07/02/2019
"Because the disease is incurable, Illinoisans are encouraged to contact the Illinois Department of Agriculture or their local University of Illinois Extension office for further guidance if they have purchased rhododendrons from Walmart, Hy-Vee, or Rural King since April, and if those plants are looking symptomatic or in poor condition. The most likely source of infection would be plants purchased this spring; older, established plants are not very likely to be infected with P. ramorum.It is not recommended to destroy or dispose of these plants without State or Federal guidance.This is an ongoing investigation, guidance and recommendations may change."
A note from our forestry team: The Illinois Department of Agriculture announced today that a plant pathogen causing Sudden Oak Death has been found in plants for sale in Illinois. Rhododendrons and lilacs found to be carrying this disease were sold at Walmart, Rural King and Hy-Vee stores in Northern Illinois.
If this disease were to establish in Northern Illinois, it would forever change the landscape and have dramatic environmental effects. This is an incurable disease for Oaks.
Read more here: https://bit.ly/2KUDg4x
