Discula destructiva is a fungus that causes a foliar disease called Anthracnose that affects flowering dogwoods on the East Coast (Cornus florida) as well as Western dogwoods (Cornus nuttalliiI). Affected leaves develop brownish-purplish spots, become twisted and necrotic, and may drop early. Because affected have a reduced ability to photosynthesize, trees with serious anthracnose year after year often decline and die. Anthracnose can be managed with fungicide applications, and proper watering, mulching, and pruning.