What are the reddish brown spots on the leaves of my peony?
Peonies are subject to a number of fungal diseases that tend to thrive in cool, wet weather. There are several fungi that could be the cause of the problem but I would guess that it is due to Cladosporium or peony measles. This fungi is often seen after flowering and it attacks the leaves and stems. The spots start out as small red lesions (hence the name measles) and eventually coalesce into dark necrotic spots. Cladosporium will not likely kill your plants. It is a good idea however to cut down the foliage around the time of your first hard frost and remove it from the garden. BACK TO LIST ____________________________________ 34. Why do the buds on my peony sometimes turn black and dry up early in the season? Likely the buds have been damaged by frost or a fungal infection. What you describe is often called bud blast. It can be caused by environmental conditions at a critical stage of development such as frost or drought. It can also be caused by a fungal attack, usually during cold
