Large, tan to brown spots on leaves have a dark line on their perimeter and a purple halo. Last year, there was a small dead spot about 1 square foot in size. The texas mountain laurel, sophora secundiflora, is an excellent landscaping shrub. Enjoy the fragrance and enjoy the beauty of a texas mountain laurel in your landscape. Several established mountain laurel trees are dropping all their. Also, i sprayed with a fungicide because some of the stems look like they have a fungus, but the plant is still. Watson2 introduction texas mountain laurel is a small north american native evergreen, growing 15 to 25 feet tall with a 10footspread but is capable of reaching up to 50 feet tall in its native habitat fig. Shot hole fungus, also known as shot hole disease, is a serious fungal disease that creates distinct bbsized holes in leaves. I experienced the same kind of dieback and eventual loss on my own mountain laurel. It has a narrow upright silhouette and dense foliage which lends itself well to being pruned into a tree form. In the spring, heavy clusters of purpleblue flowers hang from the leafy. We have a beautiful tx mountain laurel in our front yard. Dec 31, 2010 the texas mountain laurel, sophora secundiflora, is an excellent landscaping shrub. Leaves turn yellow means soil too alkaline when acid loving plants are in soil that is too alkaline they develop a condition called chlorosis.
The appropriate dose of mountain laurel depends on several factors such as the users age, health, and several other. We thought mountain laurels were pretty much immune to most diseases, but ours are very sick all of a sudden. They can be planted in full sun and tolerate partial shade as well. Plant health care recommendations for mountain laurel. It will probably not be cold hardy north of interstate 20. Lady bird johnson wildflower center the university of.
A great flowering small to a mediumsized evergreen tree. The brilliant, lacquer red seeds were valued by indigenous people for ornament and ceremonial use. This report describes two of the most common fungal leaf diseases and two environmentally caused leaf disorders. Plant texas mountain laurel in full sun or light shade. Pyralidae that occurs on texas mountain laurel, sophora secundiflora, a small native tree sometimes used in the landscape drees and jackman 1998.
I dont see any evidence of an insect eating the leaves. The only matches that popped up in an online search for diseases of texas mountain laurel sophora secundiflora were for the northern mountain laurel kalmia. Texas mountain laurel sophora secundiflora, also known as mescal bean, is an attractive evergreen shrub that grows in u. Decay, death of texas mountain laurels is a mystery. The pest is the genista caterpillar when i lived in the high altitudes of las cruces, new mexico, i grew a few texas mountain laurel sophora secundiflora. Good drainage is a must, as is frequent monitoring for the worm, the genista moth larvae which can. Texas laurel sophora secundiflora, more commonly called texas mountain laurel, needs only minimal care to look its best. Department of agriculture forest service site on sophora secundiflora texas mountain laurel says it has no major pests or diseases. Texas mountain laurel is not normally susceptible to disease. A frugal water user once established, but if thoroughly soaked several times a month during the summer, you can increase this plants rate of growth. Texas mountain laurel denton county master gardener. There has been a huge outbreak of that fungal disease this year. This popular plant is often used as a flowering, evergreen shrub but, with time and proper pruning, it can be trained to grow as a small, multitrunked tree.
This sucking insect appears in late june and in the summer on the undersides of the leaves of broadleaf evergreens like azalea, rhododendron and mountain laurel. Spores enter plants through pruning wounds or other damaged areas as well as through the natural openings in the plant tissue. Several established mountain laurel trees are dropping all their leaves. One pest to be concerned about is the genista caterpillar that feeds on its leaves, young twig growth and immature seed pods. The texas mountain laurel tree calia secundiflora also called the mescal bean. Like all plants, mountain laurels have their share of diseases. Both diseases may cause yellowing and browning of leaf tissue, as well as. Informational table showing disease name, symptoms, pathogencause, and management of mountain laurel diseases. We knew that was not the answer you were looking for. So there you have the story of a native texas plant with the inappropriate name of mountain laurel making it big in landscapes. Sep 21, 2017 while laurel shrubs grow vigorously and tend to choke out most problematic plant invaders that might interfere with their health, they can be susceptible to infections and diseases.
Mountain laurel kalmia latifolia is an evergreen shrub native to north america characterized by large clusters of spring blooming showy pink or white flowers. Every now and then foliage worms may devour some leaves, but the plant comes right back, which. The connecticut agricultural experiment station caes, established in 1875, is the first agricultural experiment station in the united states. We have had this problem with our texas mountain laurel for two years. Keeping an eye on your laurel shrubs for signs of infection and illness will help you maintain a healthy, happy shrub for years to come. The flowers resemble wisteria and bloom early in spring. Darkbrown, pimplelike fruiting structures are scattered within the spot. Plant database lady bird johnson wildflower center texas. Genista caterpillars occur commonly in central texas landscapes and throughout the gulf coast.
