This delph Blue Mirror seedling (seed planted in early spring) is in a patch of about 12 others of the same kind. Today I saw that it had completely wilted. Others are all fine. It's still firmly attached to the soil, so it's not crown rot. Any ideas?
There are two crown rots that typically affect Delphiniums.
1. Diplodina crown rot causes a crown rot noticeable after the plants have grown for two or more seasons. Infected plants may winter kill or produce shoots which later rot at the base. The disease is worse when moisture is excessive and the tissues are succulent.
2.Crown rot caused by Sclerotium rolfsii causes sudden wilting and death of the plant. The lower leaves become wilted and badly infected plants are easily pulled up.
If its not a crown rot I would venture to say it is Verticillium wilt.
