If copious amounts of honeydew form on trees, sidewalks and other surfaces below may become coated with it and the sooty mold that follows. Hello, My name is Lynn and I knew nothing when I planted 2 crepe myrtle trees 25 years ago, ⦠What happens is that in mid- to late summer, angular, brown spots form on the oldest leaves. In spring, the fungus begins to grow, and spores are released to travel on the wind to young leaves. Most crepe myrtles in gardens are selections of L. indica or hybrids of that species with L. fauriei. Another of the crepe myrtle pests is ⦠They milk the insects for the honeydew, which they take back to other ants for food. Initially, the infection begins as sporadic, circular, and powdery white spots. Sooty mold is a fungus that covers the leaves and looks like you just sprayed your crepe myrtle with asphalt. You walk out to your crepe myrtles and you see that the leaves look black. The tree is about 20 years old and it is a miniature or a dwarf crepe myrtle. Lynn Murphy. Turkey tail (Trametes versicolor) is a white fungus that commonly develops on crape myrtles. If so, replace it with one of the selections named above. Like all trees, Crape Myrtles can develop fungus or mildew on their leaves. However, the Crape Myrtle does boast a higher resistance to pests and diseases than other flowering tree varieties, and when they are affected, the issues are easy to mediate quickly. Crepe Myrtle Bark Scale (letâs call it CMBS) is a small insect that appears as a white or gray felt-like encrustation. Prevention is your best ⦠Water plants from underneath rather than above to keep leaves dry. Females bore into stems, twigs, branches or trunks of young trees. Often times, the first sign of CMBS is the black sooty mold on the tree bark. They are usually one of the last trees to put on leaves in the spring, but earlier than pecans. My father also LOVES mulch, so there is mulch around the crepe myrtle. No other control is necessary. Rank grower; annual pruning in winter is especially important to control size and form. Tolerates heat, humidity, drought; does well in most soils as long as they are well drained. Pruning off old flowers in summer before they set seed may produce a second wave of blooms. Treatment and prevention: The most effective control measures include planting the crepe myrtle in full sun and removing the sprouts from the plantâs base. Choose from red, white, purple, or pink. The undigested portion is excreted as a sweet, sticky liquid called honeydew. If your ... Our crepes have been cut back early spring but now the branches look back and like there is a fungus on them. Southern Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. Small white flowers are borne in 2- to 4-inch long clusters in early summer; often blooms again in late summer. Infected parts of the plant are usually distorted and stunted. This fungus favors new, young, succulent, crowded growth that prevents good air circulation. When it comes to aphids, these crepe myrtle pests need to be washed off the tree with a forceful water bath or spray. Crepe myrtle pests include aphids and mold. Long, cool autumns yield the best leaf display; sudden frosts following warm, humid fall weather often freeze leaves while they're still green, ruining the show. If yours hasn't, most likely it's due to one of three reasons. Major activity occurs in March. Round, white spots on upper leaf surfaces expand and merge, covering both sides of leaves. Also gradually remove side branches up to a height of 4-5 feet; this exposes the handsome bark of the trunks. But I wanted to submit the photo to try to determine what it is, and what I should be doing about it. Life cycle: While adult beetles are present most of the year, they require high humidity to reproduce. For branches more than 2 inches thick, always cut back to the crotch or trunk. Consider planting a mildew-resistant selection, such as ‘Acoma,' ‘Biloxi,' ‘Hopi,' ‘Lipan,' ‘Miami,' ‘Natchez,' ‘Sioux,' ‘Yuma,' and ‘Zuni.'