Cercospora Needle Blight of Juniper - Cercospora sequoiae var. Cercospora sequoiae var. Repeated infections over several years may result in defoliation and tree death. The disease is most severe in areas with high summer humidities and frequent rains.
Needles turn dull brown or red and eventually drop.
Small fuzzy or hairy spore-bearing fungal structures, easily visible with a hand lens, form on the dead needles. Defoliation in succeeding years continues from the inner portion of the branch toward the tip, and from the bottom of the tree toward the top. Severely infected trees are open, spindly, and may appear as if they had been scorched by a fire. Cercospora needle blight may occur on several juniper species. Rocky Mountain juniper is particularly susceptible and should not be planted in locations where the disease has previously been a problem.