Rust on amelanchier

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kolomikta Somerville, MA Jun 28, 2019

I grow two amelanchiers so birds can feed on the fruit. In two very wet springs in New England, the amelanchiers have gotten both powdery mildew and a disgusting orange rust, which ruins the fruit. Would you address the rust, or just chalk it up to a bad season? If you would address it, what would you do?

Post #10433196
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ViburnumValley Scott County, KY(Zone 5b) Jun 30, 2019

Serviceberry is a native species, which can and does tolerate occasional endemic insects and diseases.

The rust may ruin the fruit for you to observe, especially with relatively young plants where the impact seems large. As the plants grow larger and produce larger amounts of fruit, the impact will be dispersed - in rainy as well as less rainy years.

Learn all you can about such alternate host diseases, how they occur in the environment, and why these species have persisted without any help from gardeners.

Post #10433619
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kolomikta Somerville, MA Jul 02, 2019

The species may persist, but that doesn't mean an individual plant will survive.

The disease is cedar-apple rust. The alternate host is juniper (despite the name). Viburnumvalley is correct in one respect: essentially, there's not much I can do about it. I have no junipers, but I can't control what my neighbors plant. Here's the link: http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/pests-and-problems/diseases/rusts/cedar-apple-rust.aspx

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