Whether you are caring for a lush vegetable garden or a flowerbed for pollinators, verticillium wilt is a threat. The best way to deal with this dreaded Plant disease is avoiding it, but before you can protect your plants, you must first understand this deadly plant nemesis.
What Is Verticillium Wilt?
Verticillium wilt is fungal disease affecting over 350 host plants found throughout the world. It's caused by the soil-dwelling Verticillium dahliae and Verticillium. albo-atrum. This fungus grows into plant roots and stems, depriving plants of necessary nutrients for proper growth and clogging plants' water transport systems. It's is most active in cooler weather but may also affect plants in warmer weather due to previous damage.
Signs of Verticillium Wilt in Plants
Plants affected by this fungus show certain signs, including faded yellow or green leaves that wilt and die. The lower leaves show signs before upper plant leaves. Very young or non-woody plants may die quickly. However, signs of disease can differ by plant type. Here are some signs of verticillium wilt on commonly grown plants.
Common Susceptible Food Crops
Tomatoes and cucumbers are often staples in many home gardens, and unfortunately susceptible to verticillium fungi. Signs of disease for both plants includes wilting of older plant leaves and stunted growth. You may notice a brown v-shaped pattern on affected leaves as well. The only cure is to remove affected plants. You can help to prevent future infections with crop rotation, planting tomatoes in well-drained soil, and choosing Resistant varieties.
Strawberries are a favorite summer fruit. They too are often victims of verticillium fungi living in your soil. Affected plants leaves have brown edges and veins, mainly lower plant leaves. These leaves often die. Plants also produce few new leaves. You'll need to dig out and destroy infected plants, and like tomatoes and cucumbers, choose disease-resistant varieties to ensure healthy growth.
Common Susceptible Flowers
Roses are very common ornamental plants, but also susceptible to this fungus. Sick plants develop drying canes, and new leaves are stunted and yellow. The plants may die if swift action isn't taken. Trim out infected canes at soon as signs develop. Once too many canes are affected and the plant is dying, the only solution is to uproot the plant.
Chrysanthemums are an excellent addition to a sustainable garden, but they too can be infected with verticillium fungi. The disease shows signs at the base of the plant first with leaves that turn yellow and die. The plant will also produce very few if any, blooms.
Dahlia blooms are always a great addition to your garden but can also be affected by verticillium fungi. The plant's lower leaves turn yellow, its blooms droop, and you may also notice dark brown areas on plant stems. In most cases, you'll need to remove sick plants and trim any decayed areas from stored tubers to prevent disease.
Avoiding Verticillium Wilt
There is no cure for this disease, so your best chance of a healthy garden is preventing the fungi from living in your soil. You can achieve this by utilizing good gardening practices.
Proper watering and fertilization is essential to growing healthy plants. Making sure soil has plenty of nitrogen and good drainage is a good start. Also avoid overwatering plants!
Rotation also helps. Rotate your susceptible plants using a four-year cycle.
Solarization is another possible solution. In sunny, warm areas you can cover your garden area with a tarp and allow the heat to build up and kill the fungi.
If you know your soil is contaminated, you can choose from a variety of plants that are naturally immune to this disease. Some examples include beans, asparagus, corn, lettuce, onions, peas, sweet potatoes, and carrots.
These quick tips can help you in growing healthy plants that are free of this dreaded fungus.
