Patches of white to grayish powdery growth occur on the surfaces of leaves, flowers and new shoots. It shows itself in late summer. Third, heavy summer rain showers are known to cause more and more cases of Cercospora in Crepe Myrtle trees. When the next flush of flowers opened, a white spot adorned nearly every petal. First, if you’ve noticed these telltale signs of Cercospora, the disease has already taken ahold of your tree. 1 Comment It is the middle of the summer and your crepe myrtles leaves are starting to discolor. My natchez crape myrtles are 2 months old and began growing leaves fantastic, yet at 2 months all of the leaves are turning orange/red and I'm sure they will soon fall off. (225) 372-8585, © 2018-document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) Bayou Tree Service Inc. All rights reserved. Shortly thereafter, I began noticing red crepe myrtles with white flowers. Photo 1265 is the west side and you can see more red leaves. Photo 1264 is the east side of the tree, it’s in a little better shape. Initially displaying dark spots, these leaves eventually turn yellow, orange or red and fall off your trees, well before the hot Louisiana temperatures have dropped and fall has begun. These are aphids, which suck sap from leaves and stems of … The flowers appear in clusters that can be up to 14-inches long. This tree that can grow up to 24-inches in a year reaches about 20 feet at maturity. Crape myrtles are prized where they can be grown for their beautiful flowers, long blooming season, and attractive, interesting bark. The same red and purple pigments behind similar colors in flowers, fruits and fall foliage show up in plants under stress. Please see the 5 photos attached. The older brown bark peels away to reveal bright beige bark underneath. While Cercospora is a known disease of Crepe Myrtle trees, you need not worry. I watched the color change in my neighborhood about a week ago. Normal. When a small amount of this herbicide from careless spraying or drift gets on a plant like crape myrtle it … Photo 1261 is the base of the tree. I suspect the problem is directly related to the amount of water your crape myrtle is receiving. If you’re noticing black spots on the leaves of your Crepe Myrtles, your trees are experiencing a disease called Cercospora. These trees bloom on new wood, which means that this season's growth makes the … The leaves on a few varieties turn dark red, yellow or orange-red in the fall. Unpruned crepe myrtles develop beautifully coloured, smooth, mottled trunks. Heavily infected flowers may fail to open. There are a few Crapemyrtle cultivars with red leaves. Some of the world's great mysteries may never be solved -- like how did the hosts of "Fox & Friends" ever graduate from high school? ANSWER: This is Cercospora leaf spot due to all the rain. The tree is about 15 - 20 years old and roughly 20' tall. People love red. The older and younger barks intertwine on the trunk together to create a marbled look. That’s simply too much tree maintenance for most Crepe Myrtle owners, especially considering how many of these beauties can be found across our local landscape. The crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia spp.) | Web Design by ComSolutions. Second, even though Cercospora may cause some unsightly discoloration of your Crepe Myrtle tree leaves, it is not a life-threatening disease. And so two fairly recent introductions, 'Dynamite' and 'Red Rocket', have exploded in popularity (pun intended). And that's when people freak out and invest all their life savings in bomb shelter carpeting. Powdery Mildew: Powdery mildew is one of the most common problems of crape myrtle, and it is caused by the fungus Erysiphe lagerstroemia. © Copyright 2020 Meredith Corporation. A lot of them are turning red. https://www.wilsonbrosgardens.com/crape-myrtle-leaf-spot.html Then in the fall the leaves turn unique shades of purple and red. Southern Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. Red foliage enhances desirability in some ornamental plants, but when green summer leaves turn red unexpectedly, color can be cause for concern. When flowers open during cool, cloudy weather, instead of opening red, they open white. Leaves, Bark and Branches Most crape myrtles have dark green leaves, some tinged with red upon opening. Q: Nancy, thank you so much. Dynamite Crape Myrtle. nor do our other crepe myrtle trees with pink blooms. Crepe Myrtles are among the most popular trees decorating homes, commercial, municipal and educational landscapes in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and throughout the southeastern United States. There is an Australian native crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia archeriana), which grows to … At first, we thought that this was a reaction to the drought. What causes our Crepe Myrtle tree leaves to turn red? So learn to love it. When the crepe myrtle tree has a heavy infestation of aphids, it causes a lot honeydew to accumulate on the tree. provide head-turning allure to gardens in United States Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 through 9. The dark-green leaves turn reddish-orange in the fall. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Along with their bright colorful bloom display during the summer months the leaves of the Crepe Myrtle also turn orange, red and yellow in the fall. These galls are full of aphids in different stages of their life. If you are seeing brown leaves (or even partially brown leaves) on a crepe myrtle shrub, such as a Natchez crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia x Natchez), at the end of a dry summer, the problem could be due to drought. But there is one mystery plaguing a lot of gardeners right now upon which Grumpy will shine the light of knowledge and understanding -- why crepe myrtles sometimes change color. Our two Natchez white crepe myrtles planted two years ago are blooming. Also, a late frost or cool weather could cause the leaves to start changing to what is typically their fall color: rich bronze-red to orange. The curling leaves are probably caused by lawn chemicals, probably a phenoxy herbicide. Crepe Myrtles are among the toughest, most adaptable, and showiest plants that can be grown in the Texas landscape. However, the much more likely culprit is the weather. Weather affects the colors of many flowers, not just those of crepe myrtles. Other flowers that you wouldn't normally think of change color too. If your crape myrtle's dark green leaves have turned white, your tree might be infected with mildew. At Bayou Tree Service, we are often contacted by concerned tree owners when they notice something different or “off” about their trees. Photo 1262 is the west side of the tree. And we all know just how much rain we get in the summer in Louisiana! If this is happening to your crepe myrtle trees, are they still healthy? Learn how to season this Southern kitchen staple in five easy steps. They may be white, yellow, red or brown. Then we had that rainy weekend. That's they way these new crepe myrtles are. A: Burned edges of leaves can be caused by several things including too much fertilizer, lack of water, root diseases or too much water. ‘Tis the season to ditch your all-white palette in favor of something a little bolder and brighter. After a month-and-a-half of brutally hot temps in the high-90's, we had a rainy, cloudy Saturday. It's late August, and none of the other Crape Myrtles in the neighborhood seem to be turning yet. Sioux Crape Myrtles have very dark green leaves that create a radiant show of contrasting colors. Red is the rarest naturally occurring color among crepe myrtles. There is no reversing it, not even by spraying your trees. Crepe myrtle leaves will start to fall and your tree will start to look pretty shabby. The disease is most serious in shady, damp locations, especially where plants … The trendy haircuts you’ll be seeing everywhere next year. Red Crape Myrtle Varieties Introduction. Anybody want to buy 5,000 yards of storm shelter carpeting? Photo 1263 a closer look of the west side of the tree. The nursery tag says it should get up to 20'. Crepe Myrtle Leaves Are Turning Orange-Red. Many leaves fall during the summer, although some are the normal green. That’s where regular tree maintenance comes in! If you’re noticing black spots on the leaves of your Crepe Myrtles, your trees are experiencing a disease called Cercospora. Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) requires full sun, well-drained soils and it is drought tolerant. However, the leaves are turning yellow to red and then dropping off. But they share one weird idiosyncrasy. . And think about it. Q. Crepe Myrtle Leaves Turning Yellow to Red. I do know that the leaves of this variety emerge red in the spring and then quickly turn to deep green. genus is a truly spectacular member of the loosestrife family, boasting a flowering season that may last up to 120 days. Consulting, pruning and fertilization on numerous historic Live Oaks Historic tree transplant, Consulting, pruning and fertilization on numerous historic Live Oaks as well as hundreds of younger trees, 264 Industrial Avenue We are in the 94517 zip code. (504) 837-8733, 2982 Varsity St. Crepe myrtles (Lagerstroemia indica) are small trees with abundant, showy blossoms.But the lush green leaves help make this a favorite in gardens and landscapes in the southern United States. I'll give you a deal. It seems to me to be too early for it to be getting fall colors since it's still close to 90 degrees here! Southern Living is a registered trademark of, These Haircuts Are Going To Be Huge in 2021, 7 Paint Colors We’re Loving for Kitchen Cabinets in 2020, 50 Books Everyone Should Read in Their Lifetime. I planted two Crape Myrtle's this past fall. Growing in zones 6 to 9, the dynamite crape myrtle puts on fiery red flowers. Why is the bark is falling off my crepe myrtle? In most instances, infected leaves develop a yellowish to orangey red coloration then fall … In autumn the mid-green leaves turn yellow, orange or red (depending on the variety) before falling. We live in Austin, Texas and all of our neighbors' established trees do not have this problem. Nope. Leaves prematurely turn bright orange and red and then drop. When the entire plant turns black and appears to be dirty, suspect a pest infestation. It will bloom for about 70 days. They also flaunt vivid red flowers. These bushes flourish in the southeastern United States, where they are very popular due to their ability to withstand the summer heat. The leaves turned a deep russet, then burgandy in the fall. Selections of crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia spp.) With so many Crepe Myrtles planted across the southeastern United States, they are a reliable, long-living tree, despite their tendency to become infected with Cercospora. Baton Rouge, LA 70807 I love Crape Myrtles! So if you suddenly spot leaves on crepe myrtle turning yellow, you’ll want to figure out quickly what is going on with this versatile plant. I went out and checked the tree to see where the flare was. Sometimes, certain aphid species cause galls (swelling of plant tissues) on crepe myrtle that is round or spindle-shaped. Crepe Myrtle Leaves Turning Brown in Summer . Question From: m. sims - Tifton, Georgia, United States . Infected parts of the plant are usually distorted and stunted. One is a Lagerstroemia x fauriei 'Arapaho' - red flowers and dark leaves. You may live with a healthy crepe myrtle in the garden … If you have a Crepe Myrtle that is displaying another issue, or other types of trees that you think may be diseased, we are happy to inspect them. If the leaves still retain some green coloring and the black portions are mainly along the edges, the crepe myrtle may be suffering from leaf scorch which is not a true disease but is caused by improper watering. with true red flowers are now widely available, thanks to new and dramatic improvements in crape myrtle flower color.As with other colors of crape myrtle, red crape myrtle varieties are free-flowering and will continue to produce flowers throughout summer and on into autumn. Affected with Cercospora can be grown for their beautiful flowers, fruits and fall show..., uplifting, and they are developing brown spots and the leaves turn unique shades purple. 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