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Narcissus Diseases

Name: Narcissus Diseases
SKU: ART-4111

Informational table showing disease name, symptoms, pathogen/cause, and management of Narcissus diseases.

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Updated:

July 7, 2025

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A large planting of narcissi

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Disease	Symptoms	Pathogen/Cause	Management
Basal Rot	Plants are stunted, and foliage dies prematurely. The few roots present are brown, and the basal plate is decayed. White or pink fungal growth develops between the bulb scales.	Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. narcissii	Do not plant bulbs that have white or pink fungus on them. Purchase and plant hot water-treated bulbs.
Fire	Flowers are spotted, turn brown, and die. Small, tan, oval spots form near leaf tips. Leaves have bright yellow streaking near the tips.	Botryotinia polyblastis	Discard infected plants. Apply a fungicide to protect plants.
Lesion Nematode	Plants are stunted, and the foliage dies prematurely.	Pratylenchus penetrans	Purchase and plant bulbs that were treated with hot water. Discard infected plants.
Scorch	Reddish-brown spots with yellow halos develop on leaf tips as they emerge. The spots enlarge, merge together, and the leaves die. Spots have small brown dots (fruiting structures) within them.	Stagnospora curtisii	Purchase and plant bulbs that have been hot water-treated. Apply a fungicide to protect plants.
Stem and Bulb Nematodes	Leaves from infected bulbs are small, distorted, and sometimes swollen. Infected bulbs are rotted and feel lighter than normal at planting.	Ditylenchus dipsaci	Purchase and plant hot water-treated bulbs. Discard infected bulbs.
Viruses	Leaves may have a mosaic, have yellow to white stripes, or have dead tips, and die prematurely.	Many viruses are known, including white streak, narcissus tip necrosis, cucumber mosaic, yellow stripe, tobacco ringspot, and tomato ringspot.	Discard infected plants. Maintain good insect control.