Sudden Aucuba Collapse

7 years ago

Over the last few years, I've lost 4 or 5 aucubas this way. The plants are well-established in a suitable area, and seem to be thriving and healthy. Then the leaves collapse and hang straight down (rather suddenly—happens over a period of about a week). Once this hits the plant, it appears to be doomed. It will hang on for awhile, then die.

The symptoms resemble severe lack of water, but that isn't the case, as no amount of watering helps, and other aucubas nearby are fine. I cannot detect any insect pests. I'm thinking it must be a disease of some sort, but if so, I can't find any reference to it.

One thing, all of the affected plants came from the same nursery. Some expired the year after they were planted, but the one in the photo below is several years old, and had been doing great until about a week ago. There are several unaffected ones nearby (you can see one in the photos).

Anyone have a clue as to what may be the cause?

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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

7 years ago

I would wonder about the condition of the rootball at planting time. A rootbound plant with circling or girdling roots that are not corrected before planting will ultimately fail. And if the rootball was not properly hydrated before planting, it can be very hard to rehydrate once in the ground and the plant will never receive adequate water.

IME, aucuba experience very few problems. There are a couple of soil borne fungal pathogens that could be present but if neighboring plants are unaffected and drainage is good, then I would look first to cultural conditions.

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Comments (7)

Donnie
Original Author
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Thanks for your ideas! I'm wondering, though, if it were a root condition, why it would appear suddenly years after being planted.

Yes, I have several other large aucubas in shadier areas of the yard that were here when we bought this house many years ago, and I've never had a problem with them. That's what is mystifying me about these younger ones.
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
7 years ago
Unless a root rot, root issues seldom display immediately. It can take several years before you notice anything and then too late to do anything about it.
Donnie thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
Donnie
Original Author
7 years ago
Yes, could be then, I guess. I'm thinking it has something to do with the quality or condition of these plants from the nursery, so that could have been an issue.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
7 years ago
Once this hits the plant, it appears to be doomed. It will hang on for awhile, then die.

===>>>

or perhaps it is dead at that moment.. and takes a few weeks for the foliage to dry out and fall off???? . and that might be one reason continued watering has no impact ....

dig it up.. take a pic of the roots... blast all the soil off.. take a pic.. and lets look at it ... why guess ...

maybe on the other side of the yard from your others ...

one might suggest.. its time for you to try some other plants ... why do you keep planting the same thing.. with the same result????

i know all about a personal love affair with some plant... but even i gave up sooner or later ... usually.. i only had to bang my head on the barn door a couple dozen times.. before i moved on ... lol ...

ken
Donnie
Original Author
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Yes, it may in fact already be dead.

In terms of why I might keep planting the same thing—all these were planted in one go 4 or 5 years ago as a part of a re-landscaping project; I had no way of knowing the problem was going to occur. I have planted many other types of shrubs, but chose a large number of aucubas because of their adaptability in some very shady areas I have. But I certainly don't plan to plant any more aucubas at this point, just in case.
Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Root disease, probably from fungus Phytophthora -- and likely in a spot that may be too wet, which encourages it. This rarely happens in a dry, shaded area. When you plant, plant them higher up on a mound, if area is wet.
Donnie thanked Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A