Unknown Shrub DYING??

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

I recently moved into a new house with existing shrub/hedge bordering the back patio. There are two hedgerows separated by a walkway. Both were green when we bought the house and a fair portion of one hedgerow has remained lush and green throughout the winter. However, shortly after moving in, we noticed one whole hedgerow and half of the other started dropping leaves. It was so gradual that I just assumed they were deciduous and acting according to season.

It does appear that the portions that dropped leaves are now sprouting new growth. But I do see brown spots and red leaves on some of the existing "lush" portion, and a few on the new growth also.

I have tried to ascertain what plant I have here, so that I might better diagnose the problem. I haven't done anything to these shrubs whatsoever since moving in a few months ago. And I don't use any other chemicals elsewhere in the yard (or home) that would have been dumped anywhere.

Any plant ID or advice would be greatly appreciated!

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Comments (4)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
10 years ago
where are you ...

and are we sure they are all the same thing???

perhaps you have an evergreen shrub.. and a deciduous shrub ... why is that green pole there ... coincidence???

we need to ID them both ... and start there.. we will need a sloser pic of the bare one..

trying to be an optimist here ... lol

ken

ps: nice bug in the first pic ...
Katie thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
Katie
Original Author
10 years ago
Thank you so much, Ken, for responding!

I am in Dallas.

I am 99.9% sure they are all the same thing. They looked all of the same species back in November when we bought the house, the woody parts and bases all look identical, and the new growth appears to have the same features as the existing foliage.

The pole, which is one of several, is part of the sprinkler system. Elsewhere in the yard the sprinkler heads are low-profile...not sure why those are so tall?? (We haven't operated it since we moved in as part is malfunctioning, and I am not certain if the previous owners regularly operated it or not...)

More pics:
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rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
10 years ago
You have Indian Hawthorn, Rapheolepis indica. And they have a very serious infection of Entomosporium leaf spot, their most common and potentially deadly disease.
Katie thanked rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
Katie
Original Author
10 years ago
Ohhh! Painful to hear, but thank you so much for your help!

I have been researching this all morning. It goes against everything in me to give up on a plant, but I may have to get rid of these as the damage is quite extensive, and I don't want to risk spreading the disease to any of my other plants or my neighbors' plants.

Again, thank you both for the responses!