Peony Measles

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Cultivate your own garden, said Voltaire at the end of Candide.  Looking homeward, I note that peony measles, first seen in mid-July has continued to develop.  Measles, or red spot or leaf blotch or Cladosporium leaf blotch disease are alternative names for this fungal disease. It is caused by, you guessed it, Cladosporium paeoniae or, who knew, with its new moniker, Dicholocladosporium chlorocephalum. 

 

  On the upper leaf surface, reddish and brownish “measles”-like spots develop earlier in summer, now coalescing into purple blotches. I noticed this week a different symptom on the lower leaf surfaces, described quite aptly by Nancy Pataky of the University of Illinois as “dull chestnut brown” in color.

 

Peony measles on undersurface of leaf
Cladosporium blotchon undersurface of peony leaflet

 

  Cladosporium blotch truly starts to look unsightly now and this worsens as the growing season wanes. The fungus overwinters on dead stems and foliage, which is a real hint for control. Sanitation, which OSU Extension Educator Tom De Haas constantly reminds us is a crucial key to plant disease management – certainly is the key for Cladosporium blotch control. Horticulturist, purge, not thyself, but peony debris – in fall or early next spring.

 

Peony blossom
The point of peonies

 

Peonies - up close
Enjoy peonies up close

 

Peonies in the rain
Peonies glisten in the rain

 

  The good news is that peony measles is not a serious health problem for this lovely plant. So – sanitize. Or if you cannot bear to ever look at measles again, get more modern peony varieties or start a preventive fungicide program next spring.

 

Peonies at the Summer Palace in Beijing
Focus on the beauty of peonies not the measles: here at the Summer Palace in Beijing