Natural History Wanderings

Sudden Oak Death (Phytophthora ramorum) continues to spread rapidly. A recent survey by the Forest Pathology and Mycology Laboratory at UC Berkeley revealed a large increase in the number of infected trees from Napa to Carmel Valley. The worst area was South Skyline Boulevard, west of Saratoga and Los Gatos, where 97 percent of the plants tested were infected.  What was most surprising was that Sudden Oak Disease had spread to residential areas in North Berkeley, the Claremont district in Berkeley and the Montclair district in Oakland.

Experts report that as many as 90 percent of black and live oaks could die in the next 25 years.  Sudden Oak death has killed hundreds of thousands of oak trees from Big Sur to southern Oregon. There are 107 plants that are possible hosts for Sudden Oak Death. Bay Laurel trees are the most effective culprit in spreading the infection.  It can also be spread by garden ornamental plants such as camellias and rhododendrons.

Read more and learn what you can do at the SF Chronicle:  Sudden oak death cases jump, spread in Bay Area