold damage. In spring, it's usually tender growth, which will appear watersoaked and may turn black. Flower buds can sustain damage during winter dormancy or during the blooming period. Plants will either have reduced numbers of blooms, and hence fruit set, or won't bloom at all. In fall, if plants aren't hardened off, they can sustain cold injury in temperatures well above those tolerated by acclimated plants. Root injury is rare unless plants are in raised beds or containers. Generally younger plants are more susceptible than mature plants. Cold injury on woody plants usually presents in the form of frost cracks in wood or bark. Mature leaves may turn red, purple, brown or black and may or may not fall off the tree or shrub.
  • Damping off (Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia solani)
    Seedlings killed by damping-off initially are healthy, but shortly after emergence, become infected at or just below the soil line. Lower stems of seedlings collapse, seedlings fall over onto the soil surface and subsequently die. Seedlings with damping-off will die and cannot be saved.
  • Gas Injury ()
    Symptoms of gas injury can range from slow growth to total plant death, and initially resemble symptoms of water stress. Gas injury may also be mistaken for compacted soil, root disease, herbicide injury or air pollution. Symptoms include: slow growth, small leaves, wilt and leaf drop. Roots may be bluish and water-soaked, and surrounding soils may turn bluish gray or black. The injury may progress over time. Gas injury may occur from gas released into the soil or into the air. Root zone injury from gas leaks in soil usually stems from gas or sewer-line breaks (rapid damage) or gases leaking from landfills (gradual damage). The extent of damage depends on the size of the leak, when it occurs (summer is worse), soil type (heavier is worse) and the amount of paving surrounding the plants. Gas injury due to atmospheric gas leaks usually stems from vents, chimneys, smokestacks or industrial equipment, and may or may not be phytotoxic. These releases are usually accidental and short-lived.
  • Girdling ()
    Decline and dieback caused by girdling, either by roots or man-made objects, usually affect mature trees moreso than young ones. Symptoms may include: thinning crown, leaf scorch, sparse foliage, leaves in tufts, branch dieback, early fall color, and leaf drop.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Inchworms (cankerworm, loopers, spanworms) (Geometridae family)
    Inchworms are a collective group of caterpillars including cankerworms, loopers and spanworms. These larvae move distinctively, contracting their bodies into a hump, then extending straight due to only 2-3 sets of prolegs. Colors vary widely depending on species. Female adults are usually wingless and lay egg masses on small twigs, under bark or in trunk crevices. Larvae descend from trees on silk strands when they're ready to pupate, landing on anything in their path.
  • Mealybug (Pseudococcidae family)
    Characteristically mealybugs are covered in white granular or cotton-like wax. Mealy bug bodies are always soft and the females are oval and flat with distinct segmentation often visible in the wax. Eggs are usually laid in a white cottony material underneath the female. Widespread in greenhouses and indoor plants; not an outdoor problem. Depending on temperature, one generation can develop every 1-3 months.
  • Root rot (Fusarium species (W))
    Symptoms include stunting, chlorosis, root necrosis and death of woody plants. Symptoms are dependent on cultural practices and the local environment.
  • Root rot (woody plants) (Phytophthora species (W))
    Gardeners often become aware of root rot problems when they see above ground symptoms of the disease. Plants with root rot are often stunted or wilted, and may have leaves with a yellow or red color, suggestareardenersadners often become aware of root rot problems when they see above ground symptoms of the disease. Plants with root rot are often stunted or wilted, and may have leaves with a yellow or red color, suggesting a nutrient deficiency. Examination of the roots of these plants reveals tissue that is soft and brown.
  • Root rot (woody plants) (Pythium species (W))
    Gardeners often become aware of root rot problems when they see above ground symptoms of the disease. Plants with root rot are often stunted or wilted, and may have leaves with a yellow or red color, suggesting a nutrient deficiency. Examination of the roots of these plants reveals tissue that is soft and brown.
  • Root rot (woody plants) (Rhizoctonia species (W))
    Symptoms on the above ground parts of larger plants include necrotic spots and blotches on the leaves, shoot blight and dieback.
  • Root rot (woody plants) (Thielaviopsis species (W))
    Uncommonly damages woody plants in the landscape. Symptoms include stunting, sparse foliage, poor foliar color and die back after the death of fibrous roots
  • Soft scale (Coccidae family)
    Soft scales are usually broadly oval becoming larger and more humped as eggs mature underneath the protective cover. Look for adults on twigs or small branches and immature stages on leaves or needles.
  • Sunscald ()
    Often the first symptom of sunscald is the reddish-brown discoloration of bark. Then, the bark shrinks, appearing sunken, splits and peels back in chunky patches exposing sapwood underneath. Often cankers develop. Severe sunscald may cause the entire trunk to be girdled, or only individual branches. Look for sunscald on the south, southwest or west side of trunks or branches. It most commonly affects trees suffering from water stress or young trees with thin bark. Newly planted or transplanted are most susceptible and container-grown plants are more likely to get sunscald than field-grown ones. Species particularly prone to sunscald include: Liriodendron, Acer, Tilia, Prunus, Pyrus, Malus, Juglans, and Ulmus.
  • Winter salt injury ()
    De-icing salts accumulate in the soil along streets/sidewalks or may be dispersed in an aerosol spray by fast-moving traffic and high winds along wet, salted roads. Salt spray can travel hundreds of feet from the roads where it originated. Symptoms can be similar to other abiotic plant problems, but there are tell-tale indicators including: Damage is more severe on sides of plants facing roads/sidewalks; severity of damage increases with volume/speed of traffic and amount of salt used; plants downwind from roads show more damage than those upwind; most damage occurs within 60' of road and decreases with distance; branches covered by snow or otherwise sheltered show no damage; branches growing above spray drift zone show no damage. Symptoms in deciduous plants include: delayed budbreak; reduced leaf size/stem growth; off-colored foliage; scorched leaves; no flowering; bud/twig death; and branch-tip dieback leading to 'witches' broom' growth below the dead area. Symptoms on conifers include: tips of mature needles turn brown or yellow, discoloration moves down needle eventually killing all of it, then needles fall off; twig dieback; and symptoms manifest only on sides of plants facing roads/sidewalks.

Catalpa (Catalpa)

