Lawn problems ›

Leaf spot and mildew on shrubs and ornamental trees

This page covers fungal leaf spot on red tip photinia and Indian hawthorn, and powdery mildew and leaf spot on crape myrtles, with Clemson Extension's guidance for each in South Carolina. Weather drives all of them, and Clemson times fungicide to new growth and the wet seasons.

Why does my red tip photinia have red spots and bare branches?

The likely cause is Entomosporium leaf spot. It starts as small, round red spots on both sides of new leaves, and older leaves develop dark spots with reddish-purple rings. The fungus is most active in cool, rainy spring and fall weather. Clemson's fungicide timing is at the first sign of disease or when new growth starts, repeated every 7 to 14 days until the leaves mature in early June. Clemson doesn't recommend red tip photinia for hedges, and for badly infected plants it suggests replacing them with another species.

What is wrong with my Indian hawthorn?

Indian hawthorn gets the same Entomosporium leaf spot. Tiny red spots appear on young leaves and merge into large blotches, and it does the most damage after frequent rain in spring and fall. Clemson's prevention advice is drip irrigation instead of overhead sprinklers, raking up and discarding fallen infected leaves in winter, and choosing resistant varieties such as 'Olivia', 'Eleanor Tabor', 'Snow White' and 'Georgia Petite'. Fungicide goes on about every ten days in rainy spring weather.

Why are my crape myrtle leaves white and powdery?

That is powdery mildew, which shows as white to gray powdery growth on leaves, flowers and shoots. It is worst in shady, damp, crowded spots with humid nights and mild, dry days. Clemson lists 'Apalachee' and 'Fantasy' as totally resistant. On susceptible trees, fungicide goes on when the disease appears and may need repeating.

Why are my crape myrtle leaves spotting and dropping in late summer?

That points to Cercospora leaf spot: yellow spots an eighth to a quarter inch across on top of the leaf with gray growth underneath. In warm, moist late summer and fall weather it can strip susceptible varieties almost bare.

How does Spring Green treat shrub disease?

Our tree and shrub program is four visits a year: a horticultural oil spray in January for scale insects, a deep root feeding with fertilizer and insecticide in February or March, and insecticide-and-fungicide sprays in May or June and again in July or August.

Last updated 2026-09-25. Spring Green is owned by Stockton Wells.