Identification

• Azalea foliage is susceptible to botrytis blight caused by Botrytis cinerea and septoria leaf spots caused by Septoria spp. The fungi causing these diseases are generally favored by high humidity and moisture on foliage.
  
  

Damage

• Botrytis blight is characterized by discoloration, failure of buds to bloom, wilting of foliage and existing flowers, and twig dieback. Gray, fuzzy spore masses form on infected foliage and flowers. Septoria fungi infect older foliage first and cause the appearance of round or irregular sunken spots on foliage.
  
  

Control

• Plants should be watered at ground level early in the day to ensure that they have time to dry before nightfall. Overhead sprinklers soak the foliage and flowers, establishing conditions in which fungi may thrive. Plants require spacing that allows good air circulation. Debris and fallen leaves harbor fungal spores. They should be removed.