Update: Gladiolus Rust

The April Pest Alert for Gladiolus Rust (Uromyces transversalis) has been updated to reflect information about the recent discovery of this fungal pathogen on gladiolus plants in Minnesota (check out a map of the US distribution here, courtesy of the National Agricultural Pest Information System). Until this past April, the only US records for this species were in California and Florida. The Minnesota record represents the most northern US location where the rust fungus has been found, by far - more information will be posted when it become available.

Gladiolus rust remains a problem mainly for nurseries that grow gladiolus for sale as cut flowers. But if you grow gladiolus (or related tropical plants in the Iris family [Iridaceae], including Crocosmia, Tritonia and Watsonia species) or know someone who does, it is worth checking out the links at the bottom of the pest alert so you know what to look for in case you ever encounter this destructive pathogen.