• slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide

Botrytis Blight on Peonies and Roses

Brown buds that fail to open on peonies and some roses, especially the white and pink flowered varieties is usually the result of botrytis blight also known as gray mold.

This fungal disease is most common in cool and rainy as well as humid weather.  The disease attacks a variety of ornamental and edible plants and often is specific to the plant part infected.

Botrytis bud blast and flower blights can also occur on mums, dahlias, dogwood, geraniums, hydrangea, marigolds, and sunflowers.

Look for the fuzzy gray growth and small black specks on the dead tissue.

Remove infected parts and place in a paper bag for disposal. Don’t compost it as this can spread the disease.  And only clean up during dry weather as moisture helps spread the blight.

Ongoing sanitation, fall clean up and better weather is usually enough to keep this disease under control

A bit more information:  Phytophthora blight is another common disease of peonies.  Both blights cause purplish black spots on the leaves and stems of peonies.  Fall clean up and drier spring weather is usually enough to keep both diseases under control.

Upcoming Webinars & Appearances


June 21, 2023
Enjoy Life Symposium

Brookfield, WI
Register now

Aug. 3 - 13, 2023
Wisconsin State Fair

West Allis, WI

Sept. 13, 2023
FREE WEBINAR:
Fall is for Planning and Planting and Energy-Saving Landscape

Register now

Watch Melinda's past webinars ON DEMAND

Learn More

Book an Appearance

Learn More

Enter to win 3 Bags of Wild Valley Farms Wool Pellets to reduce watering by up to 25%

ENTER NOW