INDUSTRY ALERT
SOD found at California nursery; shipments may have been made to Canada
Despite ongoing efforts at eradication or at least containment, sudden oak death (SOD) continues to spread. It was revealed late last week that SOD has been detected in camellia varieties at a California nursery. The infection was detected after the start of the spring shipping season, and product has already been shipped to nursery and garden centre locations across the US and into Canada. This news is of particular concern to the horticultural industry in BC. At the request of the CFIA, the industry has been notified by the BCLNA to immediately cease the sale and/or planting of camellia varieties received from any US nursery. Plants should be isolated until they are inspected by CFIA.
Because of its limited hardiness, and because the spring shipping season has not yet started in other parts of Canada, it is unlikely that there have been direct shipments of camellias to other provinces. Product has been shipped to the eastern US, however, and the impact of this movement across the continent is yet to be determined.
Through import records, the CFIA will be inspecting all companies that have received shipment of suspect plants. Companies should contact their local CFIA office if plants are not inspected by Wednesday, March 17. It is imperative that the industry cooperate fully with the efforts of CFIA to mitigate the spread of SOD.
Further inquires should be directed to:
Rita Weerdenburg
CNLA, Industry Technical Analyst
ritaw@canadanursery.com
1-800-265-5656, ext. 311
- Information from the ANLA
The American Nursery Landscape Association shares its view on the SOD outbreak and offers information on what industry can do next.
