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systems exist to control BTM.
This link is from one of several
organizations providing advice:
https://extension.psu.edu/box-tree-
moth-management-guide
We currently do not have BTM here.
However, it was recently discovered in
Delaware, and it can travel up to 20
miles per year.
3: There was a time when industry
was told to stop growing Cornus
(Benthamidia) florida because
Anthracnose could not be
managed. The key, as it turned
out, was to simply grow
Boxwood Blight West Virginia Extension
dogwood in sites that provided
Often, the nursery industry has made learned to live with the problem in good airflow. The original huge
a knee-jerk reaction and stopped favor of continued planting of one losses occurred in the natural
growing certain genera. of America’s most widely used and understory of wooded areas and
1: Think back to the discovery of desired plants. landscapes where high humidity
boxwood blight in the United 2: Now, we are at the beginning and low airflow dominated the
States in 1911. Some advised me stage of boxwood tree moth environment. As it stands now, we
to completely stop growing (BTM). Based on our experience sell every Cornus (Benthamidia)
boxwood. Demand waned for a with boxwood blight, we will go florida we can grow although it
few years and alternatives were through a period of concern and can be a painful process because
sought. However, I chose to ride it then develop protocols to mitigate they grow so slowly. And who in
out without the use of fungicides the problem. Research currently the world decided we needed to
and now demand for boxwood recommends the placement of change species name to Cornus
is as strong as ever. Blight is still a traps to inform us of BTM presence benthamidia???
problem (not here) in landscapes so that we can implement control
and many nurseries, but we have measures. Many management (continued on next page)
Boxwood Tree Moth (Cornell University) Boxwood Tree Moth Caterpillar (Cornell University)
Membership Matters • SPRING 2025 17
