Click for New Updated Fact Sheet on Boxwood Blight DE fact sheet Sept 2016
The fungus Calonectria pseudonaviculata (Cylindrocladium pseudonaviculatum) causes severe defoliation and death of container grown boxwoods, and dieback in older plantings. Most boxwood species are susceptible, including American and English boxwood (Buxus sempervirens), little leaf boxwood (B. microphylla) and hybrids such as B. sinica. Pachysandra is a host, and can be a source of spores capable of causing new infections. Sweetbox (Sarcococca) has recently been identified as a host. There are a number of other diseases that affect boxwood, and environmental stress plays a role in susceptibility and predisposition to disease. Timely and accurate identification by microscopy is important for management of this aggressive disease...
NFG 9/20/16