List of Plants Susceptible to Verticillium Wilt
Common Name | Botanical Name |
Abutilon | Abutilon spp. |
African daisy | Osteospermum spp. |
American elm | Ulmus americana |
American ginseng | Panax quinquefolius |
American spikenard | Aralia racemosa |
Ash | Fraxinus pennsylvanica |
Aster | Aster spp. |
Aucuba | Aucuba spp. |
Australian tobacco | Nicotiana benthamiana |
Avocado | Persea americana |
Azalea, Rhododendron | Rhododendron spp. |
Barberry | Berberis spp. |
Belladonna | Atropa belladonna |
Bellflower | Campanula spp. |
Black Gum | Nyssa sylvatica |
Black Locust | Robinia pseudoacacia |
Black nightshade | Solanum nigrum |
Blackberry, Raspberry, Dewberry, Salmonberry, Thimbleberry, and other berries | Rubus Spp. (some strains are resistant) |
Black-eyed susan | Rudbeckia serotinia |
Blue sage | Salvia azurea |
Box Elder | Acer negundo |
Box, boxwood | Buxus spp. |
Brussel Sprouts | Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera |
Busy Lizzie | Impatiens walleriana |
Butterfly flower | Schizanthus pinnatus |
Cabbage | Brassica oleracea var. capitata |
California poppy | Eschscholzia californica |
Camellia | Camellia spp. |
Camphor tree | Cinnamomum camphora |
Cape marigold | Dimorphotheca sinuata |
Carob | Ceratonia siliqua |
Carolina horsenettle | Solanum carolinense |
Carrotwood | Cupaniopsis anacardioides |
Castor bean | Ricinus communis |
Cauliflower | Brassica oleracea var. botrytis |
Cherry, Plum, Peach, Almond, other stone fruit | Prunus spp. |
Chinaberry, Persian Lilac | Melia azedarach |
Chinese Aster | Callistephus chinensis |
Chinese lantern plant | Physalis alkekengi |
Chrysanthemum, Marguerite etc. | Chrysanthemum spp. (some strains are resistant) |
Cineraria | Senecio cruentus |
Clarkia | Clarkia elegans |
Cockscomb | Celosia argentea |
Cork Tree | Phellodendron spp. |
Cornflower, Bachelor's button | Centaurea cyanus |
Cosmos | Cosmos spp. |
Cotton | Gossypium spp. |
Cowpea | Vigna sinensis |
Cucumber | Cucumis sativus |
Dahlia | Dahlia variabilis |
Dandelion | Taraxacum officinale |
Dogwood | Cornus spp.(some varieties or cultivars are resistant) |
Eggplant | Solanum melongena |
Elderberry | Sambucus spp. |
English elm | Ulmus procera |
English walnut | Juglans regia |
Ethiopian Eggplant | Solanum aethiopicum |
European aspen | Populus tremula |
Flannel bush, Fremontia | Fremontodendron spp. |
Fleabane | Erigeron spp. |
Foxglove | Digitalis purpurea |
Fuchsia | Fuchsia spp. |
Garden balsam | Impatiens balsamina |
Gayfeather | Liatris spp. |
Globe artichoke | Cynara cardunculus |
goldenrain tree | Koelreuteria paniculata |
Gooseberry, Black, White, Red and other currants | Ribes spp. |
Goosefoot | Chenopodium spp. |
Grapevine | Vitis spp. |
Groundsel | Senecio vulgaris |
Guayule | Parthenium argentatum |
Hairy Nightshade | Solanum sarrachoides |
Heather | Erica spp. |
Heavenly bamboo | Nandina domestica |
Heliotrope | Heliotropium arborescens |
Hemp, Marijuana | Cannabis sativa |
Honeydew, Cantaloupe and other melons | Cucumis melo |
Honeysuckle | Lonicera spp. |
Hopseed | Dodonaea viscosa |
Horsechestnut | Aesculus hippocastanum |
Horseradish | Armoracia lapathifolia |
Ice Plant | Carpobrotus edulis |
Ice plant | Lampranthus spectabilis |
India Hawthorn, Yeddo Hawthorn | Rhaphiolepis spp. |
Indian Laurel | Ficus retusa |
Ivy | Hedera spp. |
Japanese pagoda tree | Styphnolobium |
Jasmine | Jasminum spp. |
Judas Tree | Cercis siliquastrum |