  • Armillaria root rot (Armillaria species)
    Also known as shoestring root rot, this is an often lethal disease of woody plant roots and lower stems. It can affect almost any conifer or hardwood species, from seedling to maturity. Trees and shrubs stressed due to drought or defoliation are more susceptible. The fungi produce tough, cord-like strands called “rhizomorphs” that grow from decaying stumps and roots through the soil. Infection of other trees or shrubs can result from penetration of intact roots by rhizomorphs. In late summer or early fall, honey-colored mushrooms of Armillaria fungi develop near the bases of colonized plants and produce spores that are distributed by wind. Infection also can occur after these spores germinate in wounds on stems or roots. Above-ground symptoms include slow growth, yellowing and dwarfing of foliage, and thin crowns. Dieback of twigs and branches also may occur. Symptoms may develop slowly and intensify over many years or kill their host rapidly. Bark on lower stems or roots may be killed and crack, with flow of resin common on conifers. Thin white mats of fungus tissue called “mycelial fans” may be present within and beneath killed bark. Stem and root wood decayed by Armillaria fungi is often water-soaked, creamy to yellow in color, and spongy or stringy in texture. Rhizomorphs are commonly seen on or beneath the bark and growing from decayed stumps and roots.
  • Armored scale (Diaspididae family)
    Armored scales are oval, somewhat elongate (think oyster shell), small (1/20-1/8") insects that secrete a hard, waxy cover. During the adult stage, no body parts are visible except the cover. Eggs are laid under the cover and hatch into crawlers, which can move around and are susceptible to sprays and oils.
  • Cold/Frost Damage ()
    Any part of a plant may be affected by cold damage. In spring, it's usually tender growth, which will appear watersoaked and may turn black. Flower buds can sustain damage during winter dormancy or during the blooming period. Plants will either have reduced numbers of blooms, and hence fruit set, or won't bloom at all. In fall, if plants aren't hardened off, they can sustain cold injury in temperatures well above those tolerated by acclimated plants. Root injury is rare unless plants are in raised beds or containers. Generally younger plants are more susceptible than mature plants. Cold injury on woody plants usually presents in the form of frost cracks in wood or bark. Mature leaves may turn red, purple, brown or black and may or may not fall off the tree or shrub.
  • Gas Injury ()
    Symptoms of gas injury can range from slow growth to total plant death, and initially resemble symptoms of water stress. Gas injury may also be mistaken for compacted soil, root disease, herbicide injury or air pollution. Symptoms include: slow growth, small leaves, wilt and leaf drop. Roots may be bluish and water-soaked, and surrounding soils may turn bluish gray or black. The injury may progress over time. Gas injury may occur from gas released into the soil or into the air. Root zone injury from gas leaks in soil usually stems from gas or sewer-line breaks (rapid damage) or gases leaking from landfills (gradual damage). The extent of damage depends on the size of the leak, when it occurs (summer is worse), soil type (heavier is worse) and the amount of paving surrounding the plants. Gas injury due to atmospheric gas leaks usually stems from vents, chimneys, smokestacks or industrial equipment, and may or may not be phytotoxic. These releases are usually accidental and short-lived.
  • Girdling ()
    Decline and dieback caused by girdling, either by roots or man-made objects, usually affect mature trees moreso than young ones. Symptoms may include: thinning crown, leaf scorch, sparse foliage, leaves in tufts, branch dieback, early fall color, and leaf drop.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Leaf scorch (Colletotrichum species)
    Caused by one of the fungi that causes anthracnose, leaf scorch usually appears on previously injured tissue in hot, humid weather. There may also be symptoms on stems. The disease will not move to healthy tissue. Symptoms include bleached, brown, or scorched tissue on leaves or stems, with small (pinhead-sized) masses of clear to yellowish spores (use a hand lens).
  • Mealybug (Pseudococcidae family)
    Characteristically mealybugs are covered in white granular or cotton-like wax. Mealy bug bodies are always soft and the females are oval and flat with distinct segmentation often visible in the wax. Eggs are usually laid in a white cottony material underneath the female. Widespread in greenhouses and indoor plants; not an outdoor problem. Depending on temperature, one generation can develop every 1-3 months.
  • Nectria canker (Nectria (Neonectria))
    Nectria canker is characterized by the production of sore-like wounds (cankers) that form on twigs, branches, and trunks. Cankers can form at leaf scars and wherever injuries occur. Injuries can be caused by pruning (particularly improper pruning), frost, hail, cracking from heavy snow or ice, sunscald, insects, or mammals. Cankers appear first as slightly sunken areas on the bark, but can grow for years, becoming target-shaped or elongated. Small branches girdled by cankers can wilt suddenly, fail to leaf out, and die.
  • Overwatering ()
    Overwatering, whether acute or chronic, is usually a death sentence for plants, especially when accompanied with poor drainage. Waterlogged soils limit oxygen uptake by plant roots, which in turn affects the plant's metabolism, nutrient uptake, water absorption and photosynthesis. Symptoms vary from slow growth to plant death and can include: leaf necrosis, dieback, root discoloration, soil blackening, foul odors, slow growth, thinning canopy and chlorosis. Overwatered conifer symptoms are similar, except they can also exhibit needle drop. Overwatering is common in irrigated landscapes, plantings at the bottoms of slopes and in poorly drained containers.
  • Powdery mildew (woody plants) (Several)
    The upper and/or (less frequently) lower surface of leaves, as well as stems of infected plants, have a white, powdery appearance. They look as though someone has h pper and/or (less frequently) lower surface of leaves, as well as stems of infected plants, have a white, powdery appearance. They look as though someone has sprinkled them with talcum powder or powdered sugar.
  • Root rot (woody plants) (Thielaviopsis species (W))
    Uncommonly damages woody plants in the landscape. Symptoms include stunting, sparse foliage, poor foliar color and die back after the death of fibrous roots
  • Soft scale (Coccidae family)
    Soft scales are usually broadly oval becoming larger and more humped as eggs mature underneath the protective cover. Look for adults on twigs or small branches and immature stages on leaves or needles.
  • Sooty molds (Several)
    Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on plant surfaces covered in honeydew excreted by insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts such as aphids, scale, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is generally harmless to plants, except when it is prolific, preventing light from reaching leaf surfaces, causing plants stress. This stress may make the plant more susceptible to other diseases or problems.
  • Sunscald ()
    Often the first symptom of sunscald is the reddish-brown discoloration of bark. Then, the bark shrinks, appearing sunken, splits and peels back in chunky patches exposing sapwood underneath. Often cankers develop. Severe sunscald may cause the entire trunk to be girdled, or only individual branches. Look for sunscald on the south, southwest or west side of trunks or branches. It most commonly affects trees suffering from water stress or young trees with thin bark. Newly planted or transplanted are most susceptible and container-grown plants are more likely to get sunscald than field-grown ones. Species particularly prone to sunscald include: Liriodendron, Acer, Tilia, Prunus, Pyrus, Malus, Juglans, and Ulmus.

Filbert (Corylus)

  • Armillaria root rot (Armillaria species)
    Also known as shoestring root rot, this is an often lethal disease of woody plant roots and lower stems. It can affect almost any conifer or hardwood species, from seedling to maturity. Trees and shrubs stressed due to drought or defoliation are more susceptible. The fungi produce tough, cord-like strands called “rhizomorphs” that grow from decaying stumps and roots through the soil. Infection of other trees or shrubs can result from penetration of intact roots by rhizomorphs. In late summer or early fall, honey-colored mushrooms of Armillaria fungi develop near the bases of colonized plants and produce spores that are distributed by wind. Infection also can occur after these spores germinate in wounds on stems or roots. Above-ground symptoms include slow growth, yellowing and dwarfing of foliage, and thin crowns. Dieback of twigs and branches also may occur. Symptoms may develop slowly and intensify over many years or kill their host rapidly. Bark on lower stems or roots may be killed and crack, with flow of resin common on conifers. Thin white mats of fungus tissue called “mycelial fans” may be present within and beneath killed bark. Stem and root wood decayed by Armillaria fungi is often water-soaked, creamy to yellow in color, and spongy or stringy in texture. Rhizomorphs are commonly seen on or beneath the bark and growing from decayed stumps and roots.
  • Birch canker (Nectria (Neonectria) galligena)
    Canker lesions first appear as small dark depressed areas on young, smooth barked stems, often killing twigs by girdling. Most cankers are centered on small branch stubs or their remains. Diseased trees usually have more than one canker. This disease is among the most important stem diseases on birch.
  • Cold/Frost Damage ()
    Any part of a plant may be affected by cold damage. In spring, it's usually tender growth, which will appear watersoaked and may turn black. Flower buds can sustain damage during winter dormancy or during the blooming period. Plants will either have reduced numbers of blooms, and hence fruit set, or won't bloom at all. In fall, if plants aren't hardened off, they can sustain cold injury in temperatures well above those tolerated by acclimated plants. Root injury is rare unless plants are in raised beds or containers. Generally younger plants are more susceptible than mature plants. Cold injury on woody plants usually presents in the form of frost cracks in wood or bark. Mature leaves may turn red, purple, brown or black and may or may not fall off the tree or shrub.
  • Gas Injury ()
    Symptoms of gas injury can range from slow growth to total plant death, and initially resemble symptoms of water stress. Gas injury may also be mistaken for compacted soil, root disease, herbicide injury or air pollution. Symptoms include: slow growth, small leaves, wilt and leaf drop. Roots may be bluish and water-soaked, and surrounding soils may turn bluish gray or black. The injury may progress over time. Gas injury may occur from gas released into the soil or into the air. Root zone injury from gas leaks in soil usually stems from gas or sewer-line breaks (rapid damage) or gases leaking from landfills (gradual damage). The extent of damage depends on the size of the leak, when it occurs (summer is worse), soil type (heavier is worse) and the amount of paving surrounding the plants. Gas injury due to atmospheric gas leaks usually stems from vents, chimneys, smokestacks or industrial equipment, and may or may not be phytotoxic. These releases are usually accidental and short-lived.
  • Girdling ()
    Decline and dieback caused by girdling, either by roots or man-made objects, usually affect mature trees moreso than young ones. Symptoms may include: thinning crown, leaf scorch, sparse foliage, leaves in tufts, branch dieback, early fall color, and leaf drop.
  • Gray mold (Botrytis blight) (Botrytis cinerea)
    Causes brown, water-soaked spots or decay on leaves or petals. Once diseased tissue encircles the stem, the shoot will wilt. Botrytis is easily diagnosed by the fluffy gray, tan or brown mold produced on blighted plant parts under moist conditions. It rapidly blights flowers. Infected petals that fall onto foliage or stems can cause additional blighting and dieback.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Mealybug (Pseudococcidae family)
    Characteristically mealybugs are covered in white granular or cotton-like wax. Mealy bug bodies are always soft and the females are oval and flat with distinct segmentation often visible in the wax. Eggs are usually laid in a white cottony material underneath the female. Widespread in greenhouses and indoor plants; not an outdoor problem. Depending on temperature, one generation can develop every 1-3 months.
  • Overwatering ()
    Overwatering, whether acute or chronic, is usually a death sentence for plants, especially when accompanied with poor drainage. Waterlogged soils limit oxygen uptake by plant roots, which in turn affects the plant's metabolism, nutrient uptake, water absorption and photosynthesis. Symptoms vary from slow growth to plant death and can include: leaf necrosis, dieback, root discoloration, soil blackening, foul odors, slow growth, thinning canopy and chlorosis. Overwatered conifer symptoms are similar, except they can also exhibit needle drop. Overwatering is common in irrigated landscapes, plantings at the bottoms of slopes and in poorly drained containers.
  • Powdery mildew (woody plants) (Several)
    The upper and/or (less frequently) lower surface of leaves, as well as stems of infected plants, have a white, powdery appearance. They look as though someone has h pper and/or (less frequently) lower surface of leaves, as well as stems of infected plants, have a white, powdery appearance. They look as though someone has sprinkled them with talcum powder or powdered sugar.
  • Sooty molds (Several)
    Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on plant surfaces covered in honeydew excreted by insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts such as aphids, scale, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is generally harmless to plants, except when it is prolific, preventing light from reaching leaf surfaces, causing plants stress. This stress may make the plant more susceptible to other diseases or problems.
  • Sunscald ()
    Often the first symptom of sunscald is the reddish-brown discoloration of bark. Then, the bark shrinks, appearing sunken, splits and peels back in chunky patches exposing sapwood underneath. Often cankers develop. Severe sunscald may cause the entire trunk to be girdled, or only individual branches. Look for sunscald on the south, southwest or west side of trunks or branches. It most commonly affects trees suffering from water stress or young trees with thin bark. Newly planted or transplanted are most susceptible and container-grown plants are more likely to get sunscald than field-grown ones. Species particularly prone to sunscald include: Liriodendron, Acer, Tilia, Prunus, Pyrus, Malus, Juglans, and Ulmus.
  • Winter salt injury ()
    De-icing salts accumulate in the soil along streets/sidewalks or may be dispersed in an aerosol spray by fast-moving traffic and high winds along wet, salted roads. Salt spray can travel hundreds of feet from the roads where it originated. Symptoms can be similar to other abiotic plant problems, but there are tell-tale indicators including: Damage is more severe on sides of plants facing roads/sidewalks; severity of damage increases with volume/speed of traffic and amount of salt used; plants downwind from roads show more damage than those upwind; most damage occurs within 60' of road and decreases with distance; branches covered by snow or otherwise sheltered show no damage; branches growing above spray drift zone show no damage. Symptoms in deciduous plants include: delayed budbreak; reduced leaf size/stem growth; off-colored foliage; scorched leaves; no flowering; bud/twig death; and branch-tip dieback leading to 'witches' broom' growth below the dead area. Symptoms on conifers include: tips of mature needles turn brown or yellow, discoloration moves down needle eventually killing all of it, then needles fall off; twig dieback; and symptoms manifest only on sides of plants facing roads/sidewalks.

