As noted in the UMass Landscape Message Sept. 22, 2006:

"Maine State Officials Seek Homeowners' Help to Locate Possibly Diseased Lilac Plants August 11, 2006. Officials with the Maine Department of Agriculture and the Maine Department of Conservation, has discovered Phytophthora ramorum in Maine. They have been surveying nursery, garden centers, and urban forest sites for the past three years in an effort to assure that P. ramorum does not establish a foothold in Maine. In all, more than 70 horticultural businesses and 25 urban sites have been surveyed and hundreds of plant segments have been sent to laboratories for testing. To date, there is no indication that this disease has become established in Maine.

In June 2006, plant health officials in Maine were notified that plants at an Oregon nursery had tested positive for the disease and shipped plant material to locations in Maine. The shipments occurred in late April. The garden centers that received the plants were inspected, and one plant sample tested positive for the disease. The garden center staff has cooperated fully with state officials and all affected plant material remaining at the garden centers has been destroyed.

State plant health officials are currently trying to locate thirteen lilac plants purchased only from Agway Garden Centers in Winslow, Skowhegan, or Farmingdale earlier this year before the state was notified about the potential problem. The affected plants are one variety of common lilac, ÂLudwig SpaethiiÂ. In flower, the blossoms are a deep reddish-purple. Anyone who may know the location of these plants is urged to contact the Maine Department of Agriculture at (207) 287-3891. Sudden Oak Death is able to spread among a wide variety of plants and could have economic consequences for MaineÂs horticulture and forestry industries."

UMass Landscape Message Sept. 22

If you know anything about these lilacs please contact the state!

Claire