“Oh, great,” I thought when I read the brief article on the Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program Facebook page, “Just what we all need, another fungal disease of ornamentals.” This emerging disease is called vascular streak dieback (VSD), and symptoms were identified in 2023 on various species of ornamental trees in six states, including Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Growers and nurseries in several other states have also reported stock infected with VSD.
The trees most affected in Virginia are native redbud (Cercis canadensis), flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), and maples (Acer spp.). Some other native species that have been diagnosed with the disease include serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis), southern wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera), black gum (Nyssa sylvatica), and tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera). See VCE Publication SPES-483P “Vascular Streak Dieback: An Emerging Problem on Woody Ornamentals in the United States” for a complete list of the aff...