Hackberry (Celtis)

  • Armillaria root rot (Armillaria species)
    Also known as shoestring root rot, this is an often lethal disease of woody plant roots and lower stems. It can affect almost any conifer or hardwood species, from seedling to maturity. Trees and shrubs stressed due to drought or defoliation are more susceptible. The fungi produce tough, cord-like strands called “rhizomorphs” that grow from decaying stumps and roots through the soil. Infection of other trees or shrubs can result from penetration of intact roots by rhizomorphs. In late summer or early fall, honey-colored mushrooms of Armillaria fungi develop near the bases of colonized plants and produce spores that are distributed by wind. Infection also can occur after these spores germinate in wounds on stems or roots. Above-ground symptoms include slow growth, yellowing and dwarfing of foliage, and thin crowns. Dieback of twigs and branches also may occur. Symptoms may develop slowly and intensify over many years or kill their host rapidly. Bark on lower stems or roots may be killed and crack, with flow of resin common on conifers. Thin white mats of fungus tissue called “mycelial fans” may be present within and beneath killed bark. Stem and root wood decayed by Armillaria fungi is often water-soaked, creamy to yellow in color, and spongy or stringy in texture. Rhizomorphs are commonly seen on or beneath the bark and growing from decayed stumps and roots.
  • Armored scale (Diaspididae family)
    Armored scales are oval, somewhat elongate (think oyster shell), small (1/20-1/8") insects that secrete a hard, waxy cover. During the adult stage, no body parts are visible except the cover. Eggs are laid under the cover and hatch into crawlers, which can move around and are susceptible to sprays and oils.
  • Cold/Frost Damage ()
    Any part of a plant may be affected by cold damage. In spring, it's usually tender growth, which will appear watersoaked and may turn black. Flower buds can sustain damage during winter dormancy or during the blooming period. Plants will either have reduced numbers of blooms, and hence fruit set, or won't bloom at all. In fall, if plants aren't hardened off, they can sustain cold injury in temperatures well above those tolerated by acclimated plants. Root injury is rare unless plants are in raised beds or containers. Generally younger plants are more susceptible than mature plants. Cold injury on woody plants usually presents in the form of frost cracks in wood or bark. Mature leaves may turn red, purple, brown or black and may or may not fall off the tree or shrub.
  • Downy mildew (Woody plants) (Peronosporaceae family)
  • Gas Injury ()
    Symptoms of gas injury can range from slow growth to total plant death, and initially resemble symptoms of water stress. Gas injury may also be mistaken for compacted soil, root disease, herbicide injury or air pollution. Symptoms include: slow growth, small leaves, wilt and leaf drop. Roots may be bluish and water-soaked, and surrounding soils may turn bluish gray or black. The injury may progress over time. Gas injury may occur from gas released into the soil or into the air. Root zone injury from gas leaks in soil usually stems from gas or sewer-line breaks (rapid damage) or gases leaking from landfills (gradual damage). The extent of damage depends on the size of the leak, when it occurs (summer is worse), soil type (heavier is worse) and the amount of paving surrounding the plants. Gas injury due to atmospheric gas leaks usually stems from vents, chimneys, smokestacks or industrial equipment, and may or may not be phytotoxic. These releases are usually accidental and short-lived.
  • Girdling ()
    Decline and dieback caused by girdling, either by roots or man-made objects, usually affect mature trees moreso than young ones. Symptoms may include: thinning crown, leaf scorch, sparse foliage, leaves in tufts, branch dieback, early fall color, and leaf drop.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Mealybug (Pseudococcidae family)
    Characteristically mealybugs are covered in white granular or cotton-like wax. Mealy bug bodies are always soft and the females are oval and flat with distinct segmentation often visible in the wax. Eggs are usually laid in a white cottony material underneath the female. Widespread in greenhouses and indoor plants; not an outdoor problem. Depending on temperature, one generation can develop every 1-3 months.
  • Nectria canker (Nectria (Neonectria))
    Nectria canker is characterized by the production of sore-like wounds (cankers) that form on twigs, branches, and trunks. Cankers can form at leaf scars and wherever injuries occur. Injuries can be caused by pruning (particularly improper pruning), frost, hail, cracking from heavy snow or ice, sunscald, insects, or mammals. Cankers appear first as slightly sunken areas on the bark, but can grow for years, becoming target-shaped or elongated. Small branches girdled by cankers can wilt suddenly, fail to leaf out, and die.
  • Powdery mildew (woody plants) (Several)
    The upper and/or (less frequently) lower surface of leaves, as well as stems of infected plants, have a white, powdery appearance. They look as though someone has h pper and/or (less frequently) lower surface of leaves, as well as stems of infected plants, have a white, powdery appearance. They look as though someone has sprinkled them with talcum powder or powdered sugar.
  • Soft scale (Coccidae family)
    Soft scales are usually broadly oval becoming larger and more humped as eggs mature underneath the protective cover. Look for adults on twigs or small branches and immature stages on leaves or needles.
  • Sunscald ()
    Often the first symptom of sunscald is the reddish-brown discoloration of bark. Then, the bark shrinks, appearing sunken, splits and peels back in chunky patches exposing sapwood underneath. Often cankers develop. Severe sunscald may cause the entire trunk to be girdled, or only individual branches. Look for sunscald on the south, southwest or west side of trunks or branches. It most commonly affects trees suffering from water stress or young trees with thin bark. Newly planted or transplanted are most susceptible and container-grown plants are more likely to get sunscald than field-grown ones. Species particularly prone to sunscald include: Liriodendron, Acer, Tilia, Prunus, Pyrus, Malus, Juglans, and Ulmus.
  • Whitefly (Aleyrodidae family)
    Adult whiteflies are small (1-2mm), white, fly-like insects related to scales, aphids and mealybugs. Their color comes from wax they create to cover their bodies. All whitefly stages are usually found on the undersides of leaves. There can be several generations per year depending on the environment.

Hawthorn (Crataegus)

