What’s wrong with my Indian Hawthorn Shrubs? Could be Entomosporium Leaf Spot.

 Why Does My Indian Hawthorn Look Bad?

Are your once lush, flowering and full Indian hawthorn shrubs now looking lackluster with bare branches? With all the rainy weather we’ve had in Dallas, fungal diseases such as entomosporium leaf spot are flaring up with force.

Healthy, robust Indian Hawthorn.

Why Is My Indian Hawthorn Losing Leaves?

Entomosporium leaf spot, Entomosporium maculatum, is a fungal leaf spot disease. It’s a common problem on rose relatives like red tip photinia, quince, pear and Indian hawthorn. Once foliage is infected with the fungus it eventually dies and drops from the plant.

This Indian hawthorn has lost almost all its foliage to leaf spot.

Entomosporium leaf spot thrives in hot, humid conditions. The heavy spring rains and heat have created the perfect conditions for the disease to thrive. The fungal spores are spread from leaf to leaf through water droplets. Leaf spot is also a problem on Indian hawthorns that receive too much shade and/or overhead watering on the foliage.

Is My Indian Hawthorn Dying?

What to look for

Entomosporium maculatum produces tiny red spots on plant leaves that will sometimes have a yellow ring around the edges. Over time, the spots get darker and enlarge, covering the entire leaf.

How to treat

• Leaves that are infected cannot be saved and must be removed quickly. Don’t add them to the compost pile, rather bag them up and dispose of them into the trash.
• Clean up dropped leaves around the infected plants to avoid further spread of spores.
• Watering at the soil line and not on top of the leaves will help deter fungal diseases. Water left on foliage overnight encourages fungal diseases.
• Water plants in the early morning so leaves have time to dry during the day.
• If humidity persists, treat plants with an approved fungicide.

Unfortunately, many Indian hawthorn succumb to leaf spot because they are in the wrong environment. Indian hawthorn shrubs need a full sun location in order to thrive and bloom well. When plants receive too much shade, combined with over-watering, they’re prone to fungal diseases.

Stay up-to-date on what is happening in your landscape each season. Visit our Pest Guide and Disease ID Guide, then feel free to ask questions about your plants on Facebook and Twitter.