Worried About Your Sycamores? There’s A Fungus Among Us

A cool, wet spring in the Eastern part of the country provided ideal conditions for Anthracnose, caused by a fungus known as Apiognomonia veneta. Most heavily hit are local sycamores, london plane trees and oaks.

Wye oak with symptoms of leaf blight

This sycamore tree is almost completely defoliated.

According to the University of Maryland Maryland Extension Office, the fungus overwinters in cankers from previous infections, and produces spores in the spring that are dispersed by rainfall to young developing shoots. Symptoms include shoot dieback, distorted growth and blighted areas on leaves that run along the veins.

But there’s not much of anything that you can do about it – the damage is already done.

According to Dave Piver of Davey Tree, “if your trees are relatively healthy, they should make it through this just fine. Expect to see a new flush of leaf growth in the next few weeks. In a month’s time, you won’t see any evidence left at all.”

Young or newly planted trees may require fungicide sprays to prevent leaf loss until they are established in the landscape, but generally, once the symptoms are apparent, it’s too late.

For more information about Anthracnose, or any tree and garden questions, visit the University of Maryland Extension’s Home and Garden Information Center.

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