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Pachysandra Diseases

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

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Updated:

July 7, 2025

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Pachysandra as ground cover

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Disease

Symptoms

Pathogen/Cause

Management

Volutella blight

Brown to tan spots on the leaves are small at first but enlarge and may cover the entire leaf. Concentric line patterns form within the brown spots as leaves yellow and fall. Infected stems become dark brown to black in color and die. Under moist conditions, salmon to pink masses of fungal spores form on the surface of dead stems. Large patches of plants are killed.

Pseudonectria pachysandricola (Volutella)

Inspect transplants carefully and discard infected material. Avoid planting in areas of heavy shade or areas where moisture will be retained on leaves for prolonged periods. In established beds, remove diseased plants and thin the bed. Remove fallen leaves and other debris that inhibits good air circulation. Protect plants from winter injury and deicing salt runoff. Control oystershell and euonymus scales. Fertilize plants moderately to prevent nutrient deficiencies. Avoid using sprinkler irrigation but protect plants from drought stress. Apply a fungicide to protect plants when the weather is wet.

Pachysandra-Box Blight

Water-soaked spots develop into small (up to 1/3 inch) round or irregularly shapes, brown-to black spots. Lesions on older leaves have a darker margin. Leaf chlorosis and defoliation may also occur.

Calonectria pseudonaviculata

(synonyms Cylindrocladium pseudonaviculatum or C. buxicola)

Remove and destroy severely affected plants. Do not grow susceptible cultivars on ground that has tested positive for boxwood blight. Avoid overhead irrigation. Mulching with composted pine bark may reduce transmission in landscape conditions.

Pachysandra stem infected with Volutella blight (Photo courtesy of M. Masiuk).

Pachysandra leaves infected with Volutella blight

Prepared by Gary W. Moorman, Professor Emeritus of Plant Pathology

References:

Rane, K. A Tale of Two Fungi – Leaf blight on Pachysandra, National Plant Diagnostic Network Newsletter

Pachysandra-Box Blight, March 2026. Pscheidt, J.W., and Ocamb, C.M. (Senior Eds.). 2026 Pacific Northwest Plant Disease Management Handbook. © Oregon State University.

LaMondia, J.A. 2017. Pachysandra Species and Cultivar Susceptibility to the Boxwood Blight Pathogen, Calonectria pseudonaviculata. Plant Health Progress doi:10.1094/PHP-01-17-0005-RS

Agenda

Authors

Gary W. Moorman, Ph.D.

Professor Emeritus

Pennsylvania State University