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Aster Yellows in Echinacea

How to identify and treat aster yellows in Echinacea.

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Echinacea care requirements

water
Once established, drought tolerant. Water regularly when young.
soil
Well-draining, moderately fertile soil.
light
Full sun.
symptoms

Symptoms to look for in Echinacea

  • fiber_manual_recordYellowing or reddening of foliage starting at leaf veins
  • fiber_manual_recordStunted, spindly growth
  • fiber_manual_recordDistorted, greenish or deformed flowers
  • fiber_manual_recordExcessive production of small, weak side shoots (witches'-broom)
help

Common causes in Echinacea

Caused by a phytoplasma (a bacteria-like organism) spread mainly by aster leafhoppers feeding on infected plant sap; spreads fastest in warm weather when leafhopper populations are high.

healing

How to treat aster yellows in Echinacea

There is no cure once a plant is infected; remove and destroy infected plants promptly to reduce the source of infection for leafhoppers to spread further.

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Preventing aster yellows in Echinacea

Control leafhopper populations with row covers or insecticides, remove nearby weeds that host the phytoplasma, and choose resistant varieties where available.