Q: I have a few old azalea bushes behind my home. In late spring their flowers develop white spots. Can you tell me what this is?

A: It’s ovulina petal blight. This disease is most severe under warm moist conditions. Flowers affected by petal blight eventually turn brown and remain attached to the plant longer than normal flowers.

When they fall to the ground in autumn they carry spores which can survive as long as two years in the soil and will start the infection cycle again in the spring if conditions are right.

Click the links below for recommended fungicides to use.

Petal Blight on Azalea

Ovulina Petal Blight