Recognise coral spot

27th April 2021

Coral spot, Nectria cinnabarina, is a fungus that feeds on dead wood. It's particularly noticeable in early spring when you are clearing up borders and also on old hazel peasticks. Spores from the pink pustules on the bark are dispersed in rain splash and wind-blown rain onto living woody tissue in spring, and if a plant is already stressed infection may take hold. There is no treatment other than to cut out and burn infected material.