Kentucky Coffeetree | Gymnocladus dioicus |
Lilac | Syringa spp. |
Lime, Linden | Tilia spp. (some varieties or cultivars are resistant) |
Linseed | Linum usitatissimum |
Lobelia | Lobelia erinus |
London rocket | Sisymbrium irio |
Lupin | Lupinus polyphyllus |
Magnolia | Magnolia spp. |
Maple | Acer spp. |
Marsh Cress | Rorippa islandica |
Meadowsweet, Spirea | Spirea spp. |
Mealycup sage | Salvia farinacea |
Mignonette | Reseda odorata |
Mimosa | Albizia spp. |
Mint | Mentha spp. |
Monkshood, Aconite | Aconitum spp. |
Namaqualand daisy | Venidium spp. |
New Zealand spinach | Tetragonia tetragonioides |
Northern Catalpa | Catalpa speciosa |
Ohio Buckeye | Aesculus glabra |
Oilseed rape, Rapeseed | Brassica napus |
Okra | Abelmoschus esculentus |
Oleaster, Russian Olive | Elaeagnus spp. |
Olive | Olea europaea |
Orchid Spot rock rose | Cistus x purpureus |
Oriental poppy | Papaver orientale |
Osage orange | Maclura pomifera |
Oxeye Daisy | Chrysanthemum leucanthemum |
Painted tongue | Salpiglossis sinuata |
Peanut | Arachis hypogaea |
Pecan | Carya illinoensis |
Pelargonium, Geranium | Pelargonium spp. |
Peony | Paeonia spp. |
Pepper | Capsicum spp. |
Pepper Tree | Schinus spp. |
persimmon | Diospyros virginiana |
Petunia | Petunia spp. |
Phlox | Phlox spp. |
Pin Oak | Quercus palustris |
Pistachio | Pistacia spp. |
Polemonium | Polemonium spp. |
Poppy mallow | Callirhoe papaver |
Potato | Solanum tuberosum |
Privet | Ligustrum spp. |
Pumpkin | Cucurbita pepo |
Purple coneflower | Echinacea purpurea |
Pyrola | Pyrola spp. |
Quince | Cydonia oblonga |
Radish | Raphanus sativus |
Red oak | Quercus rubra |
Redbud | Cercis canadensis |
Rhubarb | Rheum rhaponticum |
Rock rose | Cistus palhinhai |
Rocket larkspur | Delphinium ajacis |
Rose | Rosa spp. |
Rosemary | Rosmarinus officinalis |
Rough Pigweed | Amaranthus retroflexus |
Rutabaga, Rapeseed | Brassica napobrassica |
Safflower | Carthamus tinctorius |
Sage | Salvia haematodes |
Salsify | Tragopogon porrifolius |
Sassafras | Sassafras albidum |
Serviceberry | Amelanchier spp.(some varieties or cultivars are resistant) |
Slipperwort | Calceolaria spp. |
Slippery elm | Ulmus rubra |
Smoke Tree | Cotinus coggygria |
Snapdragon | Antirrhinum majus |
Southern Catalpa | Catalpa bignonioides |
Spinach | Spinacia oleracea |
Star jasmine | Trachelospermum jasminoides |
Stock | Matthiola incana |
Strawberry | Fragaria chiloensis (some strains are resistant) |
Strawflower | Helichrysum bracteatum |
Sumac, Lemonade berry | Rhus spp. |
Sunflower | Helianthus spp. |
Sweet pea | Lathyrus odoratus |
Sweet Sultan | Centaurea imperialis |
Thale cress | Arabidopsis thaliana |
Tickseed | Coreopsis lanceolata |
Tomato | Lycopersicon esculentum (some strains are resistant) |
Transvaal daisy | Gerbera jamesonii |
Tree of Heaven | Ailanthus altissima |
Tree poppy | Romneya coulteri |
Trumpet Creeper | Campsis radicans |
tulip tree | Liriodendron tulipifera |
Udo | Aralia cordata |
Viburnum, Wayfaring tree | Viburnum spp. |
Virginia Creeper | Parthenocissus |
Watermelon | Citrullus vulgaris |
Weeping Fig | Ficus benjamina |
Weigela | Weigela spp. |
White horsenettle | Solanum elaeagnifolium |
Wild Bergamot | Monarda fistulosa |
Wild Service Tree | Sorbus torminalis |
Yard-long bean | Vigna sesquipedalis |
Yellow wood | Cladrastis lutea |
List of Plants Resistant or Immune to Verticillium Wilt
Common Name | Botanical Name |
African violet | Saintpaulia ionantha |
