Invasives Blog

Rhododendron ponticum, native to southern Europe and south west Asia was introduced into the UK in the 18th Century. Since then, this plant has grown uncontrollably and is now a common sight throughout western parts of the British Isles in areas such as Cornwall, Wales and parts of Scotland and Ireland. Despite producing an attractive flower in the spring, Rhododendron can have damaging effects on the local environment. By growing rapidly this plant outcompetes native flora, decreases biodiversity and furthermore constitutes a sporulating host for the two devastating pathogens Phytophthora ramorum and Phytophthora kernoviae, meaning these pathogens not only infect but also reproduce on R. ponticum.

Rhododenron ponticum

A stand of invasive Rhododendron ponticum in Windsor Great Park (Picture copyright CABI).

Phytophthora, (Greek meaning plant destroyer) is one of the most damaging genera of plant pathogens in the world. Although infamous for causing the Irish potato famine due to the devastating impact of Phytophthora infestans in the 19th Century, this group of pathogens most definitely are not old news. More recently the pathogen Phytophthora ramorum has been identified as the organism responsible for causing extensive die-back – or Sudden Oak Death – of American southern red oak in California and Oregon in the US. Since then this damaging pathogen has been detected outside its US native range within Europe affecting a large number of plant species. It is this status of an “alien invasive pathogen” and its documented wide host range which has led to the development of an extensive program of containment to prevent further spread of this pathogen within the UK.

Phytophthora ramorum symptoms

Typical symptoms of Phytophthora ramorum infection; (from left to right) seeping bark, stem cankers and leaf lesions (Pictures copyright CABI).

Both Phytophthora ramorum and P. kernoviae are “fungal-like” organism which combined cause disease on over 150 different species of trees and shrubs present in the UK. Symptoms of infection include die-back of foliage, wilting and blackening of leaves, the formation of cankers on tree trunks and infection often leads to the death of the whole plant. One type of spores (zoospores) are easily spread by wind and rain and also by humans. In addition to this, another spore type (chlamydospores) can persist in the soil and leaf litter for longer periods of time until environmental conditions become more favourable for infection. Since its initial identification in the UK P. ramorum has spread dramatically. In 2009 P. ramorum was found both infecting and sporulating on Japanese larch trees in the south west of England and more recently in Wales, Northern Ireland, the republic of Ireland and western Scotland. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this disease and a result, infected trees have to be felled and are removed in order to prevent further spread. In order to be sure that neighbouring trees are not infected, these too are cut down. In many of these sites where outbreaks occur, the invasive plant Rhododendron ponticum has been present and it is thought that this is the main route of the pathogen into forests.

Eradication and control of Rhododendron is the most effective way of controlling these harmful pathogens. Removal of rhododendron typically occurs by mechanical and chemical measures however; the plants often regrow and require continual cutting back and spraying with herbicides and risk infection by spores present in the soil. In 2009, DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) launched a five year Phytophthora disease management program looking at methods to contain and reduce the spread of these two pathogens in the UK. Within this programme a Forest Research led project is investigating a number of different strategies to remove rhododendron as well as looking at methods of safe disposal of infected plants. Through field experiments the efficacy of a number of control methods including mechanical removal of Rhododendron plants as well as the use of chemical herbicides and of the native wood-rotting basidiomycete fungus Chondrostereum purpureum to control resprouting of cut stumps are being evaluated.

Chondrostereum purpureum

Treatment of a birch stump with the mycoherbicide Chondrostereum purpureum in Finland. (Picture copyright CABI).

Scientists at CABI have provided scientific input into this project focussing on the evaluation of the fungus Chondrostereum purpureum to control regrowth of Rhododendron through its application as a mycoherbicide to cut stumps. This method has been tried and tested in different parts of the globe, i.e. the Netherlands, Canada and New Zealand, and has proven to be environmentally safe and successful in controlling a number of woody invasives.The evaluation of all field trials is currently under way and all project results will be summarized in the final project report to DEFRA during the first half of the year.

More information on this project can be found at:

CABI – Looking for a treatment to halt the spread of rhododendron

Forest Research – Clearance and disposal strategies for Phytophthora-infected rhododendron

DEFRA -Determining best methods for the clearance and disposal of key host plants, especially invasive Rhododendron, for the control of Phytophthora ramorum and Phytophthora kernoviae

7 Comments

  1. Joe on 30th January 2013 at 13:44

    bad problems with it in SW Ireland

  2. Karel Lewy-Phillips on 30th January 2013 at 13:59

    Please e mail me regarding training and experience assisting with surveying and managing R. ponticum as I wish to pursue a career in alien invasive species management and have many innovative approaches. I have many outdoor skills from a recent undergraduate degree in Environmental Management at the University of Edinburgh to Scottish tour guiding and landscaping. karel7seas@gmail.com Thank you

  3. argylesock on 30th January 2013 at 16:46

    Reblogged this on Science on the Land.

  4. […] cabiinvasives.wordpress.com/2013/01/30/rhododendron-ponti… […]

  5. John Schwartz on 20th September 2014 at 18:01

    Would this particular weed grow in the southwest part of Pennsylvania? Cause there’s something that looks like this growing over one of the plants in my front yard.

  6. Dean Pryke on 5th November 2018 at 12:48

    This was mentioned in an episode of “New Tricks” called “Buried Treasure”.

  7. Invasives Most Read 2019 on 20th December 2019 at 10:04

    […] Rhododendron ponticum – much more than just an invasive weed! […]

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