  • Armillaria root rot (Armillaria species)
    Also known as shoestring root rot, this is an often lethal disease of woody plant roots and lower stems. It can affect almost any conifer or hardwood species, from seedling to maturity. Trees and shrubs stressed due to drought or defoliation are more susceptible. The fungi produce tough, cord-like strands called “rhizomorphs” that grow from decaying stumps and roots through the soil. Infection of other trees or shrubs can result from penetration of intact roots by rhizomorphs. In late summer or early fall, honey-colored mushrooms of Armillaria fungi develop near the bases of colonized plants and produce spores that are distributed by wind. Infection also can occur after these spores germinate in wounds on stems or roots. Above-ground symptoms include slow growth, yellowing and dwarfing of foliage, and thin crowns. Dieback of twigs and branches also may occur. Symptoms may develop slowly and intensify over many years or kill their host rapidly. Bark on lower stems or roots may be killed and crack, with flow of resin common on conifers. Thin white mats of fungus tissue called “mycelial fans” may be present within and beneath killed bark. Stem and root wood decayed by Armillaria fungi is often water-soaked, creamy to yellow in color, and spongy or stringy in texture. Rhizomorphs are commonly seen on or beneath the bark and growing from decayed stumps and roots.
  • Armored scale (Diaspididae family)
    Armored scales are oval, somewhat elongate (think oyster shell), small (1/20-1/8") insects that secrete a hard, waxy cover. During the adult stage, no body parts are visible except the cover. Eggs are laid under the cover and hatch into crawlers, which can move around and are susceptible to sprays and oils.
  • Birch canker (Nectria (Neonectria) galligena)
    Canker lesions first appear as small dark depressed areas on young, smooth barked stems, often killing twigs by girdling. Most cankers are centered on small branch stubs or their remains. Diseased trees usually have more than one canker. This disease is among the most important stem diseases on birch.
  • Cold/Frost Damage ()
    Any part of a plant may be affected by cold damage. In spring, it's usually tender growth, which will appear watersoaked and may turn black. Flower buds can sustain damage during winter dormancy or during the blooming period. Plants will either have reduced numbers of blooms, and hence fruit set, or won't bloom at all. In fall, if plants aren't hardened off, they can sustain cold injury in temperatures well above those tolerated by acclimated plants. Root injury is rare unless plants are in raised beds or containers. Generally younger plants are more susceptible than mature plants. Cold injury on woody plants usually presents in the form of frost cracks in wood or bark. Mature leaves may turn red, purple, brown or black and may or may not fall off the tree or shrub.
  • Cytospora canker (Cytospora species)
    A stem and branch disorder affecting many different types of conifers. In Wisconsin, Colorado Blue Spruce is the main species that is affected.
  • Gas Injury ()
    Symptoms of gas injury can range from slow growth to total plant death, and initially resemble symptoms of water stress. Gas injury may also be mistaken for compacted soil, root disease, herbicide injury or air pollution. Symptoms include: slow growth, small leaves, wilt and leaf drop. Roots may be bluish and water-soaked, and surrounding soils may turn bluish gray or black. The injury may progress over time. Gas injury may occur from gas released into the soil or into the air. Root zone injury from gas leaks in soil usually stems from gas or sewer-line breaks (rapid damage) or gases leaking from landfills (gradual damage). The extent of damage depends on the size of the leak, when it occurs (summer is worse), soil type (heavier is worse) and the amount of paving surrounding the plants. Gas injury due to atmospheric gas leaks usually stems from vents, chimneys, smokestacks or industrial equipment, and may or may not be phytotoxic. These releases are usually accidental and short-lived.
  • Girdling ()
    Decline and dieback caused by girdling, either by roots or man-made objects, usually affect mature trees moreso than young ones. Symptoms may include: thinning crown, leaf scorch, sparse foliage, leaves in tufts, branch dieback, early fall color, and leaf drop.
  • Gray mold (Botrytis blight) (Botrytis cinerea)
    Causes brown, water-soaked spots or decay on leaves or petals. Once diseased tissue encircles the stem, the shoot will wilt. Botrytis is easily diagnosed by the fluffy gray, tan or brown mold produced on blighted plant parts under moist conditions. It rapidly blights flowers. Infected petals that fall onto foliage or stems can cause additional blighting and dieback.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Inchworms (cankerworm, loopers, spanworms) (Geometridae family)
    Inchworms are a collective group of caterpillars including cankerworms, loopers and spanworms. These larvae move distinctively, contracting their bodies into a hump, then extending straight due to only 2-3 sets of prolegs. Colors vary widely depending on species. Female adults are usually wingless and lay egg masses on small twigs, under bark or in trunk crevices. Larvae descend from trees on silk strands when they're ready to pupate, landing on anything in their path.
  • Leaf scorch (Colletotrichum species)
    Caused by one of the fungi that causes anthracnose, leaf scorch usually appears on previously injured tissue in hot, humid weather. There may also be symptoms on stems. The disease will not move to healthy tissue. Symptoms include bleached, brown, or scorched tissue on leaves or stems, with small (pinhead-sized) masses of clear to yellowish spores (use a hand lens).
  • Mealybug (Pseudococcidae family)
    Characteristically mealybugs are covered in white granular or cotton-like wax. Mealy bug bodies are always soft and the females are oval and flat with distinct segmentation often visible in the wax. Eggs are usually laid in a white cottony material underneath the female. Widespread in greenhouses and indoor plants; not an outdoor problem. Depending on temperature, one generation can develop every 1-3 months.
  • Powdery mildew (woody plants) (Several)
    The upper and/or (less frequently) lower surface of leaves, as well as stems of infected plants, have a white, powdery appearance. They look as though someone has h pper and/or (less frequently) lower surface of leaves, as well as stems of infected plants, have a white, powdery appearance. They look as though someone has sprinkled them with talcum powder or powdered sugar.
  • Soft scale (Coccidae family)
    Soft scales are usually broadly oval becoming larger and more humped as eggs mature underneath the protective cover. Look for adults on twigs or small branches and immature stages on leaves or needles.
  • Sooty molds (Several)
    Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on plant surfaces covered in honeydew excreted by insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts such as aphids, scale, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is generally harmless to plants, except when it is prolific, preventing light from reaching leaf surfaces, causing plants stress. This stress may make the plant more susceptible to other diseases or problems.
  • Sunscald ()
    Often the first symptom of sunscald is the reddish-brown discoloration of bark. Then, the bark shrinks, appearing sunken, splits and peels back in chunky patches exposing sapwood underneath. Often cankers develop. Severe sunscald may cause the entire trunk to be girdled, or only individual branches. Look for sunscald on the south, southwest or west side of trunks or branches. It most commonly affects trees suffering from water stress or young trees with thin bark. Newly planted or transplanted are most susceptible and container-grown plants are more likely to get sunscald than field-grown ones. Species particularly prone to sunscald include: Liriodendron, Acer, Tilia, Prunus, Pyrus, Malus, Juglans, and Ulmus.
  • Two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae)
    This most common spider mite is miniscule (0.5mm) and prefers to colonize and lay eggs on leaf undersides of most host plants. When populations are high, these mites can be found on all leaf surfaces and stems.

Hickory (Carya)

