Fusarium Wilt Disease

Fusarium oxysporum is a FATAL fungal disease and there is NO KNOWN CURE – fungicides are not effective. It is a fungus that attacks primarily Canary Island Date palms. These stately palms were originally brought to California during the construction of the Missions. The disease has been prevalent in Southern California for over 15 years and is now reaching epidemic proportions. 

The symptoms of the disease include unusual frond dieback up in the crown and also 50/50 fronds. This is where the leaflets on one side of the frond are brown while on the other side they are green. The disease is primarily passed to the palms from contaminated pruning equipment, generally chainsaws. This disease is well established and is not going away.

 Incubation period:
The typical incubation period is 12 to 18 months – during this period there are no symptoms. Once symptoms appear it may take several years for the palm to enter the “rapid decline” stage of the disease.

Information provided by MTR Horticulture

Prevention is the Key
Mark Robinson of MTR Horticulture, Carlsbad, CA, one of the leading authorities on the Phoenix Canariensis palm emphasizes that prevention is key. Here are some key points to be aware of:

The safest way to prune is to use a sterile hand saw. Clean tools and then soak them in a 50/50% solution of bleach and water for a minimum of 5 minutes. Clean tools before and after each tree. Unfortunately the average tree trimming service is not generally aware of these guidelines and subsequently the disease continues to spread.

If you are concerned that your Canary Island Date palm is infected it is important to have a qualified Palm Specialist/ Horticulturist inspect your palm so that an accurate diagnosis can be made. Certain conditions can mimic the disease. Once the presence of the disease is confirmed it is recommended that the palm be removed in a timely manner by an experienced, licensed professional contractor.

MTR Horticulture contact information is: 760-804-0729