It disfigured the tree so badly that i replaced it with another species. However, its a very popular landscape specimen can be used in both blackland clays and sandy soils. Identifying mountain laurel diseases written by doityourself staff. Various leaf spot fungi cause yellow, brown or black dead blotches on mountain laurel leaves. Scarlet laurel bug on texas mountain laurel backbone. Wood of texas mountain laurel may have fungal issue local. Questions about the purpleblue blooms hanging in clusters and having the wonderful scent of grape chewing gum have begun. Some of you may have noticed an exceptionally large outbreak of the scarlet laurel bugs on the new growth of your texas mountain laurels this year. Texas mountain laurel is a native evergreen shrub that can be trained as a multitrunked small tree. Texas mountain laurel is difficult to successfully transplant from the wild.
We are blessed with dozens of native mountain laurel trees of various sizes that had. Growing texas mountain laurel and coral bean from seed. This is one texas beauty youll want to get up close and personal with, so be sure to plant it were you can smell the grape soda and become a kid again. It proved to be a fungal issue that was within the wood of one trunk. Thread in the ask a question forum forum by oddmomma. It will produce very fragrant purple hanging flowers in early spring, usually around late march to early april. It grows slowly from 8 to 15 feet tall with a 6 to 10 foot spread. Lovely as they are, the flowers of texas mountain laurel are toxic to humans and animals, as are the plants seed pods and leaves. Texas mountain laurel sophora secundiflora texas mountain laurel is often described as being relatively disease and pest free, however it can be attacked by the genista caterpillar, sometimes referred to as sophora worms. This is the story of how i discovered 3 easy ways to control texas mountain laurel pests that can quickly destroy new, tender leaf growth.
This is one of the most common of mountain laurel insects and is small and square shaped. If your mountain laurel shrubs are infected by pests and you dont know how to repair and manage the problem, read on. Mountain laurel shrubs are generally healthy, but a few diseases can do harm to your shrub. It is a soilborne fungus, and will quickly take out any vulnerable plant growing in.
It is important to learn the signs of these diseases in order to treat sick mountain laurels as soon as possible and nip the problem in the bud so to speak. However, these shrubs tend to get badly infested by pests and other conditions. They are drought tolerant once established and bloom beautiful fragrant purple grape like clusters of flowers in the spring. With the rainy, warm weather weve been having this season shot hole fungus is running rampant.
Although the texas mountain laurel can be grown from seed, it grows so slowly that youre better off investing in a 5 gallon specimen that can be planted any time of year. In the spring, texas mountain laurel produces bright purple, drooping clusters of fragrant flowers. It is a very cold tolerant plant, even if it gets into the twenties here in southeast texas. Young texas mountain laurel trees should be checked frequently for caterpillar infestations. Genista caterpillar on texas mountain laurel landscape ipm. Texas mountain laurels are generally disease and pestfree, and tolerate a wide range of welldrained soils. Mountain laurel is highly prized for its flowers in midtolate spring and its attractive foliage. The texas mountain laurel, sophora secundiflora, is an excellent evergreen choice in your landscape.
Sophora secundiflora texas mountain laurel is a wonderful evergreen shrub which breaks forth in february and march with showy purple blossoms whimsically smelling like grape bubblegum or perhaps. This is the time of year i walk around and any time i see a mountain laurel i take in a long, deep breath. Apr 29, 2016 2 of 5 stressed texas mountain laurel shows signs of a fungus near the base. Leaf spot leaf spot, caused by the fung us mycosph aerella c olorata. There are at least a dozen fungal pathogens that cause leaf. If your mountain laurel has leaf spots or chlorotic foliage, you may be wondering, is my mountain laurel sick. The texas mountain laurel calia secundiflora is wellknown for its pendulous clusters of purple, fragrant flowers that look as good as they smell. Shothole is a common bacterial disease on otto luyken, zabal and schip laurel plants. It is not troubled with most bothersome diseases and pests. Mountain laurels are elegant shrubs with leathery leaves and unusual flowers. Diseases of mountain laurel bushes gardening know how. People are once again enjoying the large evergreen shrub that grows all over southcentral texas and is referred to as the texas mountain mt laurel. Once placed in the right area, mountain laurels grow at.
Its multiple trunks support a disperse canopy of glossy green leaves. Wet leaves seem to make the disease worse, so make sure not to water your plants from overhead. Monrovia s texas mountain laurel details and information. Several established mountain laurel trees are dropping all. Texas mountain laurels have very few insect or disease problems except for. Its flowers have a sweet fragrance that resembles grape koolaid.
Leaf spot and leaf spot are fungal diseases that commonly afflict mountain laurel. The best time of year to prune is late springearly summer as there will be lots of new growth at this time of year to cover up any tatty or damaged leaves caused by trimming with a hedgetrimmer. Young trees may be purchased at the nursery, or grown from seed. They are native to the alkaline soils of the texas hill country, and are often found growing among granite rocks. This scarlet red bug with a central black wing area feeds on new growth, blooms and seed pods. Jun 22, 2018 shot hole fungus, also known as shot hole disease, is a serious fungal disease that creates distinct bbsized holes in leaves. Wood of texas mountain laurel may have fungal issue.