  • Animal damage ()
    Animals that do the most damage to herbaceous plants include: deer, rabbits and woodchucks. Deer damage is distinctive because deer only have teeth on their lower jaws, so when they bite down, they must tear the plant to pull off leaves. Thus, deer damage to plants is rough or shredded-looking. It may also be several feet off of the ground. Plus, if a large amount of plant material is damaged overnight, you should suspect deer. Rabbit damage looks like someone used a pruner to cut the plant off at a clean, 45-degree angle. Woodchucks will mow down plants, or sometimes just nibble on succulent material. They are diurnal, so keep on the lookout.
  • Armillaria root rot (Armillaria species)
    Also known as shoestring root rot, this is an often lethal disease of woody plant roots and lower stems. It can affect almost any conifer or hardwood species, from seedling to maturity. Trees and shrubs stressed due to drought or defoliation are more susceptible. The fungi produce tough, cord-like strands called “rhizomorphs” that grow from decaying stumps and roots through the soil. Infection of other trees or shrubs can result from penetration of intact roots by rhizomorphs. In late summer or early fall, honey-colored mushrooms of Armillaria fungi develop near the bases of colonized plants and produce spores that are distributed by wind. Infection also can occur after these spores germinate in wounds on stems or roots. Above-ground symptoms include slow growth, yellowing and dwarfing of foliage, and thin crowns. Dieback of twigs and branches also may occur. Symptoms may develop slowly and intensify over many years or kill their host rapidly. Bark on lower stems or roots may be killed and crack, with flow of resin common on conifers. Thin white mats of fungus tissue called “mycelial fans” may be present within and beneath killed bark. Stem and root wood decayed by Armillaria fungi is often water-soaked, creamy to yellow in color, and spongy or stringy in texture. Rhizomorphs are commonly seen on or beneath the bark and growing from decayed stumps and roots.
  • Armored scale (Diaspididae family)
    Armored scales are oval, somewhat elongate (think oyster shell), small (1/20-1/8") insects that secrete a hard, waxy cover. During the adult stage, no body parts are visible except the cover. Eggs are laid under the cover and hatch into crawlers, which can move around and are susceptible to sprays and oils.
  • Birch canker (Nectria (Neonectria) galligena)
    Canker lesions first appear as small dark depressed areas on young, smooth barked stems, often killing twigs by girdling. Most cankers are centered on small branch stubs or their remains. Diseased trees usually have more than one canker. This disease is among the most important stem diseases on birch.
  • Cold/Frost Damage ()
    Any part of a plant may be affected by cold damage. In spring, it's usually tender growth, which will appear watersoaked and may turn black. Flower buds can sustain damage during winter dormancy or during the blooming period. Plants will either have reduced numbers of blooms, and hence fruit set, or won't bloom at all. In fall, if plants aren't hardened off, they can sustain cold injury in temperatures well above those tolerated by acclimated plants. Root injury is rare unless plants are in raised beds or containers. Generally younger plants are more susceptible than mature plants. Cold injury on woody plants usually presents in the form of frost cracks in wood or bark. Mature leaves may turn red, purple, brown or black and may or may not fall off the tree or shrub.
  • Gas Injury ()
    Symptoms of gas injury can range from slow growth to total plant death, and initially resemble symptoms of water stress. Gas injury may also be mistaken for compacted soil, root disease, herbicide injury or air pollution. Symptoms include: slow growth, small leaves, wilt and leaf drop. Roots may be bluish and water-soaked, and surrounding soils may turn bluish gray or black. The injury may progress over time. Gas injury may occur from gas released into the soil or into the air. Root zone injury from gas leaks in soil usually stems from gas or sewer-line breaks (rapid damage) or gases leaking from landfills (gradual damage). The extent of damage depends on the size of the leak, when it occurs (summer is worse), soil type (heavier is worse) and the amount of paving surrounding the plants. Gas injury due to atmospheric gas leaks usually stems from vents, chimneys, smokestacks or industrial equipment, and may or may not be phytotoxic. These releases are usually accidental and short-lived.
  • Girdling ()
    Decline and dieback caused by girdling, either by roots or man-made objects, usually affect mature trees moreso than young ones. Symptoms may include: thinning crown, leaf scorch, sparse foliage, leaves in tufts, branch dieback, early fall color, and leaf drop.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Inchworms (cankerworm, loopers, spanworms) (Geometridae family)
    Inchworms are a collective group of caterpillars including cankerworms, loopers and spanworms. These larvae move distinctively, contracting their bodies into a hump, then extending straight due to only 2-3 sets of prolegs. Colors vary widely depending on species. Female adults are usually wingless and lay egg masses on small twigs, under bark or in trunk crevices. Larvae descend from trees on silk strands when they're ready to pupate, landing on anything in their path.
  • Leaf scorch (Colletotrichum species)
    Caused by one of the fungi that causes anthracnose, leaf scorch usually appears on previously injured tissue in hot, humid weather. There may also be symptoms on stems. The disease will not move to healthy tissue. Symptoms include bleached, brown, or scorched tissue on leaves or stems, with small (pinhead-sized) masses of clear to yellowish spores (use a hand lens).
  • Mealybug (Pseudococcidae family)
    Characteristically mealybugs are covered in white granular or cotton-like wax. Mealy bug bodies are always soft and the females are oval and flat with distinct segmentation often visible in the wax. Eggs are usually laid in a white cottony material underneath the female. Widespread in greenhouses and indoor plants; not an outdoor problem. Depending on temperature, one generation can develop every 1-3 months.
  • Nectria canker (Nectria (Neonectria))
    Nectria canker is characterized by the production of sore-like wounds (cankers) that form on twigs, branches, and trunks. Cankers can form at leaf scars and wherever injuries occur. Injuries can be caused by pruning (particularly improper pruning), frost, hail, cracking from heavy snow or ice, sunscald, insects, or mammals. Cankers appear first as slightly sunken areas on the bark, but can grow for years, becoming target-shaped or elongated. Small branches girdled by cankers can wilt suddenly, fail to leaf out, and die.
  • Powdery mildew (woody plants) (Several)
    The upper and/or (less frequently) lower surface of leaves, as well as stems of infected plants, have a white, powdery appearance. They look as though someone has h pper and/or (less frequently) lower surface of leaves, as well as stems of infected plants, have a white, powdery appearance. They look as though someone has sprinkled them with talcum powder or powdered sugar.
  • Root rot (woody plants) (Cylindrocladium species)
    Root infections are characterized by many dark brown to black lesions often with longitudinal cracks. Severe root disease leads to stunting, wilting, yellowing and death. Stem infections of both conifers and broadleaves arise at the leaf bases and may girdle small stems. Diseased conifer needles turn yellow or red-brown. Dark lesions form in the leaves of broadleaf plants. Leaf blight leads to defoliation.
  • Soft scale (Coccidae family)
    Soft scales are usually broadly oval becoming larger and more humped as eggs mature underneath the protective cover. Look for adults on twigs or small branches and immature stages on leaves or needles.
  • Sooty molds (Several)
    Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on plant surfaces covered in honeydew excreted by insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts such as aphids, scale, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is generally harmless to plants, except when it is prolific, preventing light from reaching leaf surfaces, causing plants stress. This stress may make the plant more susceptible to other diseases or problems.
  • Sunscald ()
    Often the first symptom of sunscald is the reddish-brown discoloration of bark. Then, the bark shrinks, appearing sunken, splits and peels back in chunky patches exposing sapwood underneath. Often cankers develop. Severe sunscald may cause the entire trunk to be girdled, or only individual branches. Look for sunscald on the south, southwest or west side of trunks or branches. It most commonly affects trees suffering from water stress or young trees with thin bark. Newly planted or transplanted are most susceptible and container-grown plants are more likely to get sunscald than field-grown ones. Species particularly prone to sunscald include: Liriodendron, Acer, Tilia, Prunus, Pyrus, Malus, Juglans, and Ulmus.
  • Thrips (Order Thysanoptera)
    Minute insects usually identifiable only under high-powered magnification. Thrips have a modified, single mandible that they use to puncture plant tissue. They then feed on the sap that exudes from the resulting wound. Larvae drop to the soil to pupate. Adult insects like flowers with an open structures where the stamen and pistil are readily available.

Honeylocust (Gleditsia )

  • Nectria canker (Nectria (Neonectria))
    Nectria canker is characterized by the production of sore-like wounds (cankers) that form on twigs, branches, and trunks. Cankers can form at leaf scars and wherever injuries occur. Injuries can be caused by pruning (particularly improper pruning), frost, hail, cracking from heavy snow or ice, sunscald, insects, or mammals. Cankers appear first as slightly sunken areas on the bark, but can grow for years, becoming target-shaped or elongated. Small branches girdled by cankers can wilt suddenly, fail to leaf out, and die.

Maple (Acer)

