Mold on Peony Roots

Peonies are beautiful perennial flowers that come in a variety of colors. They are not disease resistant and are susceptible to getting white mold on the plant and its roots.

Name

• The white mold is called Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.

Symptoms

• You can tell if you have white mold on the roots of your peonies if you can visibly see the white mold on the surface of your flowers. Other symptoms of white mold on the roots include wilting peonies and irregular shaped black fungus inside the tan part of the stem.

Causes

• Causes of white mold on peony roots come from planting them too close together, excessive moisture and not enough air circulating around the flower.

Treatment

• The black fungus called sclerotia that is found in white mold is almost impossible to get rid of. All affected plants must be discarded, and healthy peonies must be relocated to a different area because the sclerotia can live in the soil for many years.

Prevention

• To prevent white mold on the roots of peonies, space them 2 to 3 feet apart from each other so they can get proper air circulation–and don’t over water.