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Jun 30, 2020 11:44 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Jen Dionne
Southern NH (Zone 5b)
Birds I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Echinacea Heucheras Keeper of Poultry Plant and/or Seed Trader
Vegetable Grower Enjoys or suffers cold winters
I discover one of my herbaceous peony's looking a little wilty this week. She appears to have a strange reddish 'stippling' on her stems...photo below.
Anyone recognize it?
Thanks for your help!
Jen
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He who can laugh at himself will never cease to be amused....
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Jul 1, 2020 2:39 AM CST

That stuff is called "peony measles" and it's generally the first stage of leaf blotch, a fungal disease of peonies.
Don't worry, it's not a serious disease, but it will make your peonies unsightly as the season progresses.

Right now you can do two things. First is to stop all overhead irrigation: like so many other fungal diseases it thrives when the plants are sprayed by water. Second, use a fungicide. Personally I avoid using copper on peonies because it can cause leaf burn on some susceptible cultivars, so I'd advise using one containing mancozeb, maneb or daconil. They all work well.

Finally in the fall cut all stems to the ground and dispose of them. Do not throw them in the compost heap: burning or burying are the best options. Rake the ground to eliminate all vegetable detritus and in the Spring, when the plants are growing again, apply another fungicide treatment.
Avatar for NHJenDion
Jul 6, 2020 7:17 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Jen Dionne
Southern NH (Zone 5b)
Birds I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Echinacea Heucheras Keeper of Poultry Plant and/or Seed Trader
Vegetable Grower Enjoys or suffers cold winters
Excellent, thank you so much for the info!

I will look for the fungicide and mark my calendar.

Jen
He who can laugh at himself will never cease to be amused....
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