Highland residents urged not to use rhododendron leaves in Christmas decorations; Forestry and Land Scotland issued the plea amid concerns the invasive plant will spread deadly P. remorum spores to larch trees

DON'T go spreading devastating tree diseases this festive season – leave rhododendron leaves out of your home-made Christmas decorations, the country's forestry chiefs have urged.

Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) has warned that wild rhododendron leaves can carry phytophthora ramorum – more commonly referred to as P. ramorum – which attacks and kills larch trees.

If they become infected larch trees, and their neighbours, all have to be felled to prevent the disease's further spread – and FLS has called on the public to do their bit to protect the Highlands' larch populations by leaving rhododendrons well alone.

The evergreen rhododenron is also a non-native invasive species which out-competes local vegetation.

Alan Gale, FLS adaptation programme manager, said: “Rhododendron is a real threat to woodland ecosystems and needs to be managed vigorously to prevent it from killing off ground vegetation, but it is also a carrier of a disease that has had a devastating impact on larch.

"There are now many locations across Scotland where woodland managers are having to meet the requirements of statutory plant health notices and fell infected trees.

“Unfortunately, rhododendron is an attractive plant for use in flower arrangements and Christmas wreaths – and stems picked in a forest need not show any obvious signs of infection. Members of the public might also not know if the disease is present in the woods they visit so in terms of biosecurity, it’s better to not take the risk."

The risk of transmission lies in the incorrect disposal of rhododendron stems and leaves and infected material, if it ends up on a compost pile – or at the bottom of the garden – close to susceptible hosts.

There is also a risk that woodland visitors taking rhododendron material from infected areas will carry the disease-causing spores to uninfected sites in the mud and forest debris on their boots, walking poles or car or bike tyres.

Mr Gale added: “Our ‘Keep it Clean’ biosecurity advice urges visitors to help us slow the spread of this disease by taking a few minutes to brush or wipe off boots, bike wheels, tent pegs and even their dog’s paws before and after visiting a woodland.

“We would also ask that people don’t take anything out of the forest that they didn’t take in with them.

“Everyone working together to adopt new habits will have a positive impact on our forests, help to slow the spread of tree pests and diseases and buy the time to research and develop other actions that we can take to ensure the long term health of our woodlands.”

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