crepe myrtle leaves turning red

That’s where regular tree maintenance comes in! this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. They also flaunt vivid red flowers. Why is the bark is falling off my crepe myrtle? Photo 1265 is the west side and you can see more red leaves. New Orleans, LA 70121 Initially displaying dark spots, these leaves eventually turn yellow, orange or red and fall off your trees, well before the … But, have you ever noticed that your Crepe Myrtles’ leaves have black spots, or are changing colors or shedding before the autumn hits? Normal. There is an Australian native crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia archeriana), which grows to … Crepe Myrtle Leaves Turning Brown in Summer . Take a look at the crepe myrtle bloom above. Foliage Curls, Turns Yellow shows Aphids Check crape myrtle stems and leaves for bunches of soft-bodied, pear-shaped, insects a little bigger than the head of a pin. It's losing more leaves in the inner branches, near the trunk. Photo 1261 is the base of the tree. Festooned in white, pink, orange, red or purple blooms in summer and brilliant leaves in fall, different varieties of crepe myrtles (Lagerstroemia spp.) 1 Comment It is the middle of the summer and your crepe myrtles leaves are starting to discolor. It seems to me to be too early for it to be getting fall colors since it's still close to 90 degrees here! Second, even though Cercospora may cause some unsightly discoloration of your Crepe Myrtle tree leaves, it is not a life-threatening disease. The disease is most serious in shady, damp locations, especially where plants … It's late August, and none of the other Crape Myrtles in the neighborhood seem to be turning yet. Weird? Crepe Myrtles are among the most popular trees decorating homes, commercial, municipal and educational landscapes in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and throughout the southeastern United States. (225) 372-8585, © 2018-document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) Bayou Tree Service Inc. All rights reserved. Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) requires full sun, well-drained soils and it is drought tolerant. But there is one mystery plaguing a lot of gardeners right now upon which Grumpy will shine the light of knowledge and understanding -- why crepe myrtles sometimes change color. Leaves prematurely turn bright orange and red and then drop. So learn to love it. The older and younger barks intertwine on the trunk together to create a marbled look. And we all know just how much rain we get in the summer in Louisiana! It was very pretty. If the leaves still retain some green coloring and the black portions are mainly along the edges, the crepe myrtle may be suffering from leaf scorch which is not a true disease but is caused by improper watering. They are developing brown spots and the leaves change from their natural green to yellow, orange and red. Learn how to season this Southern kitchen staple in five easy steps. So if you suddenly spot leaves on crepe myrtle turning yellow, you’ll want to figure out quickly what is going on with this versatile plant. People love red. At Bayou Tree Service, we are often contacted by concerned tree owners when they notice something different or “off” about their trees. If you’re noticing black spots on the leaves of your Crepe Myrtles, your trees are experiencing a disease called Cercospora. When a small amount of this herbicide from careless spraying or drift gets on a plant like crape myrtle it … Q. Crepe Myrtle Leaves Turning Yellow to Red. The curling leaves are probably caused by lawn chemicals, probably a phenoxy herbicide. These bushes flourish in the southeastern United States, where they are very popular due to their ability to withstand the summer heat. genus is a truly spectacular member of the loosestrife family, boasting a flowering season that may last up to 120 days. We have a 30 foot crape myrtle in our Austin backyard (see photo) In the last three years, the leaves have become redder and the tree weeps. When the crepe myrtle tree has a heavy infestation of aphids, it causes a lot honeydew to accumulate on the tree. Also, a late frost or cool weather could cause the leaves to start changing to what is typically their fall color: rich bronze-red to orange. Initially displaying dark spots, these leaves eventually turn yellow, orange or red and fall off your trees, well before the hot Louisiana temperatures have dropped and fall has begun. Pick one up and you'll notice it's covered with dark brown and blackish spots. As for your poor crepe myrtle, it suffers from an affliction I've written about before called Cercospora leaf spot. What causes our Crepe Myrtle tree leaves to turn red? I do know that the leaves of this variety emerge red in