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Fungus?

9 years ago

Yet another question about my endless summer twist and shout. Is this a fungus? If so, any thoughts on treating? I transplanted these plants two days ago and noticed this circular pattern. On a few leaves it has become an actual hole. I think I'm beginning to understand why these are called "endless bummers!" Thanks for any advice!

Comments (8)

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I do not exactly recognize it. Cercospora Leaf Spot is the closest but Cercospora also produces a halo around the injury. It also does not cause leaf discoloration like on picture 2. Can you please post pics of the underside of those two leaves?

    For now, I would just cut off those two leaves if that is all that bugs you, do no overhead watering and see what happens. I would also cut any leaves that are touching the ground (unless the shrub would look ugly and you would prefer not to).

  • 9 years ago

    Is it just a couple of random spots? Or is it a lot of smaller darker spots all over?

    Just by these photos, I would not say it is fungal in nature. It looks more like a physiological leaf spot, which is common to a wide variety of ornamental plants and has no pathological origin (not disease-related) but can be caused by mechanical damage (bumping, bruising, etc) or by weather or by cultural conditions.

    I wouldn't do anything other than monitor the plant for now. If it becomes worse - which I doubt - then get back to us.

  • 9 years ago

    Okay, thank you both! I am going to get a photo of the underside, which looks pretty similar, but not as dark. Another perhaps unrelated thing is that these plants also seem to attract a very small, flying bug that is metallic and shiny -- not sure what it is and I honestly never noticed these flies or whatever they may be before but could be because I am much more observant this year due to the Endless Summers! I tried to photograph it but not sure you will be able to see it since it kind of blends on the leaf and is very small. Will post asap!


  • 9 years ago

    You actually can sort of


    ee the little bugs, whatever they are, in this photo. They are metallic green, very shiny.

  • 9 years ago

    Sorry about that disjointed post -- was using my phone and didn't realize it would look like that! Luis, in general is it better for the plant to remove the leaves that touch the ground? I seem to have many of them on the four es I have planted in different places. Thank you!


  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Only because those leaves at the bottom contact whatever fungi may be on the soil and allow bugs to easily crawl into the leaves. If you had no issues with the plant, I would not have suggested it.

  • 9 years ago

    Very interesting. The leaves touching the ground do seem to be in worse shape, which I noticed this morning. Do you recommend cutting the whole stem or just the leaves? In some cases, the stem basically rests on the ground. Thank you for answering all my questions. Maybe one day I'll learn enough to answer some myself!

  • 9 years ago

    If there is no damage to the stem, I would just cut off the leaf.