What’s Wrong With My Camellia?

Diagnose and treat common foliage problems on this beloved southeastern staple

chew over the camelia ( Camelliaspp . and cvs . , Zones 6–10 ) for a moment : It ’s a glossy rich evergreen with a thick and pleasing form . It loves heat and can survive drought . It ’s festooned in richly large blooms in both shade and fond sun area — in winter , no less ! Camellia deserves its botanical mic drop . This tabby of the southeast winter garden is near thoroughgoing .

But like a supermodel with a pimple , when camelia leaves get blemishes , we ’re nonresistant to react with shock . It ’s as if they are somehow supposed to be unprocurable . The first time I saw the bloated , pallid leaf of camellia leaf saddle sore , I wince in repugnance and recall , “ What demon has own this elegant lulu ? ” The leaves on the dogwood Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree ( Cornuscv . , Zones 3–9 ) next to it may have been sporting a nice coating of powdery mold , but I just walked by those mentation , “ Nobody ’s stark . ” However , once I did a niggling inquiry and line up my attitude , I accept the leafage bile for what it is : a relatively harmless fungus requiring a snatch of yearly pruning to make for my sasanqua ’s ( Camellia sasanqua , Zones 6b–9 ) show back into top form .

I reached out to Grant Houlihan , a creative landscaper ( and booster ) to find out the most frequent camelia concerns his clients have . “ I get the most doubt about leaf gall , tea and cottony camellia musical scale , virus mottling , and root guff , ” he resolve . “ Of the leaf publication , scale would be my main headache . [ Yellow mottle ] computer virus does n’t affect the overall health of the flora , and I regain some of the discolorations fascinating ! There is actually something beautiful about how it affects the leaves and blossom . ”

If you ’ve commence questions about your less - than - perfect camellia leaves , ascertain out the visual usher below . If you ’re still puzzled , move on to an paradigm hunting for camellia sunscald , sooty mold , and dropsy — three less - often - asked - about leafage issues not trace here .

Leaf gall

movement and symptoms : New folio become thickened and fleshy . They change state light greenish to pinkish , with eventual snowy undersides . Japanese camellias ( Camellia japonica , Zones 7–9 ) are less susceptible than sasanquas . The fungus , Exobasidium camelliae , diffuse by spores released on older leaf gall that have develop snowy undersurface .

What to do : Don’t panic . This is more disfiguring than destructive . Simply prune off affected leaves as soon as they are observe . Bag to put down . Rake up fallen leaves and remulch .

Planthoppers

Cause and symptom : blurry whiteness covers new ontogenesis ( leave of absence and stem ) . This is not evidence of mealy bug or scale ; these are the secretion of juvenile leafhopper . refer the sphere and watch them hop . Planthoppers can be from different genus and species .

What to do : Send the kids out to play with them . These are more amusive than destructive . juvenile person and grownup do feed on plants , but rarely do any harm . If you are nark by the look of the cottony wax , use a blast of water supply and a toothbrush to remove it .

Yellow mottle virus

Cause and symptoms : Irregular patterns of pale to medium yellow mottle cover farewell , which are usually present in only a portion of a bush . The virus can also show up in lighter temporary hookup on petals . Transmitted during propagation , it does not distribute in the landscape , except ( potentially ) through pruners that have not been sterilize between undercut .

What to do : C’est la vie . Once a industrial plant has this computer virus , there is no treatment . However , it is not negative . You may prune out impress field for a impermanent fix , but the stain will return on new growth . Sterilize pruners after take stirred foliation .

Algal leaf spot

Cause and symptom : grey-headed - unripened or rusty brown spots with irregular perimeter are because of the algaeCephaleuros virescens . This being charter reward of already - distressed plants . Your good defense is a healthy flora .

What to do : Check the health of your plant , and slay infected leaves . Algal leaf fleck is commonly not a destructive job on camellia unless plant are already struggling . Because down or upcountry leaves are more potential to be affected , you may not even notice a mild contagion . And mild infections may be forget alone . Remove and destroy infected leaves , including those on the reason . Give the plant a little more TLC by making sure it is n’t crowded , is n’t planted too deep , has adequate wet , and is get compost or fertiliser each spring .

Tea scale

Cause and symptom : Leaf surfaces uprise mottled , yellow patches . folio undersides are covered with a mix of tan and fine , cottony livid structures . It ’s more likely to be on the inner leave-taking of a shrub . The scale insect isFiorinia theae . It spread through the “ crawler ” stage to adjacent leaf . There are other insects ( and other scale of measurement ) that occasionally feed on camellias .

What to do : Assess , then act . If you get hold that less than 20 % of the leaves of your shrub are hosting scale , you may pick off truly infested leaves and destroy the microbe . The shrub may look a piffling sparse later , but it will fill out with Modern leaves in the next growing time of year . repeat covering of horticultural oil ( every two to three weeks in spring ) can be effective for restrained infestations . I do n’t commend insecticides , because those kill beneficial insects too . If the undersurface of most leaf is cake in ordered series , contact a professional for discourse .

camelia are plants like all others ; they are last in your special garden ecosystem , and their folio can bear an motley of imperfection . as luck would have it , most of these are n’t mansion of impending doom . Once you know what they are and how to work , you’re able to catch one’s breath easy . Some modest action will keep your camelia foliation look its best . No plant is consummate , and no gardener is perfect . When you see your imperfection for what they are , you’re able to move past them and spend more metre being an amazing nurseryman .

— Paula Gross is the former assistant theatre director of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte Botanical Gardens .

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algal spot on camellia

Dark brown spots can indicate algal spot, which can be harmful to an already-struggling shrub.Photo: Paula Gross

Yellow mottle virus

Yellow mottle virus makes leaves appear variegated and doesn’t harm the overall health of the plant. Prune affected areas with a clean tool, or leave them if you like the look.Photo: Paula Gross

camellia leaf gall