Could my olive tree pass xylella disease to other plants, or me?

Bill Payne, Sussex

AJAMES SAYS Okay, first off, please don’t panic. The bacterial disease Xylella fastidiosa is exclusively a plant disease and won’t affect people (or pets). Also, it has not yet been detected in the UK, so it is very unlikely that your olive tree is a carrier.

However, it is true that olives are susceptible to the disease (along with more than 500 other plant species) and that most olive trees on sale in the UK are imported from the Mediterranean, where the disease can be present. Nurseries use a combination of EU plant passports, careful documentation and regular inspections to reduce the risk of transmission, so there are multiple procedures in place across Europe to control its spread.

Xylella disease can kill olive trees, but hasn’t been found in the UK

The symptoms of xylella disease can be hard to detect, as they are often identical to drought, heat or cold stress, including browning, scorched or wilting leaves. But if you suspect you do indeed have xylella in your garden, go to the UK Plant Health Information Portal at planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk for information and to report cases.