Here in the Austin area we are being advised to stop planting oleanders because leaf scorch is so widespread and is killing many of them. Does anybody know if there are specific cultivars that might be resistant to this? It is one of the few good deer proof plants that we have here and I would love to plant it as a hedge around my wrought iron fence. Thanks,
Annie
oleander leaf scorch
AnnieJo, there is an oleander society located in Galveston, a google for them may give you more info. Gene
What is leaf scorch? Is it fungal or bacterial, or even viral? I haven't heard of it before in relation to oleanders, so I would really like to know.
Annie, this site says that the "large, hardy white variety seems to be resistant, as are
most of the dwarf varieties", but remember this is just resistant not immune. You may want to invest some time looking for other species not affected by leaf scorch.
http://williamson-tx.tamu.edu/nrelease/Newsrelease2004/Scorching%20Oleanders.pdf
This message was edited Jan 20, 2008 10:40 PM
This is the same bacterium that causes Pierce's Disease in grape plants and is affecting grape growers. Have you seen the price of grapes lately? Between this disease, the disasters in California not long ago and some floods in Chile, they are really expensive. The bacterium causes similar diseases in some other fruit species.
If you'd like to see pics of damage on Oleanders, here's one more link:
http://cals.arizona.edu/PLP/plpext/diseases/trees/oleander/oleleaf.htm
ah, so that's what it's called. The Roads people had planted a bunch of red oleanders along the median on Hwy 99, Ft Bend Co and I noticed they were all dying for no reason. Slowly but surely they are being replaced by other stuff. When you looked at the diseased oleanders, they looked as if they hadn't been watered in eons.
I hope I don't get it. I love those low maint plants, even if they are overplanted. I got some dwarf white last fall and I really want them to make it.
Linda, what I found interesting is although it is the same bacterium and spread by the same vector, the Glassy-winged Sharpshooter (It left Texas and traveled to California in a shipment of nursery stock.), there is no cross infection.
Nery, I had to re-read the Ft Bend Co designation after Hwy 99 several times to be sure I was in the right state. Before I-5 was put in, Hwy 99 was the main north-south artery in California's interior. There were hugh oleanders planted in the esplanade all along the route — mostly gone now. It has cost the state tens of millions of dollars to remove the dead and dying oleanders and more tens of millions of dollars to replace with something different. The bad news here is that it is probably a matter of time before your beloved plants get it, too. At least one study shows that use of a certain systemic insecticide appears to keep the oleanders from getting it, at least for the short term. The study was conducted on oleaders planted in pots, with no mention of how it would work with oleanders in the ground or the consequences of long term use of the pesticide in the soil.
Annie Jo, I'm sorry we hijacked your thread.
So now we'll have to distinguish between cultural scorch and the bacteria caused scorch. In the first, the plants can recover; in the second they are goners. Just like in several species of trees. I checked it out and the bacterium is the same for both - Xylella fastidosa. Vectored by leaf hoppers and tree hoppers. And that means that it can pass back and forth between the trees and the oleanders. Not good.
Dangit! I hope it doesn't get to mine!
Apparently this strain of the bacterium only infects oleanders. I tried to copy only the specific quote, but the file is secured. Here is the link to the entire file:
http://ucrturf.ucr.edu/publications/Field%20Day%20Procs/1997%20Proceedings/1997_fieldday_landscape.pdf
Thanks, betty. That's sort of good news...
Don't worry about the "hijacked" thread. It all seems relevant to me and I enjoy learning everything I can! I wonder why the white oleanders and the dwarfs are more resistant to it.
Very good news, I have never had a sick plant this far North but I keep a watchful eye. I wonder if the winter here kills the junk?
Well, I personally have not seen this disease in this area yet (and I'm usually in the know), so it may be on the move. Time will tell...
Right - I hope we dont lose all of these wonderful plants. Still I have moved one of my best into a pot and will keep in doors in ta very sunny window.
The disease was first seen in Riverside County in California in the 1990s and is traveling eastward.
Mitch, it has survived in colder parts of California, Zone 8a, here in Texas probably won't stop it. Drats! I was going to plant some of the dwarfs inside the electric fence where the cows can't get to them. I like the smaller ones, but they are only more resistant, not immune. I want a plant that will be here for quite a while. Replacing plants in an established bed is the pits. So I guess I'll have to look for something else.
The link you provided suggested some other plants, as I recall.
Yes, the little buggers have been very busy. It appears that different strains of the same bacterium infect different plants
http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?fr=1&si=326&sts=
http://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/abs/10.1094/PDIS.1997.81.10.1196
http://celosangeles.ucdavis.edu/newsletterfiles/Co-Hort11048.pdf
Very interesting!! Thanks, bettydee!
Very sad indeed, there is nothing we can grow here that looks like Oleander - plus the tropical memories will keep me growing in the pot inside only when it reaches us here.
Bettydee, have you considered Leucophyllum frutescens(Purple Sage)? They are very dependable, disease-free, xeric, evergreen, and native to Texas. Not to mention they cover themselves in blooms after each good rain all summer!
Oh gee. Lost one oleander last winter to freeze. The other three grew very well this summer but now looking out the window, they are droopy. Thinking it is the extreme cold again but need to look closer to be sure it is not this disease. Thank you for the information.
LouC
LouC - if they die I have some.. and some of that purple sage if you need any of those too..
What else can I fit over at your place? lol
Will be happy to babysit anything you need me to. Remember they are not mine, but yours. Will just try to help until you are ready for them. Have missed everybody a lot.
LouC - both of these plants will never live up North, anything I give ya is yours, I just migth come take a cutting in a few years :-)
BTW - Any more progress on the veggie bed?
It is waiting for me to be through with Dallas Market Center. It is now ready for a good load of manure from the dairy near Bronc. We are not too much on getting out when the weather is cold and wet.
How about "it is ours"? hahahaha Work again Friday and then through until June.
Ok they are ours -
I think we have a chance this weekend to go to Red Oak to see the gardens there - let me get a time. I still want to head over to your place soon too and see there.... so much to see this time of year.
ok
broncbuster, thanks for the info. I actually hadn't even thought about it. I grew up with several shrubs of both in the yard. The oleander has a looser and more informal form. I like purple sage especially the dwarf green variety. Do you know if there a dwarf gray variety. It would look great in the herb garden I'm planning this spring.