  • Animal damage ()
    Animals that do the most damage to herbaceous plants include: deer, rabbits and woodchucks. Deer damage is distinctive because deer only have teeth on their lower jaws, so when they bite down, they must tear the plant to pull off leaves. Thus, deer damage to plants is rough or shredded-looking. It may also be several feet off of the ground. Plus, if a large amount of plant material is damaged overnight, you should suspect deer. Rabbit damage looks like someone used a pruner to cut the plant off at a clean, 45-degree angle. Woodchucks will mow down plants, or sometimes just nibble on succulent material. They are diurnal, so keep on the lookout.
  • Armillaria root rot (Armillaria species)
    Also known as shoestring root rot, this is an often lethal disease of woody plant roots and lower stems. It can affect almost any conifer or hardwood species, from seedling to maturity. Trees and shrubs stressed due to drought or defoliation are more susceptible. The fungi produce tough, cord-like strands called “rhizomorphs” that grow from decaying stumps and roots through the soil. Infection of other trees or shrubs can result from penetration of intact roots by rhizomorphs. In late summer or early fall, honey-colored mushrooms of Armillaria fungi develop near the bases of colonized plants and produce spores that are distributed by wind. Infection also can occur after these spores germinate in wounds on stems or roots. Above-ground symptoms include slow growth, yellowing and dwarfing of foliage, and thin crowns. Dieback of twigs and branches also may occur. Symptoms may develop slowly and intensify over many years or kill their host rapidly. Bark on lower stems or roots may be killed and crack, with flow of resin common on conifers. Thin white mats of fungus tissue called “mycelial fans” may be present within and beneath killed bark. Stem and root wood decayed by Armillaria fungi is often water-soaked, creamy to yellow in color, and spongy or stringy in texture. Rhizomorphs are commonly seen on or beneath the bark and growing from decayed stumps and roots.
  • Armored scale (Diaspididae family)
    Armored scales are oval, somewhat elongate (think oyster shell), small (1/20-1/8") insects that secrete a hard, waxy cover. During the adult stage, no body parts are visible except the cover. Eggs are laid under the cover and hatch into crawlers, which can move around and are susceptible to sprays and oils.
  • Cold/Frost Damage ()
    Any part of a plant may be affected by cold damage. In spring, it's usually tender growth, which will appear watersoaked and may turn black. Flower buds can sustain damage during winter dormancy or during the blooming period. Plants will either have reduced numbers of blooms, and hence fruit set, or won't bloom at all. In fall, if plants aren't hardened off, they can sustain cold injury in temperatures well above those tolerated by acclimated plants. Root injury is rare unless plants are in raised beds or containers. Generally younger plants are more susceptible than mature plants. Cold injury on woody plants usually presents in the form of frost cracks in wood or bark. Mature leaves may turn red, purple, brown or black and may or may not fall off the tree or shrub.
  • Damping off (Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia solani)
    Seedlings killed by damping-off initially are healthy, but shortly after emergence, become infected at or just below the soil line. Lower stems of seedlings collapse, seedlings fall over onto the soil surface and subsequently die. Seedlings with damping-off will die and cannot be saved.
  • Gas Injury ()
    Symptoms of gas injury can range from slow growth to total plant death, and initially resemble symptoms of water stress. Gas injury may also be mistaken for compacted soil, root disease, herbicide injury or air pollution. Symptoms include: slow growth, small leaves, wilt and leaf drop. Roots may be bluish and water-soaked, and surrounding soils may turn bluish gray or black. The injury may progress over time. Gas injury may occur from gas released into the soil or into the air. Root zone injury from gas leaks in soil usually stems from gas or sewer-line breaks (rapid damage) or gases leaking from landfills (gradual damage). The extent of damage depends on the size of the leak, when it occurs (summer is worse), soil type (heavier is worse) and the amount of paving surrounding the plants. Gas injury due to atmospheric gas leaks usually stems from vents, chimneys, smokestacks or industrial equipment, and may or may not be phytotoxic. These releases are usually accidental and short-lived.
  • Girdling ()
    Decline and dieback caused by girdling, either by roots or man-made objects, usually affect mature trees moreso than young ones. Symptoms may include: thinning crown, leaf scorch, sparse foliage, leaves in tufts, branch dieback, early fall color, and leaf drop.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Inchworms (cankerworm, loopers, spanworms) (Geometridae family)
    Inchworms are a collective group of caterpillars including cankerworms, loopers and spanworms. These larvae move distinctively, contracting their bodies into a hump, then extending straight due to only 2-3 sets of prolegs. Colors vary widely depending on species. Female adults are usually wingless and lay egg masses on small twigs, under bark or in trunk crevices. Larvae descend from trees on silk strands when they're ready to pupate, landing on anything in their path.
  • Mealybug (Pseudococcidae family)
    Characteristically mealybugs are covered in white granular or cotton-like wax. Mealy bug bodies are always soft and the females are oval and flat with distinct segmentation often visible in the wax. Eggs are usually laid in a white cottony material underneath the female. Widespread in greenhouses and indoor plants; not an outdoor problem. Depending on temperature, one generation can develop every 1-3 months.
  • Root rot (woody plants) (Phytophthora species (W))
    Gardeners often become aware of root rot problems when they see above ground symptoms of the disease. Plants with root rot are often stunted or wilted, and may have leaves with a yellow or red color, suggestareardenersadners often become aware of root rot problems when they see above ground symptoms of the disease. Plants with root rot are often stunted or wilted, and may have leaves with a yellow or red color, suggesting a nutrient deficiency. Examination of the roots of these plants reveals tissue that is soft and brown.
  • Root rot (woody plants) (Pythium species (W))
    Gardeners often become aware of root rot problems when they see above ground symptoms of the disease. Plants with root rot are often stunted or wilted, and may have leaves with a yellow or red color, suggesting a nutrient deficiency. Examination of the roots of these plants reveals tissue that is soft and brown.
  • Root rot (woody plants) (Rhizoctonia species (W))
    Symptoms on the above ground parts of larger plants include necrotic spots and blotches on the leaves, shoot blight and dieback.
  • Root rot (woody plants) (Thielaviopsis species (W))
    Uncommonly damages woody plants in the landscape. Symptoms include stunting, sparse foliage, poor foliar color and die back after the death of fibrous roots
  • Soft scale (Coccidae family)
    Soft scales are usually broadly oval becoming larger and more humped as eggs mature underneath the protective cover. Look for adults on twigs or small branches and immature stages on leaves or needles.
  • Sooty molds (Several)
    Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on plant surfaces covered in honeydew excreted by insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts such as aphids, scale, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is generally harmless to plants, except when it is prolific, preventing light from reaching leaf surfaces, causing plants stress. This stress may make the plant more susceptible to other diseases or problems.
  • Sunscald ()
    Often the first symptom of sunscald is the reddish-brown discoloration of bark. Then, the bark shrinks, appearing sunken, splits and peels back in chunky patches exposing sapwood underneath. Often cankers develop. Severe sunscald may cause the entire trunk to be girdled, or only individual branches. Look for sunscald on the south, southwest or west side of trunks or branches. It most commonly affects trees suffering from water stress or young trees with thin bark. Newly planted or transplanted are most susceptible and container-grown plants are more likely to get sunscald than field-grown ones. Species particularly prone to sunscald include: Liriodendron, Acer, Tilia, Prunus, Pyrus, Malus, Juglans, and Ulmus.
  • Thrips (Order Thysanoptera)
    Minute insects usually identifiable only under high-powered magnification. Thrips have a modified, single mandible that they use to puncture plant tissue. They then feed on the sap that exudes from the resulting wound. Larvae drop to the soil to pupate. Adult insects like flowers with an open structures where the stamen and pistil are readily available.
  • Whitefly (Aleyrodidae family)
    Adult whiteflies are small (1-2mm), white, fly-like insects related to scales, aphids and mealybugs. Their color comes from wax they create to cover their bodies. All whitefly stages are usually found on the undersides of leaves. There can be several generations per year depending on the environment.
  • Winter salt injury ()
    De-icing salts accumulate in the soil along streets/sidewalks or may be dispersed in an aerosol spray by fast-moving traffic and high winds along wet, salted roads. Salt spray can travel hundreds of feet from the roads where it originated. Symptoms can be similar to other abiotic plant problems, but there are tell-tale indicators including: Damage is more severe on sides of plants facing roads/sidewalks; severity of damage increases with volume/speed of traffic and amount of salt used; plants downwind from roads show more damage than those upwind; most damage occurs within 60' of road and decreases with distance; branches covered by snow or otherwise sheltered show no damage; branches growing above spray drift zone show no damage. Symptoms in deciduous plants include: delayed budbreak; reduced leaf size/stem growth; off-colored foliage; scorched leaves; no flowering; bud/twig death; and branch-tip dieback leading to 'witches' broom' growth below the dead area. Symptoms on conifers include: tips of mature needles turn brown or yellow, discoloration moves down needle eventually killing all of it, then needles fall off; twig dieback; and symptoms manifest only on sides of plants facing roads/sidewalks.

Plum / Cherry (Prunus)

  • Black knot (Apiosporina morbosa)
    During the first year of infection, black knot-infected trees develop greenish-brown to brown swellings on affected branches and trunks. During the second year, these swellings enlarge into the ugly, black, erupting tumors (galls) characteristic of the disease. Older gall tissue (greater than two years old) often dies and then is colonized by fungi that give the gall a whitish or pinkish color. Severe black knot infections may cause general tree decline or death if galls girdle large limbs or tree trunks.

Redbud (Cercis)

  • Armillaria root rot (Armillaria species)
    Also known as shoestring root rot, this is an often lethal disease of woody plant roots and lower stems. It can affect almost any conifer or hardwood species, from seedling to maturity. Trees and shrubs stressed due to drought or defoliation are more susceptible. The fungi produce tough, cord-like strands called “rhizomorphs” that grow from decaying stumps and roots through the soil. Infection of other trees or shrubs can result from penetration of intact roots by rhizomorphs. In late summer or early fall, honey-colored mushrooms of Armillaria fungi develop near the bases of colonized plants and produce spores that are distributed by wind. Infection also can occur after these spores germinate in wounds on stems or roots. Above-ground symptoms include slow growth, yellowing and dwarfing of foliage, and thin crowns. Dieback of twigs and branches also may occur. Symptoms may develop slowly and intensify over many years or kill their host rapidly. Bark on lower stems or roots may be killed and crack, with flow of resin common on conifers. Thin white mats of fungus tissue called “mycelial fans” may be present within and beneath killed bark. Stem and root wood decayed by Armillaria fungi is often water-soaked, creamy to yellow in color, and spongy or stringy in texture. Rhizomorphs are commonly seen on or beneath the bark and growing from decayed stumps and roots.
  • Armored scale (Diaspididae family)
    Armored scales are oval, somewhat elongate (think oyster shell), small (1/20-1/8") insects that secrete a hard, waxy cover. During the adult stage, no body parts are visible except the cover. Eggs are laid under the cover and hatch into crawlers, which can move around and are susceptible to sprays and oils.
  • Birch canker (Nectria (Neonectria) galligena)
    Canker lesions first appear as small dark depressed areas on young, smooth barked stems, often killing twigs by girdling. Most cankers are centered on small branch stubs or their remains. Diseased trees usually have more than one canker. This disease is among the most important stem diseases on birch.
  • Cold/Frost Damage ()
    Any part of a plant may be affected by cold damage. In spring, it's usually tender growth, which will appear watersoaked and may turn black. Flower buds can sustain damage during winter dormancy or during the blooming period. Plants will either have reduced numbers of blooms, and hence fruit set, or won't bloom at all. In fall, if plants aren't hardened off, they can sustain cold injury in temperatures well above those tolerated by acclimated plants. Root injury is rare unless plants are in raised beds or containers. Generally younger plants are more susceptible than mature plants. Cold injury on woody plants usually presents in the form of frost cracks in wood or bark. Mature leaves may turn red, purple, brown or black and may or may not fall off the tree or shrub.
  • Damping off (Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia solani)
    Seedlings killed by damping-off initially are healthy, but shortly after emergence, become infected at or just below the soil line. Lower stems of seedlings collapse, seedlings fall over onto the soil surface and subsequently die. Seedlings with damping-off will die and cannot be saved.
  • Downy mildew (Woody plants) (Peronosporaceae family)
  • Gas Injury ()
    Symptoms of gas injury can range from slow growth to total plant death, and initially resemble symptoms of water stress. Gas injury may also be mistaken for compacted soil, root disease, herbicide injury or air pollution. Symptoms include: slow growth, small leaves, wilt and leaf drop. Roots may be bluish and water-soaked, and surrounding soils may turn bluish gray or black. The injury may progress over time. Gas injury may occur from gas released into the soil or into the air. Root zone injury from gas leaks in soil usually stems from gas or sewer-line breaks (rapid damage) or gases leaking from landfills (gradual damage). The extent of damage depends on the size of the leak, when it occurs (summer is worse), soil type (heavier is worse) and the amount of paving surrounding the plants. Gas injury due to atmospheric gas leaks usually stems from vents, chimneys, smokestacks or industrial equipment, and may or may not be phytotoxic. These releases are usually accidental and short-lived.
  • Girdling ()
    Decline and dieback caused by girdling, either by roots or man-made objects, usually affect mature trees moreso than young ones. Symptoms may include: thinning crown, leaf scorch, sparse foliage, leaves in tufts, branch dieback, early fall color, and leaf drop.
  • Gray mold (Botrytis blight) (Botrytis cinerea)
    Causes brown, water-soaked spots or decay on leaves or petals. Once diseased tissue encircles the stem, the shoot will wilt. Botrytis is easily diagnosed by the fluffy gray, tan or brown mold produced on blighted plant parts under moist conditions. It rapidly blights flowers. Infected petals that fall onto foliage or stems can cause additional blighting and dieback.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Root rot (woody plants) (Cylindrocladium species)
    Root infections are characterized by many dark brown to black lesions often with longitudinal cracks. Severe root disease leads to stunting, wilting, yellowing and death. Stem infections of both conifers and broadleaves arise at the leaf bases and may girdle small stems. Diseased conifer needles turn yellow or red-brown. Dark lesions form in the leaves of broadleaf plants. Leaf blight leads to defoliation.
  • Soft scale (Coccidae family)
    Soft scales are usually broadly oval becoming larger and more humped as eggs mature underneath the protective cover. Look for adults on twigs or small branches and immature stages on leaves or needles.
  • Sooty molds (Several)
    Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on plant surfaces covered in honeydew excreted by insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts such as aphids, scale, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is generally harmless to plants, except when it is prolific, preventing light from reaching leaf surfaces, causing plants stress. This stress may make the plant more susceptible to other diseases or problems.
  • Sunscald ()
    Often the first symptom of sunscald is the reddish-brown discoloration of bark. Then, the bark shrinks, appearing sunken, splits and peels back in chunky patches exposing sapwood underneath. Often cankers develop. Severe sunscald may cause the entire trunk to be girdled, or only individual branches. Look for sunscald on the south, southwest or west side of trunks or branches. It most commonly affects trees suffering from water stress or young trees with thin bark. Newly planted or transplanted are most susceptible and container-grown plants are more likely to get sunscald than field-grown ones. Species particularly prone to sunscald include: Liriodendron, Acer, Tilia, Prunus, Pyrus, Malus, Juglans, and Ulmus.
  • Whitefly (Aleyrodidae family)
    Adult whiteflies are small (1-2mm), white, fly-like insects related to scales, aphids and mealybugs. Their color comes from wax they create to cover their bodies. All whitefly stages are usually found on the undersides of leaves. There can be several generations per year depending on the environment.