The seeds called mescal beans are a pretty orangered color and are sometimes used as necklace beads. Also, i sprayed with a fungicide because some of the stems look like they have a fungus, but the plant is still doing badly. I thought my mountain laurel had web worms and i sprayed for them. Identify these diseases as quickly as possible to ensure that you can get your mountain laurel treated and healthy before it is too late. The foliage of mountainlaurel can be infec ted by at least 14 different species of fungi and suffers from an assortment of environmentally caused leaf disorders. Webworm on texas mountain laurel in texas answered by.
In southcentral texas, mountain laurel is commonly found on welldrained hill country limestone. Diseases of mountain laurel tend to be primarily fungal. The fragrance of texas mountain laurel flowers is reminiscent of artificial grape products. Dermatophyllum secundiflorum the intoxicating fragrance of texas mountain laurel is enough to cause drivers to slam on the brakes or dog walkers to abruptly stop short, giving poor fido whiplash. Fungal leaf spot can cause serious injury to your plant, including twig or branch dieback. Texas mountain laurel is a droughttolerant species native to the southwest and requires welldrained soil and infrequent watering. Figuring out which is the hard part but, once you do, most fixes are fairly easy.
I lost a trunk on my own mountain laurel to that fungus. You will still see texas mountain laurel referred to as s. Common names include texas mountain laurel, texas mescalbean, frijolito, and frijolillo. Texas mountain laurel monrovia texas mountain laurel. No foliage disease bothers the glossy, evergreen leaves. Our arborists report seeing shot hole fungus on lots of cherry laurels in this area. During the first year after it is planted, it can be watered. Note since i can only send one picture at a time i will repeat this request four separate times. Both diseases may cause yellowing and browning of leaf tissue, as well as irregular blotches, lesions and spots. Remove the red seeds from the pods and scratch the surface with heavy sandpaper or a file. Department of agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 through 11. Mescal bean or texas mountain laurel is an evergreen, usually multitrunked shrub or small tree ranging from just a few feet tall to more than 30 ft. These natives evergreen shrub seem resistant to the dreaded cotton root rot fungus which is deadly to 90 % of all other texas landscape plants.
How to grow a texas mountain laurel tree home guides sf gate. What is the best way to plant texas mountain laurel seed pods and how long do they take to germinate. Dec 26, 2019 the texas mountain laurel tree calia secundiflora also called the mescal bean. Identify these diseases as quickly as possible to ensure that you can get your mountain laurel treated and. Caring for a texas laurel tree home guides sf gate. The foliage of mountain laurel can be infected by at least 14 different species of fungi and suffers from an assortment of environmentally caused leaf disorders. It is an evergreen with thick, darkgreen foliage and a small, bushy size. Learn more about monrovia plants and best practices for best possible plant performance. All types of laurel hedge need to be pruned once a year. Now the plant looks like it still has the worms even though none are present. It is important to learn the signs of these diseases in order to treat them. Texas mountain laurel, sophora secundiflora originally found in the hill country of texas, is a small tree with evergreen, compound leaves that bears beautiful lavenderamethyst colored clusters of pealike flowers smelling of grape koolaid with bright red seeds in a semiwoody pod. Texas mountain laurel diseases pharmacies and medicinesca.
Fungus likely cause of dead spot on mountain laurel. I had a similar problem with a texas mountain laurel. They germinate fairly easily in 2 4 weeks if you do a couple things. In the case of mountain laurel leaf drop, fungal, environmental and cultural issues may be the cause. It afflicts many other plants besides laurel and is, again, a fungal disease. Can anyone help identify what is occurring with my texas mountain laurel. Texas mountain laurel sophora secundiflora plant of the month. This has happened several times in texas so burners beware.
These blotches frequently run together, causing heavily infected. While it can reach 30 tall if given lots of water, it usually holds in the more manageable and desirable 10 to 15 range and gets about 10 wide. Dead leaves wont mean a lot, but tissues collected from the. Mountain laurel might change how sodium is used by cells throughout the body. It is often used in xeriscaping because it is very drought tolerant and attractive. The texas mountain laurel will bring the pollinators to your garden as the bees love the flowers. It the most serious cases, it can kill your mountain laurel. Leaves dropping on native texas mountain laurel in san antonio. The genista caterpillar, uresiphita reversalis guenee, is the immature stage of a moth lepidoprera. Fortunately it is being produced by a number of growers and is fairly available. If your laurels foliage has spots, the likely culprit is a fungal disease like leaf spot. I love the smell when mountain laurels are blooming. The texas mountain laurel sophora secundiflora is an evergreen shrub and it grows slowly, in time becoming treelike with multiple trunks.
Plant texas mountain laurel in full sun or light shade, but protect it from the brutal lateday sun 47 p. Good drainage is a must, as is frequent monitoring for the worm, the genista moth larvae which can decimate the foliage in a few days, and is its primary pest. Learn more about the texas mountain laurel and other low water use plants from the water use it wiselys plant of the month blog post. The texas mountain laurel tree a great flowering desert.
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