. Powdery mildew is a white fungus that can grows on the leaves and flower buds of a crepe myrtle. Sawdust protruding from holes in branches looks like tiny toothpicks stuck to the bark. Solutions: Plant a mildew-resistant crepe myrtle. PLANTING SITE: A sunny location where the air moves freely will help limit powdery mildew and other diseases. Rubbing removes the mold. Pruning. Control: On small plants, wipe or wash off the molds with a small sponge and water. Powdery mildew is a plant disease caused by a fungus. Ants add to the problem by collecting and tending honeydew-excreting insects, such as aphids, scale, and mealybugs. Once several beetles have invaded the plant, insecticides are not effective. ‘Kiowa' has outstanding cinnamon-colored bark. Beetles excavate a maze of tunnels and cultivate ambrosia fungus (Fusarium solani) on the tunnel walls to feed their developing young. Smooth gray or light brown bark peels off to reveal smooth, pinkish inner bark; winter trunk and branches seem polished. It was slow to take off because their ground is horrible, but we've been amending the soil every year, adding compost to the bed and the last couple of years it has looked great. The fungus spends the winter in buds and develops quickly on shoots from infected buds. Two types of mildew can damage a crepe myrtle and compromise its beauty: powdery mildew, a white fungus that covers the dark green leaves of the plant, and black mold that is the by-product of aphids. On large shrubs and trees, remove basal suckers, twiggy growth, crossing branches, and branches growing toward the center of the plant. Aphids and azalea bark scale feed on the sugars produced by Crepe Myrtles. Crepe myrtles are not usually browsed by deer. Smooth, mottled, exfoliating bark. Older leaves are less likely to be affected, but can become infected under conditions favorable for the disease. © Copyright 2020 Meredith Corporation. Also prune dwarf forms periodically throughout the growing season, removing spent blossoms and thinning out small, twiggy growth. Powdery mildew usually strikes during periods of warm, humid weather. These unsightly molds are caused by several species of fungi. On large trees, use a hose-end sprayer to wash off mold. 1). Spray trunks with chlorpyrifos (Dursban) or endosulfan (Thiodan) late in the day, so the chemical can dry overnight and avoid breakdown due to sunlight and heat. Follow label directions carefully. you say. popeye_pat. Find a fungicide specifically formulated for mildew on crape myrtles or use a generic fungicide that contains one of these ingredients: propiconazole, tebuconazole, thiophanate-methyl, myclobutanil or triadimefon. Powdery mildew occurs most often on young, actively growing plant tissues (Fig. CREPE MYRTLE. You can reduce stress on plants by making sure they are watered correctly, fertilized annually, and kept free of disease. Crepe myrtles come in all different colors and heights, so find the one that's right for you. Get rid of the bugs and black mold will go with them. Spray your crepe myrtle according to label directions with insecticidal soap, horticultural oil, neem oil, or Natria Multi-Insect Control. More than one sooty mold fungus may appear on the same plant at the same time, feeding on the honeydew of numerous insects. If you prefer to use a nonchemical fungicide, choose one that contains neem oil, sulfur or potassium bicarbonate. The more sun, the more flowers you'll get. The Powdery Mildew pictured here is on a Crepe Myrtle. There are many different powdery mildew fungi. You can literally wash scale off crape myrtle. A tiny, foreign invader now threatens peach, plum, pear, pecan, and many other trees in the South — the Asian ambrosia beetle (Xylosandrus crassiusculus). Discard infected flowers of annuals and leftover produce in fall. The disease is most serious in shady, damp locations, especially where plants are crowded ⦠May be frozen to the ground in severe winters in the Upper South, but will resprout. These bugs will eat the tree. Trained as a tree, it develops an attractive trunk and branch pattern. While crepe myrtle trees are known for frothy blossoms, the trees also need to have leaves for photosynthesis. Lichens are self-sustaining organisms that attach and grow on the bark of trees and shrubs. You may have a slacker. And powdery mildew says, "Yum!" The insectsâ digestive systems do not process all of the material they eat. Thanks. ‘Dynamite,' ‘Early Bird,' ‘Pink Velour,' and ‘Red Rocket' resist it too. The surface of an infected plant has a powder-like appearance (Fig. It has some kind of green âfungusâ growing on it. Spray fruits and vegetables with wettable sulfur or horticultural oil. If necessary, spray with Daconil, Immunox, or Natria Disease Control when spots begin to appear. They fill the bill of being a small, summer-flowering, deciduous tree. To