Periwinkle turning brown... - Ask Extension
Please help! The leaves in a patch of our periwinkle or creeping myrtle has recently begun turning brown and dying. We would like some help trying...
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Periwinkle turning brown... #800608
Asked July 11, 2022, 6:57 PM EDT
Please help! The leaves in a patch of our periwinkle or creeping myrtle has recently begun turning brown and dying. We would like some help trying to figure what to do? Is it bugs? Root rot? Your help is greatly appreciated!
Jim Sweeney
Shaker Heights, Ohio
Cuyahoga County Ohio
Expert Response
The periwinkle/myrtle has thrived in every location of our yard including this area. We began planting it 6 years ago and haven't had any problems. We do water the area with our irrigation system but haven't used it any more than usual lately.
Thank you for your question.
Generally periwinkle plants do not have problems, so the dying leaves must be quite distressing. It seems that there are no insects that attack this plant.
Over-watering may be one cause, but you mentioned that you are not doing anything differently.
Stem blight, root rot, fungus, and Botrytis blight, Botrytis cinerea could all be causes. Botrytis often occurs during humid wet weather.
There is a fungus which occurs on periwinkle especially during periods of cool wet weather. This fungus is discussed in the following article : https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/pests-and-problems/diseases/cankers/vinca-stem-canker.aspx
No matter what the cause, your first step should be to remove all affected foliage. Do not compost the dying foliage. If a whole plant has been affected, remove the whole plant. The fungus remains in fallen leaves and even in the soil, so remove fallen leaves. The article mentions some other steps, including applying fungicide in the spring. If fungicide is applied, the directions need to be followed exactly.
Another article also discusses possible causes of your periwinkle issues -
https://portal.ct.gov/CAES/Plant-Pest-Handbook/pphP/Periwinkle-Myrtle-Vinca
The following article discusses remedies for vinca diseases and like the other articles suggests using fungicides:
https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/vinca-diseases/
https://homeguides.sfgate.com/periwinkles-dying-91551.html
If you want to submit leaves for a tissue examination to confirm exactly which problem you have, that is possible. Here is the link for that process:
https://ppdc.osu.edu/submit-sample
I hope this information helps you keep the rest of your vinca alive. Please feel free to contact OSU Extension with further questions. Sincerely,
Generally periwinkle plants do not have problems, so the dying leaves must be quite distressing. It seems that there are no insects that attack this plant.
Over-watering may be one cause, but you mentioned that you are not doing anything differently.
Stem blight, root rot, fungus, and Botrytis blight, Botrytis cinerea could all be causes. Botrytis often occurs during humid wet weather.
There is a fungus which occurs on periwinkle especially during periods of cool wet weather. This fungus is discussed in the following article : https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/pests-and-problems/diseases/cankers/vinca-stem-canker.aspx
No matter what the cause, your first step should be to remove all affected foliage. Do not compost the dying foliage. If a whole plant has been affected, remove the whole plant. The fungus remains in fallen leaves and even in the soil, so remove fallen leaves. The article mentions some other steps, including applying fungicide in the spring. If fungicide is applied, the directions need to be followed exactly.
Another article also discusses possible causes of your periwinkle issues -
https://portal.ct.gov/CAES/Plant-Pest-Handbook/pphP/Periwinkle-Myrtle-Vinca
The following article discusses remedies for vinca diseases and like the other articles suggests using fungicides:
https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/vinca-diseases/
https://homeguides.sfgate.com/periwinkles-dying-91551.html
If you want to submit leaves for a tissue examination to confirm exactly which problem you have, that is possible. Here is the link for that process:
https://ppdc.osu.edu/submit-sample
I hope this information helps you keep the rest of your vinca alive. Please feel free to contact OSU Extension with further questions. Sincerely,
