brown spots on pachysandra - volutella symptoms

Volutella symptoms on Pachysandra. Photo: David L. Clement, University of Maryland

Updated: March 7, 2023

***It is no longer recommended to plant Pachysandra terminalis (Japanese spurge), especially near or adjacent to natural areas, because it is an alien invasive plant***

Link invasive plant atlas: http://www.invasiveplantatlas.org/subject.html?sub=3058

volutella on pachysandra
Volutella symptoms on pachysandra

The disease symptoms of this fungal disease on pachysandra include brown or black spots on leaves that may enlarge and blight the entire leaf or stem. Infected plants may turn black and become soft. In wet weather pink spores will be visible on infected surfaces. Under drier conditions, the brown spots may have a target appearance or have concentric rings.

volutella symptoms on a bed of pachysandra
Volutella symptoms on a bed of pachysandra

Management

volutella on pachysandra stems
Volutella symptoms on pachysandra stems

Avoid overhead irrigation and thin plantings to increase air circulation that will promote faster leaf drying. Thinning can be accomplished by selective pruning of infected leaves or by mechanical removal such as with a lawn mower set at the highest setting. Removal of fallen debris and clean up of old leaves etc. will also help reduce the amount of moisture trapped and will promote faster drying of the planting bed. 

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