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Coneflower growth #871466

Asked June 04, 2024, 9:37 AM EDT

I have several 4-5 year old coneflowers that I have been watching the last few years for mites. This year the flower is not growing well. I've attached last year's photos also. It was thought by another extension person it was mites and not asters yellow. I'm not sure now. I would like to know if it is just time to tear these plants out.

Kalamazoo County Michigan

Expert Response

I agree that it looks like mite damage, not aster yellows. Here is a really great website from OSU that compares the two. The only way to get a definitive answer is to take in or mail in a sample into the lab at MSU. Here's a link to the lab's website

If you are concerned about the mites or infection spreading, you can remove (at very least) the flowers and stems or the entire plants. I would put them in the city compost/yard debris pickup (not in your home compost). 

If you send a sample to the lab, you might as well wait until you get results. However, if you don't want to send a sample to the lab and your are concerned about infecting your garden overall, you can choose to assume the worst and dispose of the plants. I had a coneflower last year show signs of mites and chose to err on the side of caution and remove the plant. 


Lindsey K. Kerr, MS, MHP (she, her, hers) Replied June 04, 2024, 3:07 PM EDT

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