I've got the same thing on a holly bush/tree, a crepe myrtle, and a butterfly bush. The latter 2 just have leaves in spots on the branches and I've never seen that before. The drought (and me not watering anything) is the only thing I can imagine it being.

Sue

My spirea look the same and I do believe it is from the drought last summer. Most of my other shrubs that survived also suffered damage. Two young Japanese red maples did not survive the drought, although the two older ones came through just fine.

Very few of my perennial flowers came back this year even though I watered faithfully. SOOOOO heartbreaking to look at the bare ground and think of all the work that went into it.

Lyn in Portsmouth

Could be. The spirea that blanket the front of our apartment building seem to be thriving, but that's probably just because I hate them and want them gone.... ;)