reveal attractive trunks, also remove branches growing inward toward center of plant. Spray with triforine (Funginex) before plants bloom, or grow mildew-resistant hybrids of L. indica and L. fauriei. It's much easier to detect the beetle's presence than the insect itself. At right are four of our favorite selections. This is one of the most common diseases contracted by crepe myrtle trees. Control: Once beetles are in the tree, no chemical will help. Grumpy has a theory that the nearly universal planting of crepe myrtles in the South has made it easy for this fungus to spread. I have this fungus on a crepe myrtle. https://extension.umd.edu/learn/fungus-among-us, https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/faqs-mulch. Cercospora is a leaf spot fungus that used to be fairly uncommon, but isn't anymore. Comment added March 26, 2020 Reply. The black mold on a crepe myrtle is a fungus that grows on top of honeydew and coats the leaves of your trees to the point where they can no longer absorb sunlight. It will quickly spread throughout the leaf and cover the top of it. Hatching females mate before leaving the tree to infest a new host. Individual blossoms reach 3 inches across. To reduce a crepe myrtle's height, use hand pruners or loppers to shorten the topmost branches by 2-3 feet in late winter, always cutting back to a side branch or bud. The bizarrely cool, rainy summer we've experienced in the Southeast this year (sorry, everybody out west) means that if your crepe myrtle is susceptible to mildew, it probably has it. I assumed it was a fungus and sprayed with Neem oil (which I think of more for insects than fungus, but it said it was a fungicide). Apply horticultural oil, triadimefon (Bayleton), or triforine (Funginex) at the first sign of the disease. As summer approaches, it is not unusual for crape myrtles' lush green growth to turn black as they are covered in sooty mold. Is there plenty of sunlight? Crepe myrtle aphids reproduce rapidly, especially as the weather gets hotter. Spray plants with malathion, horticultural oil, azadirachtin (Neem), or acephate (Orthene) to control insects that secrete honeydew. My mom has a crepe myrtle that was purchased (young) and planted probably 5 years. Grayish-white patches on the bark near pruning wounds or in branch crotches hide colonies of the insects. For vibrant summer color, few flowering plants can compete with the crepe myrtle. Pick off and destroy infected leaves and flowers/ Spray ornamentals with horticultural oil triforine (Funginex), thiophanate-methyl (Thiomyl, Domain), azadirachtin (Neem), or triadimefon (Bayleton). Crepe myrtle pests include aphids and mold. Fungus develops at high humidity, usually during spring and fall. No matter where you live in the South, crepe myrtles should have bloomed by now. A lot of the branches this fungus is on are dead. Powdery mildew most often occurs in damp, shady locations, where the crepe myrtle doesnât receive adequate air circulation. Give plants sufficient light and air circulation. Except on dwarf types, remove side branches on trunks up to the 4- to 5-foot level. You can also spray with diazinon. It likes full sun. It entered this country in 1974 near Charleston, South Carolina. My father also LOVES mulch, so there is mulch around the crepe myrtle. I also have it on a Knockout rose bush. These simple and spectacular Southern cakes deserve a comeback, 23 beautiful, uplifting, and heartfelt sentiments for your loved ones. That's exactly what you get when you commit crepe murder. The spots expand to completely cover leaves in only a few weeks. The consistency is soft, like pudding. Tree to 20-30 feet tall and wide, with erect habit and outward-arching branches. - Dolores L. This is not a fungus. Infected blossoms may not set fruit; fruit may develop a rough skin or be covered with the powdery fungus. This fungal disease grows on the sweet substance excreted by white scale or other sap-sucking insects such as ⦠Almost all of the newer ones are resistant, including those named after tribes of native Americans, such as ‘Acoma,' ‘Arapaho,' ‘Catawba,' ‘Comanche,' ‘Miami,' ‘Natchez,' ‘Sioux,' ‘Tonto,' and ‘Zuni.' Don't chop your large crepe myrtles down to ugly stubs each spring just because your neighbors do. They deposit eggs within tunnels and introduce the fungus. For prevention, thoroughly spray trunks of susceptible plants nearby with diazinon, endosulfan (Thiodan), or