Ageratum | Ageratum spp. |
Alder | Alnus spp. |
Alfalfa | Medicago sativa (some strains are resistant) |
Alyssum | Alyssum spp. |
Anemone | Anemone spp. |
Apple | Malus spp. (some strains are resistant) |
Asparagus | Asparagus officinalis |
Baby blue eyes | Nemophila menziesii |
Baby's breath | Gypsophila paniculata |
Balloon flower | Platycodon grandiflorus |
Bamboos, Bananas, Gladiolae, Grasses, Lilies | Monocotyledoneae family |
Bean | Phaseolus spp. |
Beech | Fagus spp. |
Birch, Hophornbeam | Betula spp. |
Boxwood | Buxus spp. |
Broccoli | Brassica oleracea Italica Group |
Browallia | Browallia spp. |
Cactii | Cactaceae family |
Californian laurel | Umbellularia californica |
Californian Lilac, Ceanothus, Red root | Ceanothus spp. |
Candytuft | Iberis spp. |
Carnation, Pink, Sweet William | Dianthus spp. |
Carrot | Daucus carota |
Celery | Apium graveolens |
Chinese chestnut | Castanea mollissima |
Cleome | Cleome spp. |
Columbine | Aquilegia spp. |
Coral bells | Heuchera sanguinea |
Cupflower | Nierembergia frutescens |
Dogwood | Cornus spp. (some varieties or cultivars are resistant) |
English daisy | Bellis perennis |
Eucalyptus | Eucalyptus spp. |
European mountain ash | Sorbus aucuparia |
Evening primrose | Oenothera spp. |
Ferns | Polypodiaceae family |
Fig | Ficus carica |
Firethorn | Pyracantha spp. |
Gaillardia | Gaillardia spp. |
Geum | Geum spp. |
Grasses, Grains | Graminae family |
Gymnospermae family | Gymnospermae family |
Hackberry | Celtis spp. |
Hardy Busy Lizzy | Impatiens sultani |
Hawthorn | Crataegus spp. |
Hellebore, Christmas Rose | Helleborus niger |
Hickory, Pecan | Carya spp. |
Holly | Ilex spp. |
Hollyhock | Althaea rosea |
Honesty | Lunaria annua |
Honey locust | Gleditsia spp. |
Ironwood, Hornbeam | Carpinus spp. |
Juniper | Juniperus spp. |
Katsura Tree | Cercidiphyllum japonicum |
Lantana | Lantana spp. |
larch | Larix spp. |
Lettuce | Lactuca spp. |
Live oak | Quercus virginiana |
Manzanita | Arctostaphylos spp. |
Marigold | Calendula officinalis |
Monkey flower | Mimulus spp. |
Moss rose | Portulaca grandiflora |
Mulberry | Morus spp. |
Nasturtium | Tropaeolum majus |
Nemesia | Nemesia strumosa |
Oleander | Nerium oleander |
Orange, Lemon, Grapefruit, etc. | Citrus spp. |
Pansy, Viola, Violet | Viola spp. |
Pawpaw | Asimina triloba |
Pea | Pisum sativum |
Pear | Pyrus spp. (some strains are resistant) |
Penstemon | Penstemon spp. |
Periwinkle | Vinca minor |
Persian buttercup | Ranunculus asiaticus |
Poplar | Populus spp. |
Potentilla | Potentilla spp. |
Primrose | Primula spp. |
Rock rose | Cistus tauricus |
Sage-leaf rock rose | Cistus salvifolius |
Scabious | Scabiosa atropurpurea |
Serviceberry | Amelanchier spp. (some varieties or cultivars are resistant) |
Southern red oak | Quercus falcata |
Sun rose | Helianthemum nummularium |
Sweet gum | Liquidambar styraciflua |
Sweet potato | Ipomoea batatas |
Sycamore | Acer pseudoplatanus |
Sycamore, Plane tree | Platanus spp. |
Tilia spp. | Tilia spp. (some varieties or cultivars are resistant) |
Tuberous Begonia | Begonia tuberhybrida |
Verbena | Verbena hybrida |
Wallflower | Cheiranthus cheiri |
Walnut, Butternut | Juglans spp. |
Waxy or fibrous Begonia | Begonia semperflorens |
White oak | Quercus alba |
White rock rose | Cistus corbariensis |
Willow | Salix spp. |
Willow oak | Quercus phellos |
Wishbone plant | Torenia fournieri |
Zelkova | Zelkova serrata |
Zinnia | Zinnia spp. |