Golden Canker, Pagoda Dogwood Decline

Golden canker (officially Cryptodiaporthe canker) is a visually distinct and increasingly common disease of alternate-leafed dogwoods such as pagoda dogwood. This disease can potentially be lethal if infections occur on the main trunk of a tree.

Initial symptoms of golden canker include wilting and death of leaves on infected branches, followed by branch dieback. Infected branch tissue turns a bright, golden-yellow color. Oftentimes orange spots will be visible scattered over this yellow tissue. These spots are fruiting bodies (reproductive structures) of the fungus that causes the disease. If unchecked, golden canker can spread from infected branches to the main trunk, resulting in the death of the tree above the point of trunk infection.