Laurel Wilt, a new disease threatening out native trees and shrubs

Sassafras trees and spicebush are coming under threat from a new disease, laurel wilt.  This disease is caused by a fungus and vectored by the Redbay ambrosia beetles. It results in rapid wilting and death of susceptible trees and shrubs.  In our area, sassafras is the plant most likely to be impacted by this deadly disease. This disease was found in southwestern Kentucky (Christian Co.) in July 2019 but it has had devastating effects on other members of the Laurel family in many areas of the southeast United States. New discoveries bring confirmation of the disease as close to Ohio as Louisville, KY.   Read the article here