Black spots on Aucuba leaves

20 years ago

I posted a couple of days ago on another forum and got no response - maybe this is a better place to try and get an answer. I'm wondering if anyone can determine what's happening to the Aucuba in my mother's yard. It's been there for years and has always been beautiful, but this summer a lot of the leaves have big black spots on them. Thanks in advance for any help.

Featured Answer

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7

20 years ago

These plants are prone to fungal disorders that can cause leaf spots, splotches such as this. Perhaps it has been wetter than ususal in your Mother's area, or more humid.

Anyway, having had to deal with this for years, I can suggest that the best thing to do is to keep the affected leaves removed from the plant as well as from the surface of the soil. If this were early spring, I would advise that the plant be cut back completely to the ground. Pruning that heavily at this time of year is not advised. (By the way, the plant will recover beautifully from this kind of treatment.)

The use of a broad spectrum fungicide would be helpful. A quick google on Aucuba leaf spots or fungal diseases might come up with some suggested products. Housekeeping, though, is essential.

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Comments (7)

dugin
Original Author
20 years ago
I'm going to remove the damaged leaves and keep an eye on the plants and see how they do. My father is the "groundskeeper", but he had surgery and can't take care of things like he used to - but hopefully he'll be up to at least giving them some water. I know they need it and assumed they were getting it. I'll also check around for the appropriate (and affordable) fungicide, in case one is necessary. Thank you for that information.
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vera_eastern_wa
20 years ago
I have the same exact deal going on with my Aucuba japonica....
It's no fungal attack...it is sun-scald damage. The problem started during a month long heatwave of 90+ temperatures along with our normal low humidity. Since removing these leaves and a weather cool down there has been no more damage.

Vera
ndarigol
11 years ago
I would have to agree with the heatwave theory. We live in Oregon and have quite dry but mild summers for the most part. Our plant is about 8 years old and is always just beautiful. A few years ago it started getting a few of the spots. I would just trim them away and that would be it for the year. This has been our hottest summer, hitting triple digits a number of times. This year the spots are more numerous. I trimmed them away last week and had to do it again today. Here's hoping we are cooling down now and the plant will be fine...
Sue Hughes Zone 6b in Pittsburgh
5 years ago
Great information, and still relevant even though the post is 14 years old.

It's a great source of gardening info on Houzz via their Garden Forum!
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
5 years ago
Since this is a plant that thrives in partial to full shade - no sun required at all and certainly not preferred - sun scald may be an accurate diagnosis. Heat is NOT an issue - it is rated to zone 11! In my climate, it is rare this plant suffers any issues if given the proper cultural conditions but areas with high summer humidity could cause the development of some fungal issues.
Sue Hughes Zone 6b in Pittsburgh
5 years ago
Gardengal48 thanks for your input...I have these on the side of my house that gets no direct sun to avoid sun scald like you mentioned. I saw a neighbors get sun scald in the winter and turn black and bounce right back to life, but it was not pretty for a while....

So....I hope it's not some kind of fungal issue.

Maybe the kids next door splashed something on them, but it seems to have not gone any further.

Guess I should have posted a photo..I might still do that.