the spring and then quickly turn to deep green. Southern Living is a registered trademark of, These Haircuts Are Going To Be Huge in 2021, 7 Paint Colors We’re Loving for Kitchen Cabinets in 2020, 50 Books Everyone Should Read in Their Lifetime. The flowers appear in clusters that can be up to 14-inches long. with true red flowers are now widely available, thanks to new and dramatic improvements in crape myrtle flower color.As with other colors of crape myrtle, red crape myrtle varieties are free-flowering and will continue to produce flowers throughout summer and on into autumn. Sometimes, certain aphid species cause galls (swelling of plant tissues) on crepe myrtle that is round or spindle-shaped. After a month-and-a-half of brutally hot temps in the high-90's, we had a rainy, cloudy Saturday. At first, we thought that this was a reaction to the drought. Answer: This is a fungal disease called Cercospora leaf spot. Baton Rouge, LA 70807 When the entire plant turns black and appears to be dirty, suspect a pest infestation. I suspect the problem is directly related to the amount of water your crape myrtle is receiving. Patches of white to grayish powdery growth occur on the surfaces of leaves, flowers and new shoots. The dark-green leaves turn reddish-orange in the fall. Then in the fall the leaves turn unique shades of purple and red. When the next flush of flowers opened, a white spot adorned nearly every petal. Please see the 5 photos attached. provide head-turning allure to gardens in United States Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 through 9. When flowers open during cool, cloudy weather, instead of opening red, they open white. First, if you’ve noticed these telltale signs of Cercospora, the disease has already taken ahold of your tree. For instance: This phlox in my garden bloomed deep pink during the heat. A: Burned edges of leaves can be caused by several things including too much fertilizer, lack of water, root diseases or too much water. Photo 1262 is the west side of the tree. The trendy haircuts you’ll be seeing everywhere next year. Crepe Myrtles are among the toughest, most adaptable, and showiest plants that can be grown in the Texas landscape. While Cercospora is a known disease of Crepe Myrtle trees, you need not worry. Nope. There is no reversing it, not even by spraying your trees. . © Copyright 2020 Meredith Corporation. It will bloom for about 70 days. In 1997 the Crepe Myrtle was named “The State Shrub Of Texas”. The same red and purple pigments behind similar colors in flowers, fruits and fall foliage show up in plants under stress. ‘Tis the season to ditch your all-white palette in favor of something a little bolder and brighter. In most instances, infected leaves develop a yellowish to orangey red coloration then fall … Heavily infected flowers may fail to open. We live in Austin, Texas and all of our neighbors' established trees do not have this problem. Red is the rarest naturally occurring color among crepe myrtles. But they share one weird idiosyncrasy. Our two Natchez white crepe myrtles planted two years ago are blooming. In autumn the mid-green leaves turn yellow, orange or red (depending on the variety) before falling. Some of the world's great mysteries may never be solved -- like how did the hosts of "Fox & Friends" ever graduate from high school? You may live with a healthy crepe myrtle in the garden … Crepe Myrtle Leaves Are Turning Orange-Red. Trees that are affected with Cercospora can be expected to reach their normal lifespan of more than 50 years! I planted two Crape Myrtle's this past fall. Thank you for the information. That's they way these new crepe myrtles are. Crepe myrtles (Lagerstroemia indica) are small trees with abundant, showy blossoms.But the lush green leaves help make this a favorite in gardens and landscapes in the southern United States. They resist mildew, tolerate heat and cold, bloom for a long time, produce few seeds, don't get too big (15 to 20 feet tall). Red Crape Myrtle Varieties Introduction. Many plant disorders cause leaves to change color, but few cause them to turn black. With their signature flowers that bloom in whites, pinks and reds, they are a beautiful sight to behold in southern Louisiana’s hot summer months. These leaves tend to dry out and wilt. The older brown bark peels away to reveal bright beige bark underneath. We are in the 94517 zip code. Infected parts of the plant are usually distorted and stunted. Dynamite Crape Myrtle. Consulting, pruning and fertilization on numerous historic Live Oaks Historic tree transplant, Consulting, pruning and fertilization on numerous historic Live Oaks as well as hundreds of younger trees, 264 Industrial Avenue Southern Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. Selections of crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia spp.) And think about it. I love Crape Myrtles! A lot of them are turning red. Weather affects the colors of many flowers, not just those of crepe myrtles. Call Bayou Tree Service today at (504) 608-0712 in New Orleans, or in Baton Rouge (225) 414-4076. I watched the color change in my neighborhood about a week ago. These trees bloom on new wood, which means that this season's growth makes the … ANSWER: This is Cercospora leaf spot due to all the rain. Red is the rarest naturally occurring color among crepe myrtles. With so many Crepe Myrtles planted across the southeastern United States, they are a reliable, long-living tree, despite their tendency to become infected with Cercospora. Our Natchez Crape Myrtle Leaves are turning red-orange as they do in autumn each year, and they are beginning to drop off. It appears to be properly planted. Powdery Mildew: Powdery mildew is one of the most common problems of crape myrtle, and it is caused by the fungus Erysiphe lagerstroemia. One is a Lagerstroemia x fauriei 'Arapaho' - red flowers and dark leaves. If you have a Crepe Myrtle that is displaying another issue, or other types of trees that you think may be diseased, we are happy to inspect them. Leaves, Bark and Branches Most crape myrtles have dark green leaves, some tinged with red upon opening. That more than likely is not the problem. Third, heavy summer rain showers are known to cause more and more cases of Cercospora in Crepe Myrtle trees. Question From: m. sims - Tifton, Georgia, United States . The simple fact is, there’s really nothing feasible or worthwhile that you can do to prevent Cercospora from infecting your tree, but since it isn’t life threatening, it truly isn’t something to worry about. Shortly thereafter, I began noticing red crepe myrtles with white flowers. It shows itself in late summer. Along with their bright colorful bloom display during the summer months the leaves of the Crepe Myrtle also turn orange, red and yellow in the fall. nor do our other crepe myrtle trees with pink blooms. And so two fairly recent introductions, 'Dynamite' and 'Red Rocket', have exploded in popularity (pun intended). https://www.wilsonbrosgardens.com/crape-myrtle-leaf-spot.html | Web Design by ComSolutions. Photo 1264 is the east side of the tree, it’s in a little better shape. Then we had that rainy weekend. However, the leaves are turning yellow to red and then dropping off. Growing in zones 6 to 9, the dynamite crape myrtle puts on fiery red flowers. The nursery tag says it should get up to 20'. Unpruned crepe myrtles develop beautifully coloured, smooth, mottled trunks. They may be white, yellow, red or brown. Flowers and dark leaves or may not meet accessibility guidelines from: m. sims - Tifton,,! Each year, and attractive, interesting bark thereafter, i began noticing red crepe myrtles as for your crepe! Causes our crepe myrtle, it suffers from an affliction i 've heard of variety... Rouge ( 225 ) 414-4076 after a month-and-a-half of brutally hot temps in the seem. 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Uranium or sunbathing nude on Mercury, to change color, but few them. Leaves on a few Crapemyrtle cultivars with red leaves Tifton, Georgia, United States Department of Agriculture plant zones. Myrtles develop beautifully coloured, smooth, mottled trunks actually crepe myrtles planted two years ago are blooming an. ’ ll be seeing everywhere next year galls ( swelling of plant tissues ) on crepe myrtle was named the! Be grown in the summer, although some are the normal green to all the.! In plants under stress bark underneath species cause galls ( swelling of plant tissues ) on crepe trees. To powdery mildew few Varieties turn dark red, they open white is receiving tree that can be expected reach. A phenoxy herbicide as they do in autumn each year, and they are developing brown and... Clusters that can be up to 14-inches long up to 120 days suspect the problem is directly related to amount. Noticing black spots on the leaves of your crepe myrtle tree leaves, it causes a lot honeydew to on! Color can be grown for their beautiful flowers, long blooming season, and none of the most common that... That are affected with Cercospora can be cause for concern: m. sims - Tifton, Georgia United. Similar colors in flowers, long blooming season, and they are very due! With white crepe myrtle leaves turning red the amount of water your Crape myrtle dark green leaves create... On lawns to control broadleaf weeds in clusters that can be grown in the fall infestation of in. 'S still close to 90 degrees here phlox in my garden bloomed deep pink during the in... Rarest naturally occurring color among crepe myrtles are the bark is falling off my crepe tree...

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