Fireblight in Ireland

Learn about the Fireblight disease and how it affects Hawthorn.

What is Fireblight?

Fireblight (Erwinia amylorova) is a bacterial disease whose common hosts include Hawthorn, Cotoneaster, apple, pear, and rowan. It cannot be treated and affected trees must be destroyed. Symptoms include the withering of shoots and leaves (‘Shepherd’s Stick’), cankers, and bacterial ooze. Report symptoms to plantandpests@agriculture.gov.ie. Fireblight is known to enter through latent infections on imported plants and is suited to our temperate climate, being widespread in Northern Ireland and confirmed by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in 17 outbreaks across 11 counties in 2023. It previously caused the removal of over 800km of hedgerows in Germany.

Check out these information sheets:

Watch our webinar with Maria Cullen on hedgerow pests and diseases here.

Read Our 2024 Open Letter on Fireblight

Take Action

1. Share information on Fireblight.

www.hedgerows.ie/fireblight/

2. Plant Irish Provenance trees.

If you’re planting a hedgerow, make sure to ask if the trees are of Irish Origin & Provenance. We have listed some potential suppliers here: www.hedgerows.ie/planting.

3. Contact groups and businesses selling or planting trees in your area.

For example, your local garden centre, plant nursery, Tidy Towns, biodiversity group, or the Local Authority’s Parks Department.

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I am contacting you to ask for your help to prevent the further spread of Fireblight and other plant pests and diseases in Ireland. Fireblight is now found in the wider environment but was initially carried on imported trees. This bacterial disease is found on Hawthorn, Cotoneaster, apple, pear, rowan, and other plants. Can you ensure that your trees are Irish Provenance Certified? As well as preventing the spread of other pests and diseases, using Irish Provenance Certified trees means they will be better adapted to local biodiversity and environmental conditions.