Russian Olive (Elaeagnus )

  • Phomopsis canker (Phomopsis species)
    Kills seedlings/saplings and causes cankers on larger plants. Shriveled, faded foliage can be found on dead branches and small trees from midsummer to fall. Young cankers in smooth-barked branches are reddish-brown to black. An amber-brown gum is often exuded from lesions. Cankers on trunks and scaffold limbs appear as dark, depressed areas leading to splits in the bark. Within a month after infection, pimply eruptions appear on the surface. Initially grayish-tan, eruptions darken with age and eventually turn black. Usually they are abundant by the time the disease is detected but remain prominent for at least a year.

Serviceberry (Amelanchier)

  • Animal damage ()
    Animals that do the most damage to herbaceous plants include: deer, rabbits and woodchucks. Deer damage is distinctive because deer only have teeth on their lower jaws, so when they bite down, they must tear the plant to pull off leaves. Thus, deer damage to plants is rough or shredded-looking. It may also be several feet off of the ground. Plus, if a large amount of plant material is damaged overnight, you should suspect deer. Rabbit damage looks like someone used a pruner to cut the plant off at a clean, 45-degree angle. Woodchucks will mow down plants, or sometimes just nibble on succulent material. They are diurnal, so keep on the lookout.
  • Armillaria root rot (Armillaria species)
    Also known as shoestring root rot, this is an often lethal disease of woody plant roots and lower stems. It can affect almost any conifer or hardwood species, from seedling to maturity. Trees and shrubs stressed due to drought or defoliation are more susceptible. The fungi produce tough, cord-like strands called “rhizomorphs” that grow from decaying stumps and roots through the soil. Infection of other trees or shrubs can result from penetration of intact roots by rhizomorphs. In late summer or early fall, honey-colored mushrooms of Armillaria fungi develop near the bases of colonized plants and produce spores that are distributed by wind. Infection also can occur after these spores germinate in wounds on stems or roots. Above-ground symptoms include slow growth, yellowing and dwarfing of foliage, and thin crowns. Dieback of twigs and branches also may occur. Symptoms may develop slowly and intensify over many years or kill their host rapidly. Bark on lower stems or roots may be killed and crack, with flow of resin common on conifers. Thin white mats of fungus tissue called “mycelial fans” may be present within and beneath killed bark. Stem and root wood decayed by Armillaria fungi is often water-soaked, creamy to yellow in color, and spongy or stringy in texture. Rhizomorphs are commonly seen on or beneath the bark and growing from decayed stumps and roots.
  • Armored scale (Diaspididae family)
    Armored scales are oval, somewhat elongate (think oyster shell), small (1/20-1/8") insects that secrete a hard, waxy cover. During the adult stage, no body parts are visible except the cover. Eggs are laid under the cover and hatch into crawlers, which can move around and are susceptible to sprays and oils.
  • Cold/Frost Damage ()
    Any part of a plant may be affected by cold damage. In spring, it's usually tender growth, which will appear watersoaked and may turn black. Flower buds can sustain damage during winter dormancy or during the blooming period. Plants will either have reduced numbers of blooms, and hence fruit set, or won't bloom at all. In fall, if plants aren't hardened off, they can sustain cold injury in temperatures well above those tolerated by acclimated plants. Root injury is rare unless plants are in raised beds or containers. Generally younger plants are more susceptible than mature plants. Cold injury on woody plants usually presents in the form of frost cracks in wood or bark. Mature leaves may turn red, purple, brown or black and may or may not fall off the tree or shrub.
  • Damping off (Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia solani)
    Seedlings killed by damping-off initially are healthy, but shortly after emergence, become infected at or just below the soil line. Lower stems of seedlings collapse, seedlings fall over onto the soil surface and subsequently die. Seedlings with damping-off will die and cannot be saved.
  • Gas Injury ()
    Symptoms of gas injury can range from slow growth to total plant death, and initially resemble symptoms of water stress. Gas injury may also be mistaken for compacted soil, root disease, herbicide injury or air pollution. Symptoms include: slow growth, small leaves, wilt and leaf drop. Roots may be bluish and water-soaked, and surrounding soils may turn bluish gray or black. The injury may progress over time. Gas injury may occur from gas released into the soil or into the air. Root zone injury from gas leaks in soil usually stems from gas or sewer-line breaks (rapid damage) or gases leaking from landfills (gradual damage). The extent of damage depends on the size of the leak, when it occurs (summer is worse), soil type (heavier is worse) and the amount of paving surrounding the plants. Gas injury due to atmospheric gas leaks usually stems from vents, chimneys, smokestacks or industrial equipment, and may or may not be phytotoxic. These releases are usually accidental and short-lived.
  • Girdling ()
    Decline and dieback caused by girdling, either by roots or man-made objects, usually affect mature trees moreso than young ones. Symptoms may include: thinning crown, leaf scorch, sparse foliage, leaves in tufts, branch dieback, early fall color, and leaf drop.
  • Gray mold (Botrytis blight) (Botrytis cinerea)
    Causes brown, water-soaked spots or decay on leaves or petals. Once diseased tissue encircles the stem, the shoot will wilt. Botrytis is easily diagnosed by the fluffy gray, tan or brown mold produced on blighted plant parts under moist conditions. It rapidly blights flowers. Infected petals that fall onto foliage or stems can cause additional blighting and dieback.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Inchworms (cankerworm, loopers, spanworms) (Geometridae family)
    Inchworms are a collective group of caterpillars including cankerworms, loopers and spanworms. These larvae move distinctively, contracting their bodies into a hump, then extending straight due to only 2-3 sets of prolegs. Colors vary widely depending on species. Female adults are usually wingless and lay egg masses on small twigs, under bark or in trunk crevices. Larvae descend from trees on silk strands when they're ready to pupate, landing on anything in their path.
  • Mealybug (Pseudococcidae family)
    Characteristically mealybugs are covered in white granular or cotton-like wax. Mealy bug bodies are always soft and the females are oval and flat with distinct segmentation often visible in the wax. Eggs are usually laid in a white cottony material underneath the female. Widespread in greenhouses and indoor plants; not an outdoor problem. Depending on temperature, one generation can develop every 1-3 months.
  • Root rot (Fusarium species (W))
    Symptoms include stunting, chlorosis, root necrosis and death of woody plants. Symptoms are dependent on cultural practices and the local environment.
  • Root rot (woody plants) (Phytophthora species (W))
    Gardeners often become aware of root rot problems when they see above ground symptoms of the disease. Plants with root rot are often stunted or wilted, and may have leaves with a yellow or red color, suggestareardenersadners often become aware of root rot problems when they see above ground symptoms of the disease. Plants with root rot are often stunted or wilted, and may have leaves with a yellow or red color, suggesting a nutrient deficiency. Examination of the roots of these plants reveals tissue that is soft and brown.
  • Root rot (woody plants) (Pythium species (W))
    Gardeners often become aware of root rot problems when they see above ground symptoms of the disease. Plants with root rot are often stunted or wilted, and may have leaves with a yellow or red color, suggesting a nutrient deficiency. Examination of the roots of these plants reveals tissue that is soft and brown.
  • Root rot (woody plants) (Rhizoctonia species (W))
    Symptoms on the above ground parts of larger plants include necrotic spots and blotches on the leaves, shoot blight and dieback.
  • Root rot (woody plants) (Thielaviopsis species (W))
    Uncommonly damages woody plants in the landscape. Symptoms include stunting, sparse foliage, poor foliar color and die back after the death of fibrous roots
  • Soft scale (Coccidae family)
    Soft scales are usually broadly oval becoming larger and more humped as eggs mature underneath the protective cover. Look for adults on twigs or small branches and immature stages on leaves or needles.
  • Sooty molds (Several)
    Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on plant surfaces covered in honeydew excreted by insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts such as aphids, scale, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is generally harmless to plants, except when it is prolific, preventing light from reaching leaf surfaces, causing plants stress. This stress may make the plant more susceptible to other diseases or problems.
  • Sunscald ()
    Often the first symptom of sunscald is the reddish-brown discoloration of bark. Then, the bark shrinks, appearing sunken, splits and peels back in chunky patches exposing sapwood underneath. Often cankers develop. Severe sunscald may cause the entire trunk to be girdled, or only individual branches. Look for sunscald on the south, southwest or west side of trunks or branches. It most commonly affects trees suffering from water stress or young trees with thin bark. Newly planted or transplanted are most susceptible and container-grown plants are more likely to get sunscald than field-grown ones. Species particularly prone to sunscald include: Liriodendron, Acer, Tilia, Prunus, Pyrus, Malus, Juglans, and Ulmus.
  • Whitefly (Aleyrodidae family)
    Adult whiteflies are small (1-2mm), white, fly-like insects related to scales, aphids and mealybugs. Their color comes from wax they create to cover their bodies. All whitefly stages are usually found on the undersides of leaves. There can be several generations per year depending on the environment.
  • Winter salt injury ()
    De-icing salts accumulate in the soil along streets/sidewalks or may be dispersed in an aerosol spray by fast-moving traffic and high winds along wet, salted roads. Salt spray can travel hundreds of feet from the roads where it originated. Symptoms can be similar to other abiotic plant problems, but there are tell-tale indicators including: Damage is more severe on sides of plants facing roads/sidewalks; severity of damage increases with volume/speed of traffic and amount of salt used; plants downwind from roads show more damage than those upwind; most damage occurs within 60' of road and decreases with distance; branches covered by snow or otherwise sheltered show no damage; branches growing above spray drift zone show no damage. Symptoms in deciduous plants include: delayed budbreak; reduced leaf size/stem growth; off-colored foliage; scorched leaves; no flowering; bud/twig death; and branch-tip dieback leading to 'witches' broom' growth below the dead area. Symptoms on conifers include: tips of mature needles turn brown or yellow, discoloration moves down needle eventually killing all of it, then needles fall off; twig dieback; and symptoms manifest only on sides of plants facing roads/sidewalks.

