Mimosa Wilt (Fusarium): Management and Reality

Fusarium Wilt: Fatal Mimosa Disease

Mimosa wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. perniciosum) is incurable and almost always fatal within a year of symptoms.

Symptoms

• Leaf yellowing/wilting by early-mid summer
• Branch-by-branch death over months
• Frothy ooze from cracks, trunk sprouts
• Brown streaks in roots on affected side

Palliative Care Only

• Fertilize: 10-10-10 at 1 lb/inch trunk diameter (may reduce symptoms)
• Water: Frequent irrigation reduces wilt
• Prune: Remove/burn dead branches
• No fungicides work (vascular pathogen)

Reality

Tree will die. Plan replacement with resistant species (redbud, crape myrtle, serviceberry). Don't replant mimosa.