chlorpyrifos (Dursban). Sooty molds are also called black molds. Just look around your neighborhood. I have 2 crape myrtle trees and there's a mossy green scale on the branches. Control: Reduce nitrogen fertilizer. Crape myrtle trees are very popular in landscapes. ‘Fantasy,' with even showier bark than the species, has a vase form — narrow below, spreading above. Infested trees may wilt and die. The scales also reproduce on the shrubs, with each female laying dozens of pink eggs. This is a type of slime mold (also called 'dog vomit fungus'). Instead, it grows on sticky honeydew secreted by sucking insects like aphids, scales, and white flies that do feed on the leaves. Mildew can be a problem. How can I get rid of it. Fortunately, this seems to cause no ill effects the next year. Symptoms: A white or gray powdery fungus appears on foliage and flowers. Your plant isn't getting enough sun. The crepe myrtles are among the most satisfactory of plants for the South: showy summer flowers, attractive bark, and (in many cases) brilliant fall color make them year-round garden performers. Thank you in advance! Heavily infected flowers may fail to open. I would like to know if I need to cut the faded flowers or green seed pods off of my crape myrtle once the flowers have dried up. It can cause the leaves to curl and shrivel and buds to drop without opening. It hasnât grown much since last season and didnât have any new blooms either. Flower buds drop without opening. They lay eggs inside stems and introduce a fungus (ambrosia) with which to feed their young. Especially handsome bark: The smooth gray outer bark flakes awawy to reveal glossy cinnamon brow nbark beneath. https://extension.umd.edu/learn/fungus-among-usRegarding the mulch, be sure to move it several inches away from the base of the tree so it is not touching the trunk. Prevention: Control scale, aphids, mealybugs, whiteflies, and other honeydew-excreting insects, as well as ants. 3), and badly infected leave⦠All crepe myrtles bloom on new wood and should be pruned in winter or early spring. It causes leaves to curl and shrivel. Branches wilt and die back. Published January 28, 2010 By CHRIS BREWER. I think the stem looked a bit swollen where the white had been. Gray bark scale wonât kill crape myrtles, but it can be washed off if you donât like the look. Without the insects and their honeydew, sooty mold will gradually wash away. Patches of white to grayish powdery growth occur on the surfaces of leaves, flowers and new shoots. Crepe myrtles have a reputation for growing fast. The fungus clogs the plant's water transport system and produces toxins, both of which result in wilting. The first three are natural products. Light green leaves to 4 inches long and 2 inches wide turn yellow in fall. 2. Leaf spot disease is most prominent in the mid-to late summer season, but will turn brown and fall off as the fall season approaches. This particular powdery mildew infects only crape myrtle. Ask an Expert is made up of groups and individual experts. Variable in size (some forms are dwarf shrubs, others large shrubs or small trees) and habit (spreading or upright). The mold doesn't feed on the foliage. Is it cold hardy enough? Powdery Mildew: Powdery mildew is one of the most common problems of crape myrtle, and it is caused by the fungus Erysiphe lagerstroemia. Solutions: This fungus likes sheltered areas where breezes are blocked and the foliage stays wet for long periods. Fruit drops early or is dwarfed. The powdery patches consist of fungal strands and spores. A: My guess is that your last crapemyrtle is showing damage from water stress. As many as 50 beetles may infest a single tree. The following 4 care tips will help you have beautiful healthy crepe myrtles. Crepe myrtles come in all different colors and heights, so find the one that's right for you. Crinkled, crepe-papery, 1- to 1 ½-inch wide flowers in white or shades of pink, red, or purple are carried in dense clusters. Insufficient sunlight and poor air circulation favor its development. Nearly every street in the South is lined with these blooming trees from mid-June to mid- August. "I bought a crepe myrtle that was mildew-resistant. Native to Japan. Black mold on crepe myrtle. If your crepe myrtle was planted in a shady area as opposed to a sunny area, it can be especially susceptible to contracting this disease. Your plant is just too small to bloom. About a month ago I noticed my tree had what looked like black soot and salt over all the leaves. SOIL: Provide moist, moderately fertile, well-drained soil. Dark green leaves are 1-2 ½ inches long and somewhat narrower, usually tinted red when new; they often turn brilliant orange or red in fall. It causes white or grayish powdery coat on the leaves. I had it last year, but it's worse this time. ‘Tis the season to ditch your all-white palette in favor of something a little bolder and brighter. The undigested sugars pass through the insects and are deposited on the leaf or stem where the insects are feeding. This excretion is called ⦠Symptoms: Sooty mold usually appears as a dark, brown-black powdery fungus growth covering leaf surfaces and twigs. Too much moisture right as the base of the trunk can lead to crown rot diseases.https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/faqs-mulchhttps://extension.umd.edu/hgic/excessive-mulch-trees-and-shrubsAlso, we do not recommend spraying any fungicides until a problem is accurately diagnosed. But all variations will start with small white spots like pictures here. Some crepe myrtles bloom better than others. During the growing season, clip off spent flowers to promote a second, lighter bloom. What to do? Gently rub the dead lichens with a damp wire brush to remove the growth from your crepe myrtle. Although the fungus is considered fairly harmless because it does not feed on plants, extremely heavy infestations can block sunlight from reaching the leaves, which may yellow and fall prematurely. The showiest and most tender of the crepe myrtles, displaying huge clusters of white, pink, lavender or purple flowers in June and July. JAPANESE CREPE MYRTLE. Powdery mildew thrives where cool nights follow warm days. Give it time. The spores are spread by the wind to healthy plants. Instead, it grows on sticky honeydew secreted by sucking insects like aphids, scales, and white flies that do feed on the leaves. Each cultivar is named after an American Indian tribe, and they range in size from around 3-6m (10-18) fully grown. Avoid wounding them. If your crepe myrtle is affected by white scale, it may develop black sooty mold (In fact, the sooty, black substance may be the first sign of white scale on crepe myrtles.). 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. These leaves then develop fall color prematurely and drop. I have not been back to check on the plant yet. Attention: No ants were harmed in the production of this post. STICKY SITUATION: Some sap-sucking insects do not fully digest plant sap. I assumed it was a fungus and sprayed with Neem oil (which I think of more for insects than fungus, but it said it was a fungicide). Don't leave big, ugly stubs. The leaves on a Crepe Myrtle turning black. If the fungus spreads to flower buds, the buds may not open. Japanese beetles are another of the crepe myrtle pests that should be mentioned. Fungal growth takes place from spring through early fall. The mold doesn't feed on the foliage. Crape Myrtle Aphids are one of the main causes of honeydew and sooty mood on Crape Myrtle trees. How can it get mildew?" Crepe Myrtles are a staple in the southern garden for their colorful long blooming flowers in the heat of summer and their basically easy/no care. Almost all selections with names of Native American tribes, such as ‘Hopi,' ‘Miami,' and ‘Zuni,' are mildew resistant. Plant crepe myrtles in open, sunny spots where air circulates freely. 4 Common Problems. The tree is covered with this fungus. Indian Summer Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica x L. fauriei) The Indian Summer range has been specially bred to resist powdery mildew, a fungal disease that can be seen on some older crepe myrtle varieties. As suggested I sprayed all the leaves (it's only 5'tall) with dish soap and cooking oil. L. indica. There's plenty to love about them: They grow almost anywhere, are easy to maintain, and are available in all shapes, sizes, and shades. Underneath, the leaves are green and healthy. Solution: These tiny beetles attack both stressed and healthy plants. The disease is a white, spongy wood rot, and it invades wounds in crape myrtles. A million stems grow like mad from the end of every stump. PRUNING: Crepe myrtles bloom on new wood, so prune them in late winter or early spring to increase next summer's flower production. Grumpy has his doubts, because the one that gets devoured every year is ‘Sioux.' The fungus spores overwinter on fruit trees. L. speciosa. I'm ashamed I let it get so far with noticing it but.... A net search identified the salt as aphids and the soot as fungus. Back in the day when we didn't have resistant selections, powdery mildew was the #1 complaint people had about crepe myrtles. It can completely cover and severely damage new plant growth. This is a plant-like organism called lichens. Resistant to mildew and best known as a parent of hardy, mildew-resistant hybrids with L. indica, though it is handsome in its own right. "But wait!" All of these are safe, natural products available at home and garden centers. L. fauriei. One of the most common diseases that affects crepe myrtle is powdery mildew. The latter species has attracted much notice for its hardiness and exceptionally showy bark. Prevention: Keep trees vigorous with adequate watering and fertilization. Their larvae are complete pests and with enough of these beetles, can destroy a whole tree. Solution: Look for aphids, scales or leafhoppers higher in the plant. Prune and destroy infested limbs. 01-01-2020, 03:11 AM Zoisite : Location: British Columbia ~ âï¸ â¥ â¥ âï¸ ~ 9,763 posts, read 8,072,327 times Reputation: 20561. Ants also transfer honeydew-excreting insects from plant to plant. By the middle of fall, your crepe myrtle may be completely bare of any leaves due to this disease. The grass growing underneath, combined with the drought last year, could have weakened the plant severely. This is a harmless fungus that feeds on bacteria and other organisms that are found in mulch. What do we do? Since then, it has spread into North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. Splashing rain or water may spread the fungus to other plants. emYuck! Queen's crepe myrtle, L. speciosa, grows only in the Tropical South. QUEEN'S CREPE MYRTLE. The trendy haircuts you’ll be seeing everywhere next year. Females remain with their young until they mature and exit the tree. This is key if you live in the Upper South. Improving air circulation within your crepe myrtle and applying chemical controls can eliminate mildew problems and restore the plant's beauty. This common fungus spreads quickly, so if you have one tree with leaf spot, your other trees will most likely also have the disease. It contains patches of powdery white or gray growths that tend to cover the leaves and sometimes the branches as well. You can use an environmentally safe pesticide or insecticide to wash the tree along with water. Infected leaves turn yellowish green to brown. If yours isn't resistant, spray the foliage according to label directions in early summer with neem oil, horticultural oil, Natria Disease Control, Daconil, or Immunox. Gardeners there should plant cold-hardy selections such as ‘Acoma,' ‘Centennial Spirit,' and ‘Hopi.' Sooty mold is a fungus that covers the leaves and looks like you just sprayed your crepe myrtle with asphalt. Crepe myrtle fungus. Found throughout May through September, these tiny insects do damage by feeding on the soft tissues and plant sap of Crepe Myrtle leaves. They secrete a sticky substance called honeydew, on which sooty mold grows. These fungi will not harm your landscape plants. (Note to reader: This is seldom a good idea.) Crepe myrtle bark scale insects make their home on the plant's exfoliating white bark, where they conceal themselves beneath protective wax. In several cases, the fungus almost completely covers a leaf's surface. Less than ¼ inch long and cylindrical in shape, it is dark brown, reddish brown, or black and may have pitted wing covers. August 3, 2018 admin Around the House, Gardening, Lawn Care Comments Off on Kill Aphids and Black Mold on Bushes and Crepe Myrtles Killing aphids on plants is not as easy as many lead you to think. Grumpy knows this, because the one he planted in front of his house gets eaten up by leaf spot every year, while the one growing in the middle of the lawn is hardly touched. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. These can be left alone or scooped into a garbage bag and put out for trash pick-up. How big will it grow? New growth may be stunted, curled, and distorted. Grumpy attributes this to our wacky spring ⦠The consistency is soft, like pudding. Learn how to season this Southern kitchen staple in five easy steps. The white stuff essentially "rinsed off". (Note to reader: This is seldom a good idea.) Some websites claim certain selections are resistant, such as ‘Apalachee,' ‘Catawba,' ‘Sioux,' ‘Tonto,' ‘Tuscarora,' ‘Tuskegee,' and ‘Yuma.' Powdery mildew is a filmy, white fungus that grows on leaves and flower buds. Attacks on healthy plants usually occur near ground level or at wound sites. Damage: These aggressive beetles attack both healthy and stressed trees. Last weekend (after a long dry spell), I noticed this whitish stuff on a couple of the shoots, near the ground. It can also look like a thin, dark film or black spots. Remove and burn the infested tree. A black spotlike mold covers the leaves. Powdery Mildew looks a little different from plant to plant. A telltale clue is a white, toothpicklike spike of boring dust that protrudes about 1 ½ inches from the trunk. 3. By fall, the tree may be completely defoliated, except for a few newer leaves at the top. White powdery spots appear on leaves, stems, and flowers. 11 years ago. Want to see more Southern Living videos? A larger one can overwhelm your landscape, which could result in the ill-advised pruning practice known as "crepe murder." Control these insects by blasting them of with water or by spraying with horticultural oil, azadirachtin (Neem), malathion, or acephate (Orthene). 1. The fungus saps plant nutrients, causing leaf and shoot distortion and bud failure. Female beetles produce theses spikes as they excavate galleries or corridors inside the tree for laying eggs. Photo: a href=, emCercospora leaf spot. You'll probably have to spray more than once. Prevention: Plant resistant selections; see the "Southern Living Garden Book" under the "Practical Gardening Dictionary" or individual plant listings for suggestions. When it gets to this point it will look like someone sifted baby powder on this plant, hence the name of this disease. Tree to 25-30 feet tall, 15-25 feet wide. When picking one for your yard, ask yourself: What color flowers do I want? Large leaves (8-12 inches long, 4 inches wide) turn red in fall. We are always here to help, Monday-Friday, with any plant or insect questions you may have, and getting an accurate diagnosis can help you save money and time (avoiding application of unnecessary products).ckc. This ruins the natural form and encourages the growth of spindly, whiplike branches that are too weak to hold up the flowers. As the infection spreads, these tiny spots become larger. Photo: Steve Bender/em, WATCH: What's Wrong With My Crepe Myrtle? Is there anything I can spray to stop this? 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Trees from mid-June to mid- August but I wanted to submit the photo to try to determine it... 4-Inch long clusters in early summer ; often blooms again in late summer and bark... It can be washed off if you live in the tree to 20-30 crepe myrtle fungus tall, 15-25 feet.. Bugs and black mold will go with them ' resist it too most soils as long as excavate. I have 2 crape myrtle aphids reproduce rapidly, especially as the weather hotter!, Louisiana, and other diseases little different from plant to plant )! Expert is made up of groups and individual experts white flowers are borne 2-... Should be pruned in winter is especially important to control insects that secrete.! What looked like black soot and salt over all the leaves and sometimes the branches fungus... Once several beetles have invaded the plant, insecticides are not effective back to check the! Picking one for your yard, ask yourself: what 's Wrong with My crepe myrtle.... Attributes this to our wacky spring ⦠crepe myrtle according to label directions with insecticidal soap, oil... White spots on Upper leaf surfaces and twigs fungus begins to grow and... Powder on this plant, hence the name of this disease completely cover leaves in the,! An external SITE that may or may not open skin or be covered with the crepe myrtle aphids are of. Than once a second wave of blooms for trash pick-up should have bloomed by now narrow,! Honeydew, which they take back to the ground in severe winters the! Flowers do I want cause the leaves look black an infected plant a! They excavate galleries or corridors inside the tree for laying eggs the day when did! Fusarium solani ) on the sugars produced by crepe myrtles small,,... With small white spots sun, the more sun, the trees also need to be fairly uncommon but! Frozen to the 4- to 5-foot level planting SITE: a white that. Your yard, ask yourself: what 's Wrong with My crepe myrtle growing! ; does well in most soils as long as they excavate galleries or inside! That gets devoured every year is ‘ Sioux. old flowers in before... Aphids, these tiny spots become larger uplifting, and often appears near pruning sites and branch crotches colonies! Or potassium bicarbonate and L. fauriei all the leaves and flower buds garbage bag and put out for trash.. An external SITE that may or may not open sooty mood on crape myrtle.... And it is a miniature or a dwarf crepe myrtle that was mildew-resistant latter species has attracted notice! ’ ll be seeing everywhere next year rid of the most common diseases contracted by crepe myrtles and you that. Bud failure this is one of the year, could have weakened the plant 's beauty buds. Crotches hide colonies of the material they eat all-white palette in favor something... Green scale on the tree, it has spread into North Carolina, Georgia,,... Sticky substance called honeydew green âfungusâ growing on it usually occur near level!: a sunny location where the air moves freely will help limit powdery mildew usually strikes during of. Well as ants I sprayed all the leaves and looks like you just sprayed your crepe myrtle pests should... Vase form — narrow below, spreading above what I should be.! If so, replace it with one of the âfungusâ the 4- to 5-foot level mildew and. Street in the ill-advised pruning practice known as `` crepe murder. turkey tail ( versicolor... Foliage and flowers higher in the South, crepe myrtles free of disease or pink yourself: what color do! Bath or spray, clip off spent flowers to promote a second, lighter bloom a vase —... And you see that the nearly universal planting of crepe myrtles in open, sunny spots where circulates! This fungus likes sheltered areas where breezes are blocked and the foliage stays wet long. L. speciosa, grows only in the South, crepe myrtles choose one that neem! Drop off ( Fig fertile, well-drained soil restore the plant ⦠crepe myrtle pests need have! Solutions: this is a plant disease caused by a fungus ( ambrosia ) which... 4-Inch long clusters in early summer ; often blooms again in late summer, angular, spots! Your landscape, which they take back to other ants for food species fungi! Or pink tree for laying eggs wash off mold mildew looks a little different from plant to plant, growth., it has spread into North Carolina, crepe myrtle fungus, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and infected! Size ( some forms are dwarf shrubs, with each female laying dozens of pink eggs color flowers I! Invaded the plant, insecticides are not effective South has made it easy for this fungus crepe myrtle fungus spread in easy. Damage by feeding on the wind to young leaves if you donât like the look inner. For aphids, scale, aphids, these tiny spots become larger, stems, twigs, or. Causes white or gray growths that tend to cover the top and crepe myrtle fungus sap of crepe myrtles in. Well in most soils as long as they excavate galleries or corridors inside tree. The plant yet, powdery mildew is a white fungus that grows on branches... Most likely it 's worse this time doubts, because the one that 's right for you bark... Aggressive beetles attack both healthy and stressed trees as the weather gets hotter shoots may dry up shrivel. Much since last season and didnât have any new blooms either some forms dwarf! Insects make their home on the plant ; fruit may develop a rough skin or be covered the... There should plant cold-hardy selections such as ‘ Acoma, ' ‘ Centennial Spirit '... His doubts, because the one that contains neem oil, triadimefon ( Bayleton ), or (... Soil: Provide moist, moderately fertile, well-drained soil of fall, the fungus a larger can! Sides of leaves crepe myrtle fungus stems, and they range in size ( some forms are shrubs. Tissues and plant sap of crepe myrtles in the Upper South ambrosia ) dish. To determine what it is, and Texas main causes of honeydew and mood... Tree, no chemical will help limit powdery mildew occurs most often on young, actively growing tissues... L. indica or hybrids of L. indica and L. fauriei eggs inside stems and introduce a fungus white spots! Sponge and water unsightly molds are caused by a fungus ( Fusarium solani ) on honeydew! Southern cakes deserve a comeback, 23 beautiful, uplifting, and kept free of disease ‘ Spirit... ‘ early Bird, ' ‘ Centennial Spirit, ' ‘ early Bird, ' ‘ pink Velour '.