Woody Ornamentals-Vines

Clematis (Clematis)

  • Animal damage ()
    Animals that do the most damage to herbaceous plants include: deer, rabbits and woodchucks. Deer damage is distinctive because deer only have teeth on their lower jaws, so when they bite down, they must tear the plant to pull off leaves. Thus, deer damage to plants is rough or shredded-looking. It may also be several feet off of the ground. Plus, if a large amount of plant material is damaged overnight, you should suspect deer. Rabbit damage looks like someone used a pruner to cut the plant off at a clean, 45-degree angle. Woodchucks will mow down plants, or sometimes just nibble on succulent material. They are diurnal, so keep on the lookout.
  • Cucumber mosaic (Cucumber mosaic virus)
    Viruses can only be definitively diagnosed in a lab under high magnification or with various serological test kits. Viruses can retard plant growth and change the appearance of foliage, flowers and fruits. Virus-infected leaves can become spotted, streaked or mottled; they may be distorted or stunted. Veins may lose their color or develop outgrowths. Flowers can be dwarfed, deformed, streaked, faded, or they can remain green and develop into leaf-like structures.
  • Gray mold (Botrytis blight) (Botrytis cinerea)
    Causes brown, water-soaked spots or decay on leaves or petals. Once diseased tissue encircles the stem, the shoot will wilt. Botrytis is easily diagnosed by the fluffy gray, tan or brown mold produced on blighted plant parts under moist conditions. It rapidly blights flowers. Infected petals that fall onto foliage or stems can cause additional blighting and dieback.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Inchworms (cankerworm, loopers, spanworms) (Geometridae family)
    Inchworms are a collective group of caterpillars including cankerworms, loopers and spanworms. These larvae move distinctively, contracting their bodies into a hump, then extending straight due to only 2-3 sets of prolegs. Colors vary widely depending on species. Female adults are usually wingless and lay egg masses on small twigs, under bark or in trunk crevices. Larvae descend from trees on silk strands when they're ready to pupate, landing on anything in their path.
  • Leaf scorch (Colletotrichum species)
    Caused by one of the fungi that causes anthracnose, leaf scorch usually appears on previously injured tissue in hot, humid weather. There may also be symptoms on stems. The disease will not move to healthy tissue. Symptoms include bleached, brown, or scorched tissue on leaves or stems, with small (pinhead-sized) masses of clear to yellowish spores (use a hand lens).
  • Overwatering ()
    Overwatering, whether acute or chronic, is usually a death sentence for plants, especially when accompanied with poor drainage. Waterlogged soils limit oxygen uptake by plant roots, which in turn affects the plant's metabolism, nutrient uptake, water absorption and photosynthesis. Symptoms vary from slow growth to plant death and can include: leaf necrosis, dieback, root discoloration, soil blackening, foul odors, slow growth, thinning canopy and chlorosis. Overwatered conifer symptoms are similar, except they can also exhibit needle drop. Overwatering is common in irrigated landscapes, plantings at the bottoms of slopes and in poorly drained containers.
  • Powdery mildew (woody plants) (Several)
    The upper and/or (less frequently) lower surface of leaves, as well as stems of infected plants, have a white, powdery appearance. They look as though someone has h pper and/or (less frequently) lower surface of leaves, as well as stems of infected plants, have a white, powdery appearance. They look as though someone has sprinkled them with talcum powder or powdered sugar.
  • Root rot (woody plants) (Phytophthora species (W))
    Gardeners often become aware of root rot problems when they see above ground symptoms of the disease. Plants with root rot are often stunted or wilted, and may have leaves with a yellow or red color, suggestareardenersadners often become aware of root rot problems when they see above ground symptoms of the disease. Plants with root rot are often stunted or wilted, and may have leaves with a yellow or red color, suggesting a nutrient deficiency. Examination of the roots of these plants reveals tissue that is soft and brown.
  • Root rot (woody plants) (Pythium species (W))
    Gardeners often become aware of root rot problems when they see above ground symptoms of the disease. Plants with root rot are often stunted or wilted, and may have leaves with a yellow or red color, suggesting a nutrient deficiency. Examination of the roots of these plants reveals tissue that is soft and brown.
  • Root rot (woody plants) (Rhizoctonia species (W))
    Symptoms on the above ground parts of larger plants include necrotic spots and blotches on the leaves, shoot blight and dieback.
  • Root rot (woody plants) (Thielaviopsis species (W))
    Uncommonly damages woody plants in the landscape. Symptoms include stunting, sparse foliage, poor foliar color and die back after the death of fibrous roots
  • Soft scale (Coccidae family)
    Soft scales are usually broadly oval becoming larger and more humped as eggs mature underneath the protective cover. Look for adults on twigs or small branches and immature stages on leaves or needles.
  • Sooty molds (Several)
    Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on plant surfaces covered in honeydew excreted by insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts such as aphids, scale, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is generally harmless to plants, except when it is prolific, preventing light from reaching leaf surfaces, causing plants stress. This stress may make the plant more susceptible to other diseases or problems.
  • Two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae)
    This most common spider mite is miniscule (0.5mm) and prefers to colonize and lay eggs on leaf undersides of most host plants. When populations are high, these mites can be found on all leaf surfaces and stems.
  • Whitefly (Aleyrodidae family)
    Adult whiteflies are small (1-2mm), white, fly-like insects related to scales, aphids and mealybugs. Their color comes from wax they create to cover their bodies. All whitefly stages are usually found on the undersides of leaves. There can be several generations per year depending on the environment.
  • Winter salt injury ()
    De-icing salts accumulate in the soil along streets/sidewalks or may be dispersed in an aerosol spray by fast-moving traffic and high winds along wet, salted roads. Salt spray can travel hundreds of feet from the roads where it originated. Symptoms can be similar to other abiotic plant problems, but there are tell-tale indicators including: Damage is more severe on sides of plants facing roads/sidewalks; severity of damage increases with volume/speed of traffic and amount of salt used; plants downwind from roads show more damage than those upwind; most damage occurs within 60' of road and decreases with distance; branches covered by snow or otherwise sheltered show no damage; branches growing above spray drift zone show no damage. Symptoms in deciduous plants include: delayed budbreak; reduced leaf size/stem growth; off-colored foliage; scorched leaves; no flowering; bud/twig death; and branch-tip dieback leading to 'witches' broom' growth below the dead area. Symptoms on conifers include: tips of mature needles turn brown or yellow, discoloration moves down needle eventually killing all of it, then needles fall off; twig dieback; and symptoms manifest only on sides of plants